Are you a woman who wants to feel good in your body, build lean muscle, achieve defined curves, wake up full of energy, and maintain a clear and peaceful mind? If your answer is no, then you can stop reading. For the rest of you, who likely answered yes, who wouldn’t want that? That’s exactly why I encourage you to take up cycling.

I’m not referring to indoor spin classes; they don't offer the same benefits as outdoor road cycling. Let me explain why women should cycle and share what it has done for me. I’m in my 40s and can keep up with men and women half my age. Never let your age define you! I am in better shape and health than many people in their 20s. All it took was consistency and the desire to create my own happiness while taking charge of my health.

Cycling sheds fat and builds an incredible hourglass body

Why Women Should Cycle

Discover the benefits of outdoor road cycling for your body. Prepare to experience these amazing advantages.

Shed fat off and quick
Build muscle in the right places to shape an Hourglass figure
Grow your glutes
Create natural energy that last days
Speed up your metabolism
Strengthen your heart and lungs
No pressure on your knees, low risk of injury
Get vitamin D and experience better health
Feel confident and succeed at your fitness goals

*Outdoor Road Biking is much more beneficial than indoor Spin Classes*
Many women flock to the gym to take spin classes, and I was one of them. I attended spin class for a year, but I saw little to no change in my body, which made me very frustrated. Then, my boyfriend at the time—now my husband—encouraged me to get a road bike and join him for rides. I did, and it changed my life and transformed my body! The benefits of road cycling far surpass those of any gym class. Not only does it reshape your body, but it also transforms your mind.
**How Does Outdoor Cycling Change Your Body?**
I’m specifically talking about outdoor road cycling. Riding on the road means encountering various terrains, including small hills, steep climbs, and long flat stretches. As the ride changes, so does the engagement of different muscle groups. You constantly shift gears and alter your riding position to tackle the varying terrain. This constant adaptation keeps your body engaged the entire time.
In the gym, the instructor may tell you to stand, switch gears, and pretend you’re riding outdoors, but nothing compares to the real experience. The major reason for success outdoors is that, unlike in the gym, if you feel tired, you can’t just step off the bike and be done. When you’re outside, if you’re tired, you must trek your way back to your starting point! This necessity builds endurance and muscle—the true no-cheat, no-cop-out way to succeed.
When running, we carry our body weight at a steady pace, maintaining a consistent heart rate, which leads to excellent cardio and fat loss. However, with cycling, we frequently shift positions, adjusting resistance, and alternating between sitting and standing. This engages different core and leg muscles with each gear change. The fluctuations in resistance cause our heart rate to go up and down, making cycling not only an incredible cardio workout but also a form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This approach not only helps burn fat but also builds muscle, resulting in a lean, muscular physique.
**What Is a Cycling Body?**
For women, a cycling body typically means having small shoulders, slim arms, a tight core, and muscular legs and glutes—creating the desired curvy hourglass figure. I have never had an hourglass figure; I was always straight and rectangular with no curves. While I lost a lot of weight through running, I lost whatever curves I had and often felt very skinny without the desired shape of having that curvy backside.
However, as I began to build my endurance through cycling, tackling longer distances and more significant hill climbs, I noticed a remarkable change in my body. It completely reconfigured my composition—from a lifetime of being rectangular to achieving an hourglass shape, which was amazing. My waist started to cinch, my glutes grew and rounded, and I developed muscular thighs and calves while my shoulders, arms, and face slimmed down. I fell in love with this new shape—it was the figure I had envied for years but thought I could never attain without surgery. Cycling truly has the power to transform your body.

Only Cycling gave me that ever sought after hourglass body

Cycling Beyond Weight Loss

Cycling is not just an exercise for weight loss; it's a lifestyle that can transform your body and mind in incredible ways. Imagine shedding pounds while simultaneously strengthening your heart and lungs—a two-for-one benefit that goes beyond mere aesthetics. What’s truly remarkable is that cycling is a low-impact exercise, minimizing the risk of injury to your joints. This means you can enjoy the freedom of cycling well into your golden years, even if it’s just to keep up with speedy seniors who effortlessly zip past you on their bikes! Believe me, those in their 70s and 80s will definitely zip past you taking your ego with them. That’s all the more reason to cycle, as you start now you can continue until your 80s and feel good passing all those younger than you knowing you took care of your health.

The mental clarity that comes from cycling is another reason to hop on that bike. There’s something about the rhythm of pedaling, the wind on your skin, and the burst of natural vitamin D that creates a perfect meditative state. Whether you’re tackling stress, brainstorming business ideas, or simply enjoying the beauty of nature, cycling can be your sanctuary. It’s a chance to clear your mind, reflect, and connect with your thoughts—offering peace and healing that’s sometimes hard to find in our busy lives. I have discovered my best ideas while riding and relieved some of my greatest stresses just jumping on the bike.

Moreover, the camaraderie among cyclists can be incredibly uplifting. Join a community of like-minded individuals who are eager to support and motivate each other. Whether you thrive in social settings or prefer a peaceful ride alone, there’s a place for you in the cycling world.

So, how do you start? Get fitted for a road bike to ensure comfort, explore both new and used bikes to find one that fits your budget, and invest in essential safety gear like a quality helmet. Don't forget padded cycling clothes to enhance your comfort on those longer rides!

In essence, cycling is a rewarding journey for your body, mind, and soul. Why not take the leap? Embrace the freedom of the open road and the many benefits cycling has to offer. Find success in achieving your dream body while also creating a healthier lifestyle for your body and mind!

How to Start What Do You Need

Ok, so now you are convinced that you need to start Cycling because you are ready to change your body and find peace of mind. So how do you start and what do you need? Not to worry, I will provide this list for you to be successful in your journey as a new Cyclist.

Get fitted for a Road Bike- I would first suggest you go to a Road bike store and have them measure you so you know what size bike you are looking for. Riding a bike that does not fit you will be very uncomfortable and could even cause injury which will cause you to stop and not succeed.

Buy a Used Road Bike - My tip for a bike is to find one in your budget. If you have a smaller budget look on Offer Up or Facebook Marketplace for a Road Bike but make sure they are your size, test them out, and be sure to take it to a bike shop to get it tuned up to make it safe to ride. You don’t want a bike to break while on a ride.

Buy a New Road Bike - If you have a bigger budget and want to start with a new bike then you will find there are many brands to choose from. Be warned bikes can break the bank if you want them to, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy the most expensive bike, at least not for your first bike. I love the brand “Specialized” Road Bikes and love all of their gear. For my first bike, I bought the Specialized Ale Bike for $1,500 and it was amazing and I loved it. Check out Specialized bikes HERE . My husband prefers “Scott” Bikes and paid $3,500 for his, they have some great technology and are made for speed take a look at their bikes HERE.

Helmet - Never ride without a helmet! Please be safe, especially if you are riding on the road next to vehicles, protect your head and your life. I recommend spending a little more money on a helmet rather than the cheapest you find and I do not recommend second-hand helmets as you don’t know if they crashed in it and if the safety features are compromised. I only buy helmets that have the safety features of MIPS to protect my head. Make sure your helmet says MIPS on it to know you are in safe hands with this life-saving technology. Also, make sure it fits correctly and snug without being too tight. I buy all Specialized brand gear so my helmet was also purchased from them HERE. Or a good one on Amazon HERE

Cycling Clothes - Spandex tight clothes! Yes, I wear the typical Cyclist spandex for several reasons, one, it makes me feel legit, two it keeps the wind from moving your clothing and giving you a rash, it is light and airy yet protects you from the sun and forth you need a padded booty or else you are looking to experience real soreness from your seat. The clothes don’t have to be an expensive brand, you can buy them on Amazon HERE but, I will say in my experience as I got more into riding, actual brands were more comfortable and suited for my ride so again I buy all my clothes from “Specialized” HERE most importantly the padded bottoms because some cheap ones on amazon did not give me the padding I needed for the soreness.

Strava App- I recommend this fitness app, it tracks your rides, you can find trails near you, it provides a community if you want one and you can join challenges that can motivate you. I believe there is nothing more motivating than seeing your progress and trying to compete with yourself to get better. Strava allows you to see your progress and improve and at the end of the year, you will be amazed at how many miles you rode and calories you burned. Get the App HERE

Bike Bag - Everyone should carry a small bike bag that is filled with an extra tube and tire-changing tools. You can get these on Amazon HERE.

Clip-in Shoes - When I first started riding, I rode with regular shoes because the idea of clipping in terrified me. Once, I was used to my route and my bike I then bought the clip-in shoes, and let me tell you it is a game changer for your ride. With regular shoes, you can only push down so it takes more energy and you are using one side of your muscle. With clip-ins, you can push and pull with each peddle going fast and easier motion on your body but working all sides of your muscles. It does take a few rides to fully get used to it. I think I fell twice as I was learning to unclip. Hold on to a pole and practice clipping and unclipping before heading out. Practice away from cars. I bought Specialized Brand Shoes to match my whole Specialized gear. HERE but you can buy shoes on Amazon Shimano sells some shoes on Amazon and they are well known brand in the cycling world HERE . You will need to purchase clips for your pedals that match whatever shoe you buy and remove your regular pedals.

Riding Shades - You will need riding shades and sunglasses to keep the glares from blinding you and to protect your eyes from the sun and wind. They may look dorky but protection is key and the entire community will look dorky with you! I bought mine with polarized lenses and bought them from Amazon HERE .

That’s a wrap and you are ready to head out on a fantastic journey and join the community of Cyclist. Start slow, ride a mile, and build from there. Each month you will get stronger and ride further and harder. I will work on another Blog to help you know how to ride your bike soon, in the meantime, YouTube can be your best friend and trainer. Take your time and enjoy the process. The key to success is consistency, as long as you are consistent you will succeed. I can now ride 60 miles up and down hills with no problem because I was consistently riding 3 miles, then 7 miles, 11 miles, and so on, I kept adding a few miles once my ride became easy until I could reach my goal of 50 miles and then surpassed it. Take it slow but push yourself and enjoy the many benefits Outdoor Cycling has to offer! Let me know how it goes!

Blog Post 04: Why Women Should Road Cycle

Why Women Should Cycle

Blog Post 03: Why Run and How to Start