As a speed-based activity, cycling carries relatively high risks, so it’s important to be aware of three types of individuals who should avoid it.
Three types of people who shouldn’t cycle
Firstly, young men are not suited to making cycling a long-term exercise routine. Because bicycle seats are narrow, prolonged riding can compress the testicles, prostate, and other organs, leading to ischemia, edema, inflammation, and affecting sperm production as well as the normal secretion of prostatic fluid and semen. In severe cases, it may even lead to infertility.
Secondly, although numerous studies from both China and abroad suggest that cycling can help prevent cardiovascular diseases, unsupervised and unscientific cycling can raise blood pressure in those already suffering from hypertension, increase cardiac burden in coronary heart disease patients, worsen the condition of those with hernias, and elevate the risk of falls for individuals with post-concussion syndrome or epilepsy. Therefore, people with these five conditions should not regularly engage in cycling.
Lastly, teenagers are in a crucial stage of physical growth, with softer bones. Choosing bicycles with low handlebars for the sake of fashion over extended periods can affect spinal curvature and hinder proper physical development. Teenagers should pay attention to maintaining proper posture when cycling.
Cycling on roads isn’t suitable
When cycling for exercise, avoid using urban roads as your training ground, since car exhaust and dust pose significant health risks. During cycling, the increased physical exertion boosts heart and lung function, and failure to avoid exhaust fumes and dust allows these harmful substances—absorbed passively—to spread quickly throughout the body via enhanced cardiovascular activity, ultimately poisoning internal organs. In the short term, this may cause discomfort, dry coughing; long-term exposure can result in headaches and general weakness. Years of cycling on polluted roads can even lead to lung diseases due to passive inhalation of toxic fumes.
Additionally, women in their menstrual period have weaker immunity and should avoid exercising on heavily polluted roads. In summer, intense sunlight increases the risk of heatstroke, making roads an unsuitable place for activity.
Insufficient gear isn’t suitable
Since helmets can significantly reduce the risk of concussion in case of a fall, U.S. insurance regulations require cyclists to wear them, or else claims won’t be paid in the event of an accident. However, in China, few cyclists pay attention to this.
In addition to helmets, common protective gear includes knee pads, ankle guards, elbow pads, and wrist guards, which help prevent sprains and bruises during rides. If you treat cycling as a sport, it’s essential to use all these protective items properly.