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Get Fit with Athletics
7 Olympic Sports to Jumpstart Your Fitness
Build a gold-medal body with the sports you’ll see during this summer’s Olympic Games
By
Image: Thinkstock
Cycling
Riding a bike is the perfect low-impact way to get back in shape, says Kevin Dessart, coaching education and athlete development director for USA Cycling. Besides the obvious cardiovascular benefits, cycling helps sculpt a lean lower body, from your calves up to your glutes. Your core and arms may also feel the burn as they help balance and stabilize your body across the bike.
Get started: It’s as easy as, well, riding a bike. If you’ve been off two wheels for a while, begin on a bike path, instead of a busy road, and just get used to pedaling again, suggests Dussart. Once you’re comfortable, considering following a structured training plan and signing up for an organized ride, such as a gran fondo. Traditionally, these “big rides” stretch 100 miles or more and tend to fall somewhere between a competitive race and a charity ride on the suffer scale. “Typically they’re supported so there’s food and beverage and lots of people to ride with,” says Dessart. Search for events near you on bikereg.com and coaches on usacycling.com.
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