Exercising During COVID-19, How to Make the Most of your Hour

John Clark 02.04.20

You have one hour of exercise, how will you make the most of it?

**In compliance with Government advice, our ebike showroom remains open but please call first on 01635 579304 if you plan to visit, so we can try to keep numbers in the shop down to limit any unnecessary risk. Our customers’ health is of the utmost importance.**

With all of us adapting to the recent lockdown announcements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to try and provide some guidance on how to make the most of it.

To summarise quickly, the government has issued the following rules to live by for the next few weeks for our own protection. These should be followed as closely as possible:

• Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
• Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
• Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this.
• Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
• Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
• Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services

This information has been sourced from GOV.UK.

1 hour’s exercise per day

Despite the heavy restrictions on being out and about, we have been advised that we can leave the house for 1 hour to exercise each day providing we do not meet with other people and only stay in groups if those people are from our own household.

The recommendations state that exercise at home is preferable, however for many people this isn’t possible due to a lack of space or not having a garden. Many also need time outside of the home for mental health reasons so it’s important to make the most of that 1 hour.

Firstly, consider what might be your exercise of choice in that 1 hour. You may consider walking, running, regular cycling or using your electric bike. Whichever you choose it’s important to think about:

1. Whether you are going to an area that’s likely to be popular with others doing their 1 hours’ exercise,
2. If it is likely to be a popular area, whether you can go in a direction that avoids other people?
3. Ensure you’re at least 2 metres from anyone outside of your household at all times, so when exercising try to avoid all other people, this isn’t just for your safety it’s for theirs too.

Why cycling with an electric bike might be a great option for your hour’s exercise:

1. An electric bike allows you to cover great distance in minimal time. A great way to get the most out of your time outside and get as far away from home as possible!
2. Incorporate your weekly shop into your hour’s exercise to save additional unnecessary journeys. An electric bike will make light work of uphills with all your shopping and you’ll be doing your bit to keep carbon emissions at a minimum too.
3. Cycling is a great cardio workout and the perfect way to stay fit and healthy, which will positively contribute to maintaining a strong immune system. Something we all need at the moment.
4. Cycling has been shown, through multiple studies, to improve your mental health, reducing stress and anxiety. Several studies show that those that cycle to work are generally happier and less prone to depression.

Set yourself goals

As mentioned above, cycling has practical and health benefits. We know that many of our readers are avid cyclists who understand the benefits it has on health, fitness and mental state. We want to encourage this during these difficult times and do what we can to help people keep up with their fitness, even if it is only for a limited time each day.

Setting goals can really help. It provides focus and distraction – something we all need at the moment.

We’ve set up the #velospeedcyclechallenge which will run for the next 6 months. If you can get out on your bike (regular or electric) for 30, 60, or 90 days in a row, we’ll give you a voucher to redeem in store on any of our ebikes or accessories. To find out the details have a look here.

Bike shops are open!

On a positive note, we want to remind you that Velospeed as well as other bike and ebike retailers are still open. Following the government’s guidelines we are still able to supply you with ebikes. So, if after reading this article you feel inspired to take up electric biking as your method of transport and exercise, then have a look at the ebikes we have on offer or get in touch.

But for those of you who may be completely confined to your homes for whatever reason, and have to focus on indoor exercise, we didn’t want to leave you out. We’ve included some links below to help you with some ideas on how to stay fit indoors:

• How to exercise at home in isolation
• Indoor exercises at home without equipment 
• Cardio workouts you can do indoors