Summer Of

Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning

- Graeme Wilcockson

Cycling

Pedal power is a great aerobic activity. Unlike running, it has no impact on the knees, so is a fantastic way of building or maintaining fitness with less chance of injury. Benefits include a lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, stronger calves and a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

It’s a cheap and effective way to stay in shape. If buying new, any specialist bike shop will be happy to advise you on something appropriate in terms of size and weight, or if buying second-hand there are plenty of bargains to be had on eBay. If you’re lucky there may even be some available via your local Freecycle scheme. If you do get a second-hand machine, it is recommended to get it serviced before use.

Making cycling a habit is the easiest way to see the benefit. A commute to work and home again soon racks up the infamous ’30 minutes of daily exercise’. Now that smartphones have GPS pretty much as standard, it’s also easy to deliberately get lost out in the countryside, away from traffic. Pedalling up and down rolling hills and quiet country lanes is a great way to explore new places.

Bowls

For those looking for something a little more sedate, there’s bowls. If you think bowls remains the preserve of pipe-smoking old men, think again. Bowls is one of the fastest-growing pastimes in the UK. Clubs boast members in the hundreds. They usually have a very active social scene, with competitions for every standard. Club rivalries are abound, but any club will tell you, the sport is as casual, friendly or competitive as you want to make it. Pretty much all clubs have regular intra and inter club competitions, and once the summer passes — everything moves indoors.

Costs are not particularly high, but there is typically a dress code, as well as club etiquette to consider.