Effect of a Bicycling Unit on the Fitness of Middle School Students

Many physical educators today are teaching lifetime sports, including outdoor activities such as cycling. Even though cycling is a low impact exercise that aids stamina and fitness, little is known about additional benefits in other areas including agility, balance, and explosive power. The purpose of this study was to ascertain if there are physical benefits (i.e., static balance, explosive leg power, agility) to students participating in a single bicycling unit in physical education (PE) class. Middle school students in the treatment school rode bicycles during their PE classes for 2 months. Students in the control school did not have access to bicycles during PE classes. Before the bicycle unit began, students in both schools were measured on stork stand with eyes closed, vertical jump, and agility. Students in the treatment school then participated in PE classes that included a bicycling unit, whereas the control school students participated in PE classes that did not include bicycling. Pretest scores were used as covariates, and results showed that students in the treatment group scored higher than students in the control group at posttest on all three tests. Although many schools have begun using lifetime activities in their PE classes, the results suggest that these activities not only may be fun for students but also will help them experience fitness benefits.
Riding a bicycle can be a fun and invigorating experience for young and old. Throughout history, people have used bicycles as a method of transportation, a way to maintain fitness, [...]