Bike riding is a favorite summer activity for young and old alike. From a quick trip down the block to a family outing at the park, a ride on a bike burns calories, helps heart health and, most importantly, is tons of fun!

According to bicyclinginfo.org, research shows the health benefits of bike riding are far-reaching: reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases; lower health care costs; and improved quality of life for people of all ages.

“At least 30 percent of children don’t get the daily exercise they need, so it’s important to get outside and active with your children whenever possible,” says Dr. Laura Laskonis, pediatrician affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “Bike riding, which burns 300 to 400 calories per hour, is an excellent way to have fun and be active outdoors in the summer.”

Jennie-O Turkey Store offers simple tips to ensure families have fun, eat healthy and stay safe the next time they hit the trail.

Bicycle Safely
While a family bike outing is a great way to get active and have fun, it’s important not to forget safety. In fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, kids ages 5 to 14 get hurt more often than bikers of any other age. Follow these tips to stay safe:

* Wear helmets: All riders, even moms and dads, should wear properly fitting helmets that sit evenly between their ears and low on their forehead.
* Dress for safety: Dress in reflective, brightly-colored clothing so drivers can easily spot riders.

Fuel the Ride
It’s important to eat a balanced meal prior to exercising to keep energy up throughout the ride. Try these tips to keep riders rolling:

* Pack a picnic: Take along a protein-filled picnic, like a turkey wrap made with fresh veggies and Jennie-O Turkey Store Turkey Breast, to fuel your ride home.
* Hydrate: Remember biking is exercise so drink plenty of water before, during and after your ride. Try freezing a water bottle the night before so it will stay cool during a hot day.

Sharpen your Skills
As they say, practice does make perfect. Attempt these fun tricks as an exercise before an outing:

* Set a course: To help riders master turning and breaking, arrange an obstacle course in your driveway with obstructions likes cones or boxes.
* Bike with balance: Start new riders off on a bike with training wheels to help them get a handle on balancing and pedaling.

To encourage more families to get biking, Jennie-O Turkey Store is giving away 40 Schwinn bicycles through an instant-win sweepstakes on www.jotspedalpower.com from June 1 through August 31, 2007. In September, Jennie-O Turkey Store will draw one lucky grand prize winner who will receive a family bike package including four bikes, a bike carrier and trailer, helmets and other safety gear.

For creative, protein-rich recipes, tricks to improve biking skills and additional bike safety tips, look for free Pedal Power! pamphlets at local grocery store deli counters or visit www.jotspedalpower.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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