Wahoo heart monitor Valentine giveaway

With Valentine's Day only days away, we have the perfect gift for the cyclist who gets your heart aflutter.

The TICKR from Wahoo is a chest-based heart rate monitor that also records calorie burn data. This information can then be easily shared, via bluetooth with your smartphone, tablet or smartwatch and platforms such as Zwift, Nike Run Club or Peloton.

The monitor features a slim, pebble-shaped design for comfort and the chest strap is super light.

Win a heart rate monitor for you or your Valentine

We have a heart rate monitor and strap worth £40 to giveaway. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning, simply leave us a message at the bottom of the page and we'll pick a name next week.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but science says cyclists stay young

It's already known that cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger, but scientists also believe cycling could be responsible for maintaining youth itself. Researchers at Kings College London monitored 120 cyclists aged between 55 and 79 and failed to observe signs of ageing that would be typical in the same age profile.

Cycling and the 'fountain of youth'

The association may seem fanciful, but researchers found regular riders 'optimise the ageing process'. Steve Harridge of King’s College London, senior author of a study published in the Journal of Physiology said: “We had assumed that there is a linear straight line decline in physiology with ageing, but that is very unlikely to be the case. We’re not saying we’re reversing ageing, but that cycling seems to optimise the ageing process."

"Because most of the population is largely sedentary, the tendency is to assume that inactivity is the inevitable condition for humans. However, given that our genetic inheritance stems from a period when high levels of physical activity were the likely norm, being physically active should be considered to play an essential role in maintaining health and well-being throughout life."

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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