Comments on: Cycling and Happiness

By: Wheezer2

Wheezer2 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:07:20 +0000

I find cycling very mood enhancing, just being out for a ride, taking it easy, pushing myself, climbing hills, descending and cranking it up on the flats, riding with mates, meeting new people are all really good mind cleansing experiences.

The greatest impact for me is always the day after a good ride, i still benefit from the slowed down feeling i get, which obviously comes from expending lots of energy on the ride. I feel mellow, relaxed and just all round calm. I generally am an easy going person but this just seems to free me of the ‘space junk’!!

The day i stood waiting for a bus outside a cycling shop, i had enough time to admire the ‘new to me’ bikes in the window and i decided to ‘get back’ on a bike………………….life changing!!!!

By: tejvan

tejvan — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:45:48 +0000

The thing about commuting riding, is that you appreciate more when you can get to cycle in a nice place.

By: tejvan

tejvan — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:45:10 +0000

cheers Al-bo. I agree about sunlight. It’s tough if you work 9-5 and have to train in evening. Also, it’s also a very good point about all the things nagging at our attention. When you’re on the bike, you really get away from all that. I think people will increasingly want that.

By: Al-Bo

Al-Bo — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:59:12 +0000

Although you’re stressing your body, a bike ride can be mentally relaxing. I find if I’m at home, there’s always something I feel I should be doing or something that’s distracting me. It doesn’t really matter what those things are. Whatever it is builds that skittish way of living where you give yourself constant mental stimulation – reaching for the laptop when there’s a set of adverts in a programme you’re watching.

Cycling slows your thinking down. You concentrate on where you’re going (and on how much you’re hurting) and little else. You daydream and clear away a few nagging thoughts. It’s kind of like meditation.

You also neglect to mention the impact of daylight on mood. It’s easy to avoid going outdoors at this time of year, but this can have a big impact on how people feel. If there’s some way of getting yourself out of the front door and into natural light for an hour or so, it can do wonders for your mood.

By: georgie o

georgie o — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:32:51 +0000

Well, my cycle commute is my least favourite – it’s only 9ish miles, has a nice three mile hill at the end on my way to work and one 2 mile hill on my way home. My ride to work feels much harder than all the challenging, long, off road rides I do for fun. I hate the traffic, I hate having to set off really early to avoid heavy traffic, but the actual riding is enjoyable.

I love leisure cycling. Off roading on bridleways & cycle tracks is by far my favourite type. I love the challege, the mud, the hills. I’m always elated afterwards.
Picnic rides with my other half on the tandem are also right up there too.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:39:31 +0000

I think this is a really good topic, nicely captured.

Yes I agree with the link between cycling and an uplift in ones mood. There is a definite link between exercise and the release of endorphins(?) which can give a “high”. The runner’s high is well known but less so with the cyclist’s high.

The weather as well as the surroundings can, I believe, have an impact but there are so many other variables.

I can go for a bike ride with all kinds things bothering me and when I return, most of them have melted away. More so with running – that is something else entirely. The best kind of ride is a longish gentle ride with a blast of a finish over the last mile or two.

Doug.