Road cycling or mountain biking can certainly help put a smile on your face!
Your bike can not only help to get your body in shape, it can also help with your mental wellbeing. Yes, you heard us right, there are a number of great mental benefits that can be gained from cycling, no matter what your ability is.
Whether you’re winding through country lanes or tearing up your local trails, taking to two-wheels has proven benefits for your mental health. With COVID changing life as we know it, it’s not been an easy year, so it’s never been more important to look after your wellbeing. This post will highlight some of the ways in which jumping on your bike can help to improve your mental health.
Fresh Air
Stop for a moment and take in the scenery whilst out on your bike
With the weather still being on the rather chilly side, many of us may have taken up indoor cycling in an attempt to avoid the wind and rain. Whilst all exercise provides us with physical and mental benefits, you just can’t beat cycling outdoors.
There’s nothing like the feeling of air rushing past your face and excitement from hurtling down a road or trail to help lift your mood. You don’t get that by cycling at home, that’s for sure!
Research has shown that riding out in the fresh air can leave you feeling revitalised, energised and optimistic in ways that indoor exercise can’t, which all help to increase your overall mood and mental wellbeing.
Improves your social life
Why not enter an event or even a race!
The beauty of cycling or mountain biking is that they can be carried with a group and it can be a very sociable occasion. This social interaction is key for maintaining healthy brain function and provides you with feelings of belonging and security leading to improved mental wellbeing.
After what seems like a very long time not being able to mix with our extended family and friends, why not get together and race each other to the top of each hill and then celebrate with a slab of cake and a hot drink or better still, with pubs opening up again, a nice cold beer!
Cycling is a great social activity and regularly getting together with people with similar passions will get them endorphins boosted in no time. We have recently started hosting weekly group cycles (Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings) to spread this feel-good factor, so make sure you check out our Facebook page for more information.
As well as the social side, riding in a group can also provide you with a source of motivation and help you to achieve your goals whatever they may be. By realising your aims, this can help to feel a sense of achievement and increase self-esteem.
Aerobic Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
You don’t need to get out every day…a couple of times a week will improve your mental wellbeing
Aerobic exercise, of which cycling is a great example, has been proven to significantly reduce depression and anxiety levels and is even said to help with the management of panic attacks and disorders.
Life can be stressful and sometimes things just get too much, but by taking some time out on your bike it will cause your brain to release feel-good chemicals, which will enhance your sense of wellbeing and help to keep symptoms of anxiety and depression at bay.
We also know how busy life can get and exercise sometimes gets put on the backburner, but it’s important to note that you don’t need to be cycling every day of the week for hours on end to feel these benefits. By cycling as little as two times a week for around 30 minutes you will be reaping the rewards provided by aerobic exercise in no time.
Escape Repetitive Thoughts
Of course, riding with friends is great for your mental health, as it allows for that social element to be added to your ride, but don’t be mistaken, riding solo also has great advantages for your wellbeing.
By hopping on your bike, it places your body into a meditative state without having too much of a conscious decision to actually sit down and meditate. As you focus on rhythmic patterns it requires just enough concentration to stop your mind circling around your daily worries.
You may start to think about how you’re going to deal with that problem at work or when you need to pay your next bill, but there won’t be enough time to dwell before you have to react to the next set of traffic lights or decide where your route will take you next.
Every turn of your pedals can feel as if you are driving away your daily stress and stopping the repetitive thoughts in their tracks. This helps to empty your mind which decreases stress levels and helps to boost mental wellbeing. For some people it even helps them to make key decisions in their head.
With the end of lockdown in sight and as life slowly starts to return to normal, it’s easy to forget about your mental health, but as you now know the mental benefits of getting those legs spinning, what are you waiting for?
Take charge of your mental health before it takes charge of you.
