Does cycling clear your head?

[hartleymartin]

Do you find that cycling helps you deal with stressful work? I've found that regular cycling, whether for utility purposes or just recreation has helped me to feel calmer, less stressed, and generally have a more positive outlook on life. I don't know exactly how this works, but for the most part, things feel to be in their right place when I've had a ride. Yehuda Moon shares this sentiment:



http://www.yehudamoon.com/

[Oxford]

couldn't agree more, even a rotten ride after a hard day leaves me feeling better than no ride. as usual Yehuda Moon is on the mark.

[trailgumby]

Did a lap around Awaba mtb park today - cleared both the head - and the lungs - of a couple of weeks worth of flu congestion

[you cannot be sirrus]

Absolutely the best therapy there is IMO. (Don't tell the g/f) My Saturday morning ride group were discussing this on our ride today, the worse the week at work the stronger the desire to find some hills and flog yourself on a ride.

[gtfpv cycler]

its true , i think when your riding , your mind cannot wander on thoughts, you just ride and thats what your thinking about . probably the best time out there is . cannot wait to get back on the bike after what will be a month off it .

[LHT]

It is all a form of invaluable meditation for me, you can plumb the depths while out there on your bikes, and not even consciously. It's a fascinating thing.

Bike riding can take you places.

[Mustang]

This time of year, makes my nose run!!!!!!!!!!

[Semar]

Yep, riding puts things into perspective.

Recalling is reconstructing impressions, worrying is predicting an unpredictable future. The only real moment is now.

And on a bike if you ain't in the now moment then you might be in quite a mess. A real mess.

[madrapper]

Yes definitely. If I've ridden early (either to work or otherwise) then it doesn't matter what the day throws at me - it's already been a good day

[HappyHumber]

I tell ya what though... if work has been stuffing me around, and those circumstances then prevent me from bike commuting home or to/fro the next boy do my colleagues cop it! Miss any more than 2 or 3 days and I am ropable.

[dandyandy08]

Totally agree. I work in an major emergency department and see some crazy, crazy shizen. The last thing I need to do is come home and vent to the wife a d kids. The means I get home tired but unwound, give the family a hug and sleep with a clear head

[Eugene]

Works a treat every time, 5km in and all the random muck of the day is gone.

The only thing I find that works better is a FAST ride on tight / technical track on my motor bike (off road), you cant let your mind wander off the job of riding or its all over.

[sogood]

A little riding in the winter clears my head. Serious riding leaves me exhausted and crashing in bed.

[HappyHumber]

The only thing I find that works better is a FAST ride on tight / technical track on my motor bike (off road), you cant let your mind wander off the job of riding or its all over.

Just think what a MTB could do! Have one or two mates ex-motocross converted to MTB (for various reasons, not least of all financial) and are loving it

[ColinOldnCranky]

Well, it certainly relaxes and destrresses. On the other hand when I rode a regular bike I got lots of congestion/head colds in winter, though admittedly the nose did run during the actual ride.

Is that what you were asking about?

[goneriding]

Indeed it does! The climb over ANZAC Bridge closely followed by Lilyfield Rd clears everything and if it doesn't it's been a shocker or I haven't hit it hard enough!

As far as the more literal definition of head clearing is concerned, I've been disease free since 2008 which coincides with my entry into obsessive riding

[Utedog]

Yep and lungs!

[SilentBob]

YES. That is all.

[SilentBob]

Yep, riding puts things into perspective.

Toooo true. Especially in the rain I find.... Love it.

[ozrider]

I work from home most days, if I can't get out on the bike I go stir crazy.

I've even taking to riding after I've finished for the day and getting back in the dark just to get out.

[Wayfarer]

Actually, our University study (University of Western Sydney) is about the influence of aerobic exercise on mental/cognitive function. I'm one of the helpers (not the actual researchers) doing the indoor cycling and running classes to improve the experiment group. We need to write a research paper on something everybody already knows? What's the world coming to?

[greyhoundtom]

Actually, our University study (University of Western Sydney) is about the influence of aerobic exercise on mental/cognitive function. I'm one of the helpers (not the actual researchers) doing the indoor cycling and running classes to improve the experiment group. We need to write a research paper on something everybody already knows? What's the world coming to?

While any type of indoor aerobic exercise will provide some measure of mental improvement, it has nothing on the stress relief experienced by cycling or running in an outdoor environment exposed to nature and fresh air.