Does cycling clear your head?

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hartleymartin
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Does cycling clear your head?

Postby hartleymartin » Sat May 07, 2011 5:16 pm

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:

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Last edited by hartleymartin on Sat May 07, 2011 8:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby trailgumby » Sat May 07, 2011 5:39 pm

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

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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby you cannot be sirrus » Sat May 07, 2011 5:43 pm

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.

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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby gtfpv cycler » Sat May 07, 2011 5:58 pm

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 .

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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby LHT » Sat May 07, 2011 6:46 pm

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.
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby Mustang » Sat May 07, 2011 6:59 pm

This time of year, makes my nose run!!!!!!!!!!
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Semar
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby Semar » Sat May 07, 2011 7:20 pm

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. :wink:
It’s more like our thoughts are thinking us than we are thinking them.

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madrapper
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby madrapper » Sun May 08, 2011 11:15 pm

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 :D
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HappyHumber
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby HappyHumber » Sun May 08, 2011 11:32 pm

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.
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby dandyandy08 » Sun May 08, 2011 11:34 pm

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

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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby Eugene » Mon May 09, 2011 7:45 am

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.

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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby sogood » Mon May 09, 2011 8:33 am

A little riding in the winter clears my head. Serious riding leaves me exhausted and crashing in bed.
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby HappyHumber » Mon May 09, 2011 8:56 am

Eugene wrote: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
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ColinOldnCranky
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby ColinOldnCranky » Mon May 09, 2011 11:39 am

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? :roll:
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goneriding
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby goneriding » Mon May 09, 2011 12:24 pm

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 :)
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Utedog
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby Utedog » Mon May 09, 2011 1:30 pm

Yep and lungs!
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SilentBob
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby SilentBob » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:41 pm

YES. That is all.
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SilentBob
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby SilentBob » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:44 pm

Semar wrote:Yep, riding puts things into perspective.
Toooo true. Especially in the rain I find.... Love it.
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ozrider
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby ozrider » Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:33 pm

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.
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Wayfarer
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby Wayfarer » Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:33 am

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? :)
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Re: Does cycling clear your head?

Postby greyhoundtom » Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:03 am

Wayfarer wrote: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.

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