Cycler's High

 By Matt Reich

All of our lives are filled with more stress and problems than we may want to admit. The key to having a healthy mental life is to figure out ways to manage those things. This is not always the easiest of tasks. It is, however, easy to let some problem eat away at you until you feel flat out depressed. None of us want to get to that point. That is not a fun state of mind to be in and once you're there it's not easy to break out of it. There has to be ways to battle the stressors of our lives. Some people may see a therapist to work through their issues. I won't say that it doesn't work, but it's not for me. I prefer a more proactive approach to mental health...cycling.

I have always been an active person so I will back up the idea that some sort of exercise will help keep you mentally healthy. Scientifically, aerobic exercise increases the amount of endorphins you body produces. Endorphins are chemicals produced by your body when you aerobically (get your heart rate up) exert yourself. They affect your brain in a manner that allows you to feel less pain, reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, and even delay the aging process. You may have heard someone talk about getting a "runner's high" after a tough workout. That is the result of the increased endorphin level in the brain. It's a sweet feeling and it is not just reserved for "runners". You can achieve that feel from about any aerobic activity. The bottom line here is that regular aerobic exercise will help keep you mentally healthy. You can't argue against that.

I have become an avid bicycler over the last four years or so and there is not doubt in my mind that regular riding helps keep my mind fresh. Granted I could probably get a similar result from about any aerobic activity, but I feel that cycling has a few added benefits. I'm looking for that "cycler's high".

First off, I ride in basically three separate "genres" of cycling. I commute to work, I trail ride on a mountain bike, and I road ride on a road bike. Each has special benefits to my mental health.

Let's talk about commuting to work. I love to ride my bike to and from work. The ride to work in the morning really gets me going. It wakes me up. There is nothing that wakes you up more than getting your heart rate up a bit. This is not a difficult ride, but it gets the job done. The commute sort of jump-starts my brain. The ride home after work gives me a chance to wind down a bit. It helps to dissipate whatever stress had built up during the day and gives me some time to myself to clear my head. Another more obvious benefit of the commute is that I get some exercise.

Trail riding was really the catalyst to my cycling passion. This is the area I started to take more seriously before the others. I would go on a two hour ride and think I was out for 20 minutes. This is the effect of the trail ride. You can "lose" yourself in the woods away from the hustle and bustle. I don't mean literally get lost. You can get into a state of mind where the only thing you are thinking about is the next obstacle in front of you. For the time you are on the trail that is the only thing on your mind, or at least it should be. If you're not paying attention you could wreck and I think we all like to avoid those whenever possible. You can also take a break anytime during your ride, take a deep breath and enjoy where you are...the great outdoors. That's therapeutic on its own. A couple hours on the trail isn't going to be a solution to some heavy problem, but it will at least give you a break from it. It'll also get those endorphins flowing and maybe put you in a better state of mind to attack your problems. I always feel invigorated and refreshed after a good session out on the trail. There's the cycler's high.

Road riding is something that has almost the opposite affect as trail riding to me. I like to get out on the open road and just ride. There seems to be more time for thinking when I'm on my roadie. Not that I don't have to pay attention to what I'm doing, it just isn't as intense as a trail ride. This is a great time to really think through whatever is on your mind. The next thing you know you'll have ridden 30 miles. It's really a great experience. You're not going to solve the problems of the world, but you'll allow yourself some time to work on it. The combination of aerobic activity and the wind in your face has a profound effect on how you see things. Everything seems simple. If you're looking for a different perspective this is the way to do it. It's easy to see how people get hooked on road riding. There's something almost intoxicating about the whole experience. Once you start you can't get enough. Again...the cycler's high.

These are my personal experiences of how cycling helps me keep my sanity. They are by no means the only way to benefit from getting on your bike. That's the beauty of it. Get out and ride in whatever way you can and I guarantee you will get more than a workout.

As always...Ride On.

Matt Reich is the owner of [http://www.thebicycleguide.com]. He is an avid mountain biker, road biker, and commuter. Check his website for more bicycle related information.

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