Mental Health Benefits of Cycling

Mental Health Benefits of Cycling

The benefits of cycling extend beyond our bodies to our minds as well.

Exercise in general is good for our brains. Countless scientific studies have proven the emotional benefits of moving our bodies. Research shows that activities like cycling improve mood through their ability to heighten self-esteem and cognitive function. It may even help to reduce depression and anxiety. “As humans, we are meant to move,” Henderson says. “If we’re not doing physical activity, our minds are not in the right place.”

Biking is a great way to build connections. From riding with a peloton of bikers in a road race to pedaling alongside your third grader to gathering with people from around the globe on a group ride, there are myriad ways to deepen relationships and find community through cycling. “Biking can connect you to community and reduce loneliness,” Blonsky says. Want to see the world through a new lens? “Broaden your perspective on lots of things by experiencing the world on a bike.”

Look for cycling meetup groups, bike maintenance workshops and events held in your community, including at your local . Biking with others can change your life, “When I moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, I was welcomed into a laid-back, fun mountain biking community,” she says. “That’s when I really fell in love with it. Mountain biking became a way to form lasting friendships while connecting with the stunning beauty around me.”

Biking is fun. Research demonstrates the joy of cycling, but it’s something we know inherently too. Remember that big grin and feeling of freedom you experienced as a kid pedaling away from home for the first time? Turns out, we can find that same glee and sense of independence as adults too. “At its core, biking is my playtime,” Abel says, “and having the chance to share that with friends as an adult feels truly special.”