The Mental Health Benefits of Cycling

Introduction

I have previously written about the mental health benefits of walking, which played a major role in helping me get through the pandemic. Since that time I have gotten into cycling, which (as I have discovered) leads to dramatic improvements to mental health, something which we can agree is sorely needed these days. Read on to learn more.

Cycling and mental health

So how does riding a bicycle help with mental health? There are three main reasons.

One feels good while cycling

There are many videos out there on the benefits of cycling, but there is one quote from one particular video worth highlighting.

“You cannot be sad riding a bicycle.”

Mark Martin TED Talk

This is because a person on a bicycle feels the wind in their face, the sun on their skin, the drizzle on their clothes, all the while gaining the satisfaction of physically moving thanks to their own power. This feeling is amplified further when cycling in nature. For these reasons, for many bicycle riders, getting from point A to B is often secondary to the fact that one is riding a bicycle for its own purpose.

On a bicycle one feels good being around other people on bicycles. Similar to how runners, who are otherwise complete strangers, will wave at each other as they approach from opposite directions, bicycle riders often acknowledge each other with a friendly head nod. It is worth noting this is completely different from the way drivers interact with each other.

“Have a nice day, fellow motor vehicle operator!” (Image by Azmi Talib from Pixabay)

I ride my bicycle to and from my office, and for the aforementioned reasons I actually look forward to my commute.

A social experience

While cycling can be done as a solitary activity (and there is nothing wrong with that), there are many benefits to cycling as a group as a social activity. This can be a small group of friends getting together for a ride, or participating in a centrally-organized group ride. I have done both, and they are great for meeting like-minded people and building community.

Rest stop with the Ottawa Bicycle Club

Starting line at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario fundraiser ride

And even when riding alone, it is not uncommon for me to encounter someone I know also riding their bicycle, and we either stop to chat or decide to ride together.

A source of pride

Whether cycling becomes a source of pride, and the extent to which that happens, depends on the person. My pride from cycling derives from self-discovery, overcoming personal boundaries, and accomplishing feats I would not previously have thought possible, such as a two-day 342 km round trip between Ottawa and Kingston this summer.

Read more: I Completed the 2025 Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour

Cycling into Perth on the way to Kingston

Achieving a sense of pride from cycling can happen at any level of fitness or ambition, and there is no “right” way to reach this point. And that is one of the great things about this activity: one can make it into whatever one wants it to be.

Conclusion

At a time of mental health crisis at both the individual and collective levels due to factors including the environment, it is more important than ever for each of us to take care of ourselves. Cycling is a great way to meet people with similar interests and feel good about oneself, one pedal stroke at a time.