Can Mountain Biking Help Your Mental Health? | MTB Is Our Therapy
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2020
- Times have been very different for almost everybody in the world, and we're sure times have been hard for a lot of people. Mental Health has been a talking point for the last few years, even more so at the moment, with much of the world in lockdown.
Everyone's situation is different, and in this video, Neil is speaking on his own personal views that are backed with some helpful research provided by @gcn and a video they made with help from Oxford University looking into the relationship between cycling and its boost for Mental Health. You can watch that video here: gcn.eu/mentalhealth
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My two year old son died of cancer in 2018. I bought a mtb in a desperate attempt to avoid slipping into a very, very dark place. Riding has made carrying on bearable and has possibly saved my life. I dread to think where I might be without it.
So sry to hear that. Stay strong Buddy 💪❤
Sorry about that. Hope you can get through it.
Hang in there, really sorry to hear that
Sorry to hear that. I am glad mtb has saved your life, keep well.
Really sorry to hear that and glad you can find some way to help
My bikes saved my mind from collapsing into a proverbial black hole.
So my opinion is YES, 1000%
SAME. Riding saved me.
Most difficult part of riding for me? Is from the bed to the bike. Really struggle some days, but when I'm on the bike it's always good, road or mtb.
Same, I find if I prepare my bike and kit the night before it helps... My gear sitting there staring at me has shamed me into getting motivated more than once!
break it into tiny steps: Pick bike shorts. Pick jersey. Load bike. etc. etc. Little bitty steps to overcome the inertia. Once riding I never regret it.
Same
Getting the bike out of the garage is the hardest part of any ride for me some days.
Same here, it has happened to often to me that when I have finally gotten my preparations ready for a ride it's far too late to actually start the ride itself.
I suffer from severe depression, I have an actual order from my Dr. to ride MTB.
It will really help almost guaranteed
Dont buy a bike from walmart, target, etc go to a bike shop
Walmart bikes are dangerous they are heavy, noisy, badly built and habe really cheap parts
I went from a walmart bike (cut my leg with the bike) to a trek marlin 4 the difference was sooooo big the marlin 4 felt lile a 5000 dollar bike compared to it plus the marlin is only 450
Avoid anti depressants like the plague. Focus on diet before all else, then exercise (MTB) and throw in some breathing exercises. Don't neglect sleep, it plays a massive role.
Good luck.
God yes. A solo ride in the bush gets my stressed head straight every time. Sometimes it’s better than riding with a group.
I feel more relaxed and stress-free riding by myself. But I do enjoy group riding.
Personally, I'm the other way round. I love getting out with my mates because I find that the banter and riding compliments themselves perfectly and I forget all about my personal worries. I do like the occasional solo ride tho, but I definitely prefer group rides. I find that in a solo ride, I can get lost in my thoughts and then I start thinking about my worries instead of the other way round. It just shows that everyone is wired differently.
Solo rides are nice. No stress. Just let the trail flow.
This is such a good, honest video. Riding over these times has definitely been a moment of escapism for many.
It was for me until I crashed and broke my wrist
Every time I ride I am dealing all of life’s pressures and fighting depression back with every pedal stroke. Riding my bike has changed my life I’m a better person better husband better father and the best role model I can be .bike life forever
Mountain biking has almost completely taken away my moderate depression and reduced my anxiety. So the answer is yes, mountain biking is an amazing therapy!
Being in nature helps by it self riding a MTB bike helps even more
Brings you into the moment. Full focus on the trail and whats coming up helps to wash away the rubbish thoughts. Mindfulness riding thats why i love mountain biking. Thanks for this great episode guys.
I suffer with my mental health and I can say riding definitely helps me with keeping it under control, great video 👍
Absolutely helps
Anything that gets you off the couch and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life
For me it’s being in a job I hate, while applying for jobs and getting the automated reply to say I was unsuccessful this time. It kinda drains you after a while, getting out on the bike helps to some degree to clear the mind and to refocus.
Speaking from experience definitely yes
Inhale that fresh air, nail that climb, feel the sunshine (and the mud), get scared and push your limits and get out your comfort zone... Hurt, laugh, cry, scream with sheer abandon...feel something...
Life is way too short to sit behind a screen or in a cubicle or not even try in the first place for fear of what could happen. You will find yourself and someone you never knew you even had in you out where the wild things dwell.
It's a pretty personal subject for me this and I whole heartedly encourage anyone who feels in a slump, or down, or lonely to just push it even if all the odds seem stacked sky high against you. It will 100% change you for the better.
Riding is my MEDITATION, clears my head, i get in the flow. Raising my stoke!
Riding has changed my life in soo many positive ways. I LOVE THIS Sport.😎🙌🏽
I feel like everyone needs to do something for a few hours where they forget all their worries and problems, whether that be mountain biking, gaming or something else. For me, mountain biking is something where I can get out and just have a clear headspace, I absolutely think it's amazing for your mental health.
Short story: yes. It is therapudic and the funnest thing ever
Dont even need to watch the vid to comfirm it😃
*agreed*
As a doctor, I concur.
Great, answer
Unless you shatter your bones...
9 months ago i had a mini mental break down. Then 6 months ago i had a mega break down. Suffered catastrophic anxiety and depression. Without doubt mtb kept me away from doing a really stupid thing and saved my life. I was riding occasionally beforehand for a few years prior but was still a real beginner. I was unable to work for a good 4 months after my big total melt down. Being without a job I could either stay at home, scared of my own shadow planning on how to end my suffering, or get out there on my bike. So one day I just went out. It made me feel better, then the endorphins from exercise crept in. I strung a few days together and formed a new habit. Wake up and ride. I started to find new places to ride and my riding skill progressed much higher than i ever thought they could be. I couldnt wait to get out of bed and spend the next day in nature, pushing myself, even found some riding buddies. I would spend all night up in the shed tinkering with my bike, cleaning it, maintaining it, and tuning it with Doddy guiding in the background on my phone as I fixed whatever it was. Mtb and the whole experience gave me hope, passion, drive and reward. Plus it's hard to think dark when you are busting your gut on a climb. Please, if you are feeling down, unnecessary sad, cynical, and dark, it's a sign that you need some help. DON'T IGNORE IT. I did for years but I just buried it in work or needing to "man up". It is far more common than most think. There are people out there who genuinely want to help you. Your life is amazing and you just may need some help realising that or shifting your perspective. MTB saved my life but my wife, my psyc, and my doc helped immensely. They all helped me put the pieces back together.
I'm back at work, I'm a husband and a dad again.
It's a big help to me. The time i'm on my bike is spent thinking about what i'm doing and not the things bringing me down. Some people think we are stupid for doing what we do but while you are pushing your bike down a trail as fast as you can you are only thinking about that, there's nothing else going on in your head. For that time, you are free from everything.
Yes it does, and a great deal might I say. I suffer from quite severy anxiety from time to time. Going out riding makes the storm in my head go away, makes me concentrate on the trail head and lets me forget all the stress I make up in my head. Also the feeling of accomplishment after having done a jump, having finished a number of laps, that puts a smile on your face And smiles = good! Last but not least: if you feel you cannot deal with your mental state yourself anymore, talk to people. Let of the steam, it helps!
It's in these times when I need my bike the most. Keep safe Neil.
I've said it a few times to friends and family and I'll shout it from the hills, riding a bike has completely changed my life. I ride every day, wether to work or to the forest. It never feels like a chore. I've been at points in my life wishing myself dead, staying in bed all day because I can't even bare to look outside, and thankfully that has completely changed, a £1500 piece of metal and components might not be anything to some people, but it's my one true release from the misery of day to day life, and now it will have to be pry from my cold dead hands before I give it up.
Yes it does!!!!!!!
The moment I can't decide and start contemplating life decisions, but when GMBN post something makes me happy 😁
LOVE MTN biking 😊
No joke MTB brought me out of a years long depression. I even broke my collarbone and despite not being able to ride, I finally had the mental strength to really deal with my depression and anxiety. I started seeing a counselor while I heal up physically. I'll come back a more mentally fit and stronger rider once my clavicle is ready to go.
I was only talking to my sister about this today. I’m so glad I’ve took up mountain biking as it’s been hugely beneficial not only physically but also mentally. It’s pulled me out from a dark place and can see my life turning round for the positive.
MTB literally saved my life, not only in the form of much needed excercise, but also in the sense that it is the only place I can go where I have no depression and anxiety. I am by no means fast and by no means a great rider, but that makes railing a turn and tackling a technical climb even the more satisfying. I used to find my relief through playing music, and while I still find it there it cannot compare to riding a bike. My friends criticize me for how much I spent on my bike, but they don't realize that because of this bike I have saved money by not needing to go see a therapist, saved money from medication, become a much stronger person in every aspect and it has provided me with access to hundreds of free trail systems to ride in my home state. To me you can't put a price on that. I heard it said somewhere that "no matter how slow you are you are still lapping everyone sitting on their couch" and that is how I approach every ride.
A "bad" day on the trails is still better than the best day at work!
Whether it's biking, skiing, speedriding or whichever of the activities I use to escape from what feels like an unhappy life, I have found that the release is in being incredibly present in the moment. Looking ahead at the trail, spotting jumps and drops, reading terrain and focusing on what I'm doing means that I can't think about what's hurting. I can have suicidal thoughts on the lift up but once I get my skis sliding or the wheels turning I am focusing on that. Pushing myself further and further helps because of how focused I have to be. Often times just that break from the thoughts and feelings are enough for me to just keep on swimming. And hell yeah, a couple of minutes after having those thoughts I can be flying through the air and still have moments of thinking "it feels good to be alive". If i'm honest that feeling doesn't linger, so I just have to get back to the top of the mountain and do it again.
My first bike helped me out of a depression. Riding at night in those bad days, enjoying the quiet streets of Lisbons, then it went to a MTB getting dirty and hapier at the end of every ride.
It's the cheapesiest psicotherapy, available 24/7!
Ty, GMBN!
I struggled a couple times with depression and sadbacks. Mountain biking and doing so being in nature with your bike riding trails and focussing on just that helped me to get back to being myself again.
Riding alone, riding with my kids, riding in the woods... it all fills me with joy.
Me and my eldest lost some weight. Twice the benefits!
It helps me every day.
I've recently been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and honestly love nothing more than getting out on the bike whether its by myself or with my kids. Just love it.
For me, just getting out into the nature is mental rehab. Mountain biking is just one way to do it. Probably the best way though...
I was a fireman at a very busy fire station,part of my job was being a road accident specialist,so I got to witness some pretty awful sights,my guvnor at the time got myself and others into mountain biking,and I never looked back.Every Sunday we'd all ride up on the South Downs,and the mountain biking really helped me cope with the day to day mental anguish of the job.I've been mountain biking now since 1994 and love what biking does for you physically and mentally.Great video Neil,thanks.
I have Huntingtons which brings with it Severe Depression which I take drugs for and think MTB got me out of that pit and now riding 3 times a week for 2 hours or more and still building skills even after decades of riding . You are right MTBing is my therapy and my passion.
As an engineer, my mind is always on, so much so that I nearly always have difficulty sleeping, even before COVID. Nothing has ever helped me clear my mind completely like MTB. I consider this the number one benefit of the sport, more even than heart health and strength benefits biking provide. It absolutely is therapy! Great video, and thanks for the recognition.
jeez totally agree, it's not only the exercise but also the feeling of the ride, the helpfulness of the community, the escape and the calmness of tinkering with music
Yes GMBN! Mountain biking is honestly so important to me, it's an escape. You're forced to focus on the trail rather than your thoughts and it's a wonderful break from life. It sounds like it's keeping so many of us going through the lockdown.
The gym was/is my escape. Without that its been tough especially as I've been working aswell. I had my first proper ride in 15 years yesterday on a bike and I loved it!
Mtb is better than gyms
The best addiction you can possibly develop. 👍
Long term illness has stopped me riding, but I get my MTB fix through GMBN these days. Also and this is really important, seeing Martyn ride is inspirational to those of us that have been affected by illness and disability. My Doctors have said that riding may happen again, but my body is saying no for the time being. What have I replaced riding with? For a while it was antidepressants, but these days it is day trips to beautiful places on my motorbike when I can and actually allowing myself to grieve for my lost life as a mountaineer and mountain biker. If I have a lesson, it would be listen to your body when you are young, injuries do not magically go away, if ignored they only get worse and if riding for therapeutic reasons, as I was, there is no shame in asking for help. Thank you to all of the GMBN crew for all of your efforts, you do more good than you probably know.
Suffered from mental health issues for many years and was never happier than when on my mtb ,but ended up in a job that meant I stopped. 4 years on bike was sold long while back and I was on furlough so I bought another bike and then got redunded. Bikes arrived and gonna use this time to clear my head and reevaluate things for the future .
Absolutely Colin what life is about same here no job but at least we are alive to enjoy life pal
20 years ago I started riding with my then teenage son having stopped smoking. I not only got fit but found new biking friends, and we all still ride to this day!
Best thing I ever did especially when I had a stressful job. Nothing better to be in a forest and clear your head and have some bantz with your biking buddies!
Although not always good for your bank balance!
#GMBN Mountain biking, for me, is therapy. It’s a way for me to enjoy exercising. And on days when I’m tired or don’t feel Lomé going out my daily dose of #GMBN #EMBN and #GCN gets me that little extra to take out one of bikes and make the first pedal stroke. Sincerely thank you all for keeping us motivated and engaged in the sport. You keep us all going.
I have anxiety , and OCD in several forms, I can honestly say buying a mountainbike changed my life for the better. Today i can function and maintain a part time job. Its tough at first, but you feel the mental progress after your very first ride. And theres no feeling like feeling better. And Mountain biking makes You feel better 😍👍💪😁
I would say that I deal with a good amount of depression, perhaps even undiagnosed bipolar disorder. I will definitely fall into very dark places that last for far longer than I would ever want them to. However, I picked up my first mountain bike in January of this year - It has been nothing short of MONUMENTAL for my health. Ive ridden 4 times this week, and even if some of the rides were short, or simply sessioning one particular feature, it never fails to put a smile on my face. The aspects of setting goals, overcoming fear, gaining confidence, the absolute rush that comes along with it, on top of general exercise cannot be understated. I have focused so much of my energy now just thinking about riding, constantly watching mtb content, looking at new bikes (even though I definitely shouldn’t be doing that. Hah), looking at new parts, trying to learn everything I can. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon.
This is probably the best video that GMBN ever produce. So honest. Please, don’t ever stop pedalin’...
Maintance a bike and riding through the woods are my best ways to be at mental peace.
And your channel helps me with that too. Thanks from the viewer from Russia.
Excellent video Neil. Accurately informative, and also candid and relatable. Thanks for making it.
As a mountain biker and mental health professional there's one comment I'd like to pick up on though.
Around 6.38 you talk about "identifying why" mental health is suffering. While doing that it's important to bear in mind that depression and anxiety can hugely amplify minor worries (or even create negatives in the absence of apparent cause). Even if the problem is resolved these thought patterns can persist and maintain poor mental health or predispose us to further episodes. Trying to look at things from an external perspective ("what would I say if a friend had told me that?" ) can help us challenge these intrinsically unhelpful styles of thinking. Anyone looking for that type of help just now could search for online CBT while the lockdown is on
I think I said this before on another video of GMBN; Mountain biking has cured me from alcoholism. Although you're never really cured, it did boost my mental strength to maintain myself sober. This is not just a sport, a hobby or lifestyle, it's just mountain biking. I think this is playground for grown ups and maybe that's what we really all need as human beings.
On a side note...."Joe Rogan Experience" on Neil's phone was awsome!!
It is for me - the woods, nature, brotherhood on trails, peace ✌️
I've been mountain biking since 1989 with a break of 10 years, got back in the saddle 3 years ago and I've never looked back it is truly the best thing I have ever done, I would be lost without it
I've always found that riding my bike puts me in a better mood and helps with my mental health. But especially so since I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease about 8 months ago. Since then I haven't always been able to ride when I want to, or even feel like riding when I know that i could be, but when I do get out to ride and enjoy it, there is nothing that follows me into those woods. No problems, no deadlines, and it gives me a time away from the physical and mental pains of my condition, simply allowing joy in the ride and peace away from problems.
As I suffer from mental health issues and ptsd when I'm out on my bike I feel happy and relaxed that helps me with my low mood which helps me to forget about the pain for a few hours
It's a beautiful fulfilling emotion that words can't convey to know that many people are becoming more conscious about their all-around health. And to share the knowledge & experiences and internal feelings with the world openly is priceless. Yeah, we all need money to play a part in this "MATRIX" but overall a lot becomes accomplished through...COMMITMENT, DARK STRUGGLE, PAIN...CONNECTION, SELFLESSNESS, SELF-OBBSEVATION, and the best part LOVE. Be good to yourself and others, judge properly love constantly...ride consciously your mother and father love you. LETS RIDE
Yes it is i dont want to sound all oh poor me but the only thing that has got me through this and last year is mountain biking it’s something for me to escape on and forget the stress of the world and since lockdown i have only been able to dig and honestly it works just aswell
This video hits different for me. I started mountainbiking 6 weeks ago because of the sort of lockdown in the netherlands. 2 days after i got my first bike i’ve got a rough into a rough breakup. Mountainbiking helped me thru this everyday i went for a ride with some music to not think about her and the problems at home. I am a huge overthinker so when i am riding i am not thinking about all the stuff going on inside my head. I’ve changed when i started mountainbiking all the problems are gone and i don’t care anymore. I’m proud of myself and i love myself more than ever.
Been out on a bike just takes you mentally to a different place, then getting off with a flask of tea in your haversack is perfect for me, the sounds of the birds, the sounds of the woods, the views, the tranquility, the people you meet on the way is why i love riding my bikes.
There's nothing quite like it!
I'm 3 seconds into the video and I gotta say yes because it's been helping me with anxiety for a very long time and I don't know what I'd do without it.
Neil - this video resonated so strongly with me - thank you for your openness and suggestions. I often refer jokingly/lovingly to my bike as my "therapist" and could not agree more that biking has played a massive role in keeping my mental health in reasonable shape. For me, a day in the forest on my enduro bike is one of life's greatest, most complete rewards. Thank you Neil and GMBN for all you do.
I just got into mountainbiking. Went to a local trail and rented a bike just to try it out, and for the first time in ages my brain was just quiet. I have an anxiety disorder and suffer from panic attacks, and mtb is my quiet place. I wish I found it earlier, but I'm so glad I have.
When my old bike's frame broke, i cried. I'm a 28 year old dude, haven't cried for... i don't even remember how long. It's not the money, since a new bike was already on its way. But all the memories that came up, the adventures and the connection that i had with that pile of metal and plastic. If mountain biking wasn't positive, we wouldn't miss it when it's over.
MTB, and cycling in general, has always helped me adjust, decompress and find myself again, both before, and now, during the virus shutdown.
I commuted to work on a bicycle, until recently, for 30yrs. As long as the roads were clear of snow I would ride. I was also lucky to ride on country roads, so there was little traffic to distract me. I found that I would be able to start the work day with far more energy. Some days the job would be very stressful and frustrating, and after a 12hr shift, the ride home was an excellent way to work all the bad out of the mind and body. My quiet country route allowed me to see all kinds of wild life, again adding to the calm feeling. If its possible to commute to work, it's worth the extra effort.
Getting out on my bike has done wonders for my state of mind especially the last few months. And now I get to fix what's damaged so even more to occupy the quiet time!
My son passed away last year. I restored his MTB and rode it a lot last summer. I credit it with really helping me get trough the long days. #4Av
Started mountain biking because I used my gym as therapy for after a really rough break with my ex. But when the gym closed due to COVID-19 I had to find an outlet. So, I grabbed my bike and hit the trails. I felt the weight of work leave my shoulders my break up leave. I found mountain biking meditative and I felt great for the first time in years! When I destroyed my bike crashing I sat there and cried because I felt like I lost a friend. But mountain biking saved me and I wouldn’t know where or what I would do without mountain biking.
For me is the silence of the thoughts, by focusing on the trail, balancing the bike, keeping the flow, being submerge into nature, creating self-confidence, activating muscle memory, with a great ride that boost thrust.
100%.
I've been trying to get out in the mornings a couple of times a week, albeit in the road, before my wife goes to work (NHS). She has commented a few times that I'm in a much better mood on those mornings where I do get out to ride.
It makes me feel energised and ready for the day which includes home schooling our 3 kids.
Great video Neil (and cameraman). MTB was my church, the best way I knew to let off steam but last year I came down with a virus which left me with a lot of constant fatigue. It's been tough adjusting to life without out MTB but it's made me realise you can't use one single thing as your only outlet because if that's taken away life can get very difficult and your mental health will suffer. I've found going for walks with good friends, time with family etc are more important these days. When I get my health back, I look forward to going back on the bike again but it will be a part of a more varied relaxed lifestyle.
Any outdoor sport where you can enjoy nature in it's purest form is kind of a therapy. for me hiking / mountaineering in the Alps is better to come down. Biking for me is more about fun and get powered out.
I'm lucky to live 2,5 km from my local trails, and even when my body don't feel like it, a ride with my 5 year old son can change even the darkest mood. taking in the view, letting my kid know he is doing great, not thinking about PB's or flow, just enjoying following him. i'm thankfull he wants to ride. and he is loving it. i tell him, we only ride if we want to. no pressure on speed or length, just for the fun... thanks guys! I got us matching GMBN jerseys too, he loves it!
That's great Thomas! Send us some pics of you guys in your jerseys if you like! upload.gmbn.com/
110% yes. I take out my frustration on good flowy trails that go into ridiculous climbs just to be able to feel better about a crappy day
A great video, full of truths that we sometimes need reminding of.
To me this is the best video you have produced. Look at the comments, people telling their stories, complete strangers wishing them the best. If this video continues to allow people to be confident enough to open up about themselves then it’ll be the best on RUclips. Personally I love riding my bike, I’ve been lucky enough to ride through this lockdown and when I’m on my bike I forget all about Covid 19. It riding my bike is my favourite thing I do. I love it.
I get splitting headaches after work most days. getting in the saddle for an hour is like taking some painkillers for me. In fact some days I ride twice a day - hard XC workout in the morning, slow pace in gravel in the eve.
Thanks for the the analogy to recovering from an injury. I hadn't thought of it that way but it is a good way to think about all this. I am 63 now and have had mountain bikes since the mid nineties and they have given me back so much more than I ever spent on them in health and wellbeing. I ain't stopping anytime soon...
I definitely agree on that, especially after a long day at school and preparation for it or generally stressful, shitty days. It is 1000 times better, than playing on a console. Sadly some days/ weeks there is no time left for a ride.
Absolutely. I've ridden my bikes probably more often than ever in a short space of time and it's been so refreshing. Exploring local trails thoroughly and improving my fitness has meant that I can gather even more from riding! Great video Neil.
Funny but I said exactly the same thing to a friend last week while out in the mtb machine's. He had a tough week at work and being out in the middle of a forest was perfect, bit of nature, riding the bike and just chillin' out.
So much better than riding on the road and constantly thinking of cars and traffic - mind still engaged a lot.
Good video.
Talk to friends and help them out even if it's just going round and hanging out in the shed with the bikes and tinkering.
Yes! Not to mention the adrenaline rush you get from riding some fast trails will make you feel on top of the world for a while.
MTB/Cycling saved my life. Riding gives me joy brings out the fun in life.
There with you. Treuer works from Sam Pilgrim have never been spoken. "Today is gonna be epic, YOLO so send it!"
Warning: This could take a while.
The answer is 100% yes for me. I can draw a plot of my mental wellbeing against how much riding I'm doing and they pretty much align.
Back when I was 17 my life was going well. Good Grades at college, decent girlfriend, good bunch of friends, getting loads of riding in and a future to look forward to. Then it all came crashing down: Family issues (which were mental health related) meant I had to pause college. The girlfriend moved on as she went to uni. My friends also moved on and became more distant. My bike was abandoned in the garage for over a year while I tried to sort out everything. Took nearly a year before I could go back to college to finish my studies. Had much fewer friends and life was a drag, even all the way through university as I was the outlier, living at home and not being in halls due to financial constraints. Did the occasional bit of riding but nothing major.
Move forward to me being in the wide world, away from studying and I met some colleagues who were into bikes (mainly road but the occasional dirty ride) so got back in the saddle with a pair of new bikes and everything became so much better. Made a job change to earn more money and it wasn't a good move. My mental health took a battering with having to hit targets, deadlines etc meaning I had no time to ride bikes and they once again sat at the back of the garage for a while. I dug them back out one summer during a week off and hit the local hills. Everything immediately was left behind at home and I felt that feeling of escape for the first time in a very long time. Work started to get better but then the financial crisis happened, putting my job at risk. Then I went off with stress, which turned into a longer term issue and I again had to change jobs.
This move was much better. I was happy again, the work was much less stressful and as a bonus I could commute to it by bike! Dug the old road bike out and used that for a while. My fitness improved, I was happier and any problems I came across could bethought over while pedalling to and from work. Things were good. I then bought a new mountain bike and started to revisit my old haunts, even managing to drag a few of my old riding buddies out occasionally. They couldn't commit to much riding due to new families etc so I was on my own again. Except this time I joined a few online forums and clubs which led to making a whole bunch of new friends purely through bikes. Cue a load of new adventures taking place with and inspired by these new friends, sometimes with them but a lot on my own too. Loads of fun and miles (and cake) was found, shared and consumed with vigour and things were good, any issue could be solved or put in perspective by riding my bikes and chewing it over with friends while riding bikes.
Then both my parents fell ill and riding stopped for a while. Except this time I didn't drop the biking. My new friends encouraged me to get back out there, even if it was just for an hour, and every time my spirits were lifted and problems were put into perspective. We've all done the same for each other at various times and even continue to do so during these strange times even though we are all scattered all over the country!
Whereas before in my life I would drop riding in times of adversity I don't now, it's the first thing I reach for instead. Making time for me and my riding has improved my mental wellbeing (in addition to the obvious physical ones) every single time. A bad day at work melts away as I cycle home. Any worries about money or family is processed while on a big day out in the hills. A day mucking about with riding mates at a bike park makes me completely forget about normal life and live in the moment. If I don't get out on the bike at least once a week or don't commute for a few days I get restless and instead of reaching for the biscuits or doughnuts I grab a bike and head out whatever the weather. I can genuinely say that my life is now pretty much shaped by bikes. The majority of my friends are due to bikes, my work life is dictated by bikes (full-time hours compressed into 4 days so I can ride more), my holidays are worked around bikes, any spare time is taken up by either riding, fixing, or dreaming about bike adventures (oh, and the odd bit of Lego). Some people say I'm obsessed but I'm not. I've found the thing that makes me invest in my physical and mental health and also happens to make the problems go away, even if its temporary.
The bottom line is if it wasn't for what riding bikes has done to my life it's fair to say I probably wouldn't be alive right now.
Yes, that was the short version!
That's great to hear! Keep on riding 🤘
Some years ago mountain biking saved me from depression that lasted a few months. I never took any antidepressants, and as long as there are bikes and hills, I won't.😌
Good question! For me it's a therapy, a passion, an Hobby, a goal, a pleasure, an obsession, a lifestyle, it's so much.... and helps me so much....
That's great to hear! It's definitely a lifestyle 🚵♀️
Found MTB riding after going through a divorce. It came at the right place and time for me. Love being outside, love exploring, tinkering and playing with tools, and finding quite places. This hobby had been such a great fit for me.
Riding on the trails is meditation for me. All you can focus on is the trail and your riding, everything else is on the back burner. Gives you a chance to step back, focus on a singular task and come back refreshed mentally after a ride.
Definitely!
Yes it is I fight cronic depression with it
Thank you indeed for this. Thank you for sharing. It feels very good to watch it and to relate.
I bought my first high quality MTB last year because of this fact . It has changed my mental health tremendously . I have quit smoking from MTBing as well :) . There are many benefits from getting outdoors and doing what you love . Wouldnt trade it for anything !
Yes absolutely I always feel so much better after a ride on my MTB on the local trails or up on the mountains near to my home. Time spent Mountain biking is never time wasted.
This was an excellent video, thank you for sharing. 1:27 well said. I love the physical and mental aspects of mountain biking, the determination during the grind of a long climb. the burn in my legs. The focus and concentration required to pick the best lines. Your tutorials have helped build my confidence and I am now able to stay in control in gnarly sections and not pull a dead sailor every time I hit a jump. Being the strongest physically and mentally won't save you from dark times as that is life and when we learn the most. For me the hard part is staying committed to self development, mentally and physically and not self sabotaging myself or being too hard on myself. This is a constant battle but having compassion for myself and loving myself has allowed me to overcome some huge barriers. For me it takes the same skills to navigate life as it does mountain bike riding. There are highs and lows in both, for me breath, practice and finding good teachers has been huge. Good teachers are like trail forks, gently point you in the right direction. Your videos have helped me tremendously. The only thing that makes mountain biking better is mountain biking with good company ( that includes yourself)
The video that no one asked for but we can all relate to. Just shows how cool the cycling community is and why I love it!
I have never been on my bike as much as during the outbreak lockdown, and honestly it was the only thing that has kept me sane. Thanks Neil for this honest video. really spot on.
Great wee video, thanks for making it. Just getting out in the fresh air on a mtb is soooo good for your mental health! Time to think and mentally sort stuff out.
It was about this time last year when my riding was going from progression to pain as a knee injury developed. By the summer I was unable to pedal much more than a few hundred yards before another week or more of pain leaving me with just the odd ride over the next few months.
In October I managed to get started with NHS physio and slowly the improvements came, by late December I could do a 4-5 easy miles and by lockdown about 10.
My aim was before I went back to work I would cycle to my favorite view overlooking Godrevy Lighthouse. 25 miles and 1500 feet of climbing.
A couple of local loops around the 20 mile mark in April were too early and put me back but yesterday with a tail wind to help me home I set out with the intention to just see how I went, taking easy routes I had explored over the last few weeks I aimed for the 1/2 way point out.
I felt good so I kept going and that final downhill run to the sea was brilliant.
The salty tailwind home along the cliffs which I've not seen for weeks in the warm golden lowering sun really lifted my spirits and despite the knee starting to protest a couple of miles from home ( I live at the highest point in West Cornwall, every ride home is up ) I arrived home worn out in the good way, relaxed and proud of myself.
I'm not quite ready for the club rides again yet but this lockdown has given me the time to get the fitness back up and clear my mind of the normal work stresses and physical strains.
I got in the car a couple of days ago and had to move the mirror as I could only see the back seats, I've actually grown as my posture has improved!! It always changes a little from morning to evening on a work day but I must be at least an inch taller.
I've lost weight and calmed down.
But the best bit, I've been able to watch my little man grow up for what so far in lockdown is 1/3rd of his life!!
I'm one of the lucky ones, I've been able to enjoy the benefits of this, until I retire I'll probably never get the chance of this quality of life again.
Hopefully, some positive benefits of this new lifestyle will influence a lot of people and create permanent positive change in many lives.
Myself and a close friend of mine have both suffered from depression, as soon as I started cycling I noticed a big difference to my mental health. I convinced my friend to get out on the trails with me because of how much of a difference it made to my life and now he too has gone out a got himself a mtb and feels 100 times better than he did 2 years ago!! Safe to say it really does work and has almost instant results, will never stop biking now and neither will my friend. However I do now tend to spend a lot of money on my bike 🤔🤔😂 great video Neil 👍
100% yes, since I Ride MTB im so much happier and spend every free minute outside
Absolutely particularly now I’m covered in PPE in work so having a spin on the MTB or Gravel is great for headspace!
It also helped few years back when I had a significant head injury, ie traumatic brain injury and the goal to get back on the bike, and the independence it gave me back!
This is a really honest video, and I think there is a lot of people out there who may not see this video, who really could do with it. Stay safe all!
Yes, it is the one escape where it is just me and my bike and none of the noise of working life.
Amen 🙏🏻. Even on days where I’m tired, stressed, and the last thing I want to do is ride, the second I get out on the bike everything else seems to fall in its place. Keep up the good vids!