Cycling and Wellbeing

Etc

Since being a child in the 70's riding my bike meant freedom. My first bike was a Raleigh Chipper, the day the stabilisers were off, my life was an adventure. In never walked ever, if I could cycle.

I spend as much time cleaning the chrome with Mr Sheen as I did riding it.

My brother bought a Dawes tourer when I was 12ish. It was a 21" frame, had a carrier and bag plus dynamo lights. At some point after a year of ownership, he bought a Mk 1 Escort and gave me the bike.

I couldn't reach the saddle so rode the the bike on the crossbar, I wore all of the paint off the crossbar over 4 years. But it had 10 glorious gears, 52/42 on the front. I can honestly say I didn't walk anywhere, I could track stand forever.

Anyway, over the years as I went through school and college, I could never afford the bikes I aspired to, but the ones I owned I rode and polished obsessively.

Then I reached the point I could afford the bike I wanted. And it was great to ride it, and clean it, and still appreciate owning something you aspired to.

Fast forward lots of years and 4 years ago I took on a new job which eventually broke me mentally and physically.

The first two years were great, huge pressure 14/16 hours a day but was able to afford my dream bike, I encouraged my other half to buy a road bike and we were out every weekend.

Then I had a breakdown and went into a really dark place.

I sat on a sofa doing nothing for 11 months.

I couldn't think, couldn't work and couldn't remember what made me happy.

And then I got back on my bike. I know how to train, I have great cadence, but I've stopped all technical aspects and remembered what fresh air feels like.

Cycling is helping me to be me again. It's a wonderful thing, If you get a nod from a cyclist in the future, it might be me feeling ok, but you nodding back will be you enjoying your ride.

robyntmorton

Very well written. I've found that time on the bike is time that you do not have to think about anything. It is just you, the road in front of you, and the blissful silence of your brain not working overtime on things it really doesn't need to be working on anyway.

Cycling is freedom, both physically and mentally.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Good for you. I hope your recovery keeps going.

sy_flembeck

Very well written post OP and glad everything working out for you. Thankfully I've never been down the same road but I've known many who have. For me riding my bike is important for two reasons (aside from the obvious health benefits we all gain from):

1. While I always bring my mobile phone for emergency reasons I can't hear it
when I'm on a spin. If somethings up it'll have to wait. That peace in itself is
worth going out for.

2. If I have any decision to make, of any importance, I make it while out
on a solo spin. Nothing like the quiet back roads of the Garden County to
forget all else and concentrate solely on the issue at hand.

Best wishes on your journey (and to Mrs Etc)

C3PO

Thanks OP! I've been through a rough few years myself and I've no doubt that getting out on the bike regularly has been my own personal therapy!

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."
Arthur Conan Doyle

Beasty

My recoveries have been pretty well documented around here. Cycling gave me something to target. I may have missed pretty much every single target I set, but it became a means to an end. Certainly not there yet but without something like this I don't think I would ever have even got to where I am now both physically and mentally.