How riding a bike has made me a happier person

Riding my bike has made me a happier person, it hasn't solved all my problems, but my mental wellness has improved because it's part of my life. Watch the video to see five ways that cycling helps smile and find purpose.

00:00 Intro
02:40 4 ways biking makes me happier
05:35 The greatest thing biking has done for me
07:29 Conclusion

SOCIAL LINKS

SPONSORS - Supporting them supports me, thank you!

YOUTUBE EQUIPMENT LINKS

Some of the links above are affiliate links. Clicking on them and purchasing items supports the channel. Thanks!

[TexasNightRider]

Great motivational video. Retired from a desk job 5 years ago at 64 years of age weighing 350#'s. Took up riding a road bike and now I'm about to turn 70 weighing 218#'s and I feel great. I'm 6'4 and I want to eventually get my weight down to 180. I do my 30- 35 mile rides about 4x per week (weather permitting) and prefer to ride solo which gives me much needed time to myself. Between road rides I have an indoor spinner and a treadmill so I workout out every day. I sincerely believe if I had not taken up cycling I would have become diabetic or worse yet already be in the ground. I'm fortunate to be in good physical health. On a side note I've turned into a bike mechanic and do all my own work now which I also find enjoyable.

[nanthilrodriguez]

Driving to work took me 50 minutes to an hour, in heavy traffic, and I arrived to work angry and stressed.
Riding my bike to work took me 45 minutes, no traffic, and was always in a good mood when I got there.
It is impossible to feel angry after riding your bike. It's scientific fact.

[christined]

Relatable. Depression, Oreos+ Netflix, and an impromptu gravel bike purchase. Now I need to reach for it instead of the Oreos and Netflix. Thanks for sharing!!

[erickd]

Crossed this video today on my feed, Thank you! I have been struggling getting back on the bike…. Mental health is a constant battle. Cycling- Pain- wall- barrier - breakthrough =threshold overcoming is very true !!! Overcoming the pain validates that we can DO IT in our daily lives.

[Luigi_pr]

This is me, right now. Work 100% from home in front of a computer, new city, no friends. Just ordered my bike to force myself doing things outside. Thanks for sharing your experience, very motivational.

[richk]

Recently come across your videos and really enjoying them 😊
I live on the coast in Wales and am lucky to get the opportunity to ride a lot, but even when I don’t feel like it or I’m super busy, even getting out for a quick hour spin makes me so much happier.

[michaeltvermoes]

So glad an American is sharing this - I hope you'll get some proper infrastructure one day, so you can ride safer. Biking to school or work is totally the best way to start out your day :)

[PatrickDelorenzi]

Cycling is an awesome tool for self development and aligning with purpose. Stoked for you man, love the vids

[johnburrow]

Great points! I actually had this convo the other day about how much of my day is consumed by screens. Getting on the bike, pushing myself, or simply exploring town is such a mental break and boost.

[mcliatt]

Started riding in July ‘23(Trek emonda). Thanks for sharing. I can relate! Working from home I would go days without stepping foot outside and I slowly became more and more sad. Riding has helped me break out of that as well as gain new friends and a hobby I feel like I can do for literally the rest of my life. Just found your channel, really enjoying it. Thanks man.

[jhowitt]

Thank you for putting yourself out there. I could relate with everything. I never talked to a doctor who pushed exercise. Its the thing that has saved me.
You are awesome man! Thanks again!

[amandagemme]

I stumbled upon your videos this morning. My story has a lot of similarities and you are a breath of fresh air. I’m new to serious cycling since last summer, I plan to watch all of your cycling videos to learn better cycling techniques but also for inspiration. I appreciate YOU.

[johncostelloe]

I've been a Bike rider for sixteen years mostly commuting to work every day and it has only been positive in every way thank you for sharing your video well done to you ime glad you found this wonderful activity

[benjhaisch]

I feel like I’ve probably commented on most of your videos now, but this auto played while I was making another coffee and as someone who struggles with adhd and depression, cycling has been a massive help to my mental and physical health. It’s given me goals outside of just work stuff and given me almost a meditative practice where I’m able to get out and work on things outside of a screen. It’s been incredibly helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[pscoop]

Great video. 100% agree that cycling is a great mental and physical boost and my overall wellness is improved after every ride.

[K-Heli]

Late to the party here but same experience and I had to drop it for a bit for some health stuff and of course my body and mind got so much worse without cycling. Finally back to it this May and just this whole video is on point. Also finding you is awesome, you’re relatable and really fun to watch. So keep up the good work man, stay strong and thanks for making videos for us. Always makes me want to get out and ride. Motivational to watch in strava too lol

[RunRecoverRally]

Cycling was something I scoffed at initially since I was mainly a tennis player growing up and picked up distance running as a young adult. In March, I tore my ACL and picked up a hybrid bike (Cannondale Quick CX 4) during Labor Day weekend because I needed to get outside and riding a stationary bike as my only means of cardio was driving me crazy. I returned the hybrid bike and picked up a Gravel Bike (Cannondale Topstone 4) 2 weeks later thanks to REI's friendly return policy and have been loving it.

My rides mainly consisted of going up a street and back another staying in the bike lane but now my rides just involve me starting Strava on my Apple Watch and going wherever my bike (and mind) wanders. It has become a mental exercise as much as it is a physical one letting me recap my workday, reflect on goals I'm working on, and just unwinding while smashing the pedals. I personally found myself much more refreshed physically, mentally, and emotionally after the ride.

Rapha Films has a video titled "Perspectives" and that video describes my relationship with cycling: an athlete specialized in my sport (tennis) and has turned to cycling for more than a cardio workout but also as a means of inspiration and escape.

[tracelt]

I weighed 311 pounds as we entered into the lockdown. I had been losing to alcohol addiction for over a decade, so when we went into lockdown, I finally decided to take an hour each day to walk.

They say you gotta learn to walk before you run, and for me that was true...except I had to walk before I learned to ride (after a 20-year hiatus from bikes). After that, I got on my exercise bike (35 minutes felt like an eternity!). Then, I rode around a parking lot from anywhere between 2-6 miles (and THAT seemed like I was riding for another eternity!).

Then, I just kept on riding. I started meeting friends for rides, and as my riding increased, I was able to stop drinking completely. I began to experience joy and happiness, and even people who didn't really even know I was an alcoholic knew I had changed. They saw it as though a veil had lifted from over my demeanor.

Like you, Mitch, I hope to ride the rest of my life. I truly enjoy it. It helps me be happy. No, it's not WHAT makes me happy, but it's a piece of the picture of my happiness.

Anyway, that's my "Ride to be Happy" story. Thanks for sharing yours.

[brettstewart]

I agree cycling has been fantastic for me. I mainly cycle to work and back but having that little achievement at the beginning and end of each day is invaluable - keep the videos coming Mitch!

[bearhuntertv]

Thank you for sharing. Cycling is life changing and there is no better pain than getting off the bike and feeling like you increased your endurance, burned a ton of calories and had fun doing it. Mentally my battle is getting on the bike. Riding with a friend is a huge motivator, but as you discuss in other videos, Cam and RCA has been a huge help in improving my motivation and my general health.