How Time On Your Bike Benefits Mental Health

The physical health benefits of riding a bike are well known. The mental health benefits are less well documented but just as important. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year, this year it could well be higher. Anxiety, fear, a feeling of not being in control – these are normal responses to a pandemic.

After a bike ride you return with a better mood and a clearer head than when you set off and its proven to help us have:

• Better sleep. It’s obvious but easy to overlook: physical activity makes you more tired and being tired makes you sleep better. Poor sleep, meanwhile, contributes to anxiety and depression.
• Better mood. A whopping 82% of Cyclescheme participants say that they’re less stressed thanks to cycling. “Physical activity can reduce levels of anxiety in people with mild symptoms and may also be helpful for treating clinical anxiety.” Riding your bike releases feel-good hormones, so you feel less stressed, more energised, and just better in yourself.
• Reduced risk of depression. Daily physical activity lowers your risk of becoming depressed by 20-30%, according to The Mental Health Foundation.  
• Improved self-esteem. Physical activity makes us feel better about ourselves. Maybe we’ve met certain goals or ambitions? Perhaps we just feel satisfied that we’ve done something with our day? Among Cyclescheme participants, 48% reported feeling happier and more confident since starting cycling to work.
• Cycling is compatible with social distancing. Along with jogging and going for a walk, cycling is an activity you can do by yourself or with members of your household. That’s why it was explicitly endorsed by the Government in its pandemic response, and why bike shops were allowed to stay open.
• Cycling is accessible. Bikes are relatively cheap to buy and use – especially if you get one through Cyclescheme.
•  Cycling takes place outdoors. Just being outside boosts your vitamin D levels. On top of that, The Mental Health Foundation reports: “research suggests that doing physical activity in an outdoor, ‘green’ environment has greater positive effects on wellbeing compared to physical activity indoors.” On a bike, you can reach such environments, escaping streets to ride along country lanes, quiet canal-sides, or forest tracks.
• Cycling promotes mindfulness. On a bike, you naturally focus on the scenery scrolling past your eyes, on the wind in your hair, on the sounds of nature, and the smells of spring flowers in bloom. This helps prevent your thoughts from drifting to darker places. 

Since the lockdown we have seen an uptake on SERC’s Cycle to Work Scheme whereby you can sacrifice part of your salary and in return the College purchases a bicycle and/or safety equipment  has increased up to the value of £1500.00 and leases it to you over a 12 month period and is tax free. To be eligible to apply staff must have minimum of 6 months service with the College and hold a permanent contract.

More information is available on the scheme or email hr@serc.ac.uk

You should go to www.cyclescheme.co.uk/9e65ce (for an update on stores available and how to purchase) and you will be required to enter the code 9e65ce.