Mental Health Benefits of Cycling

One in four people England experience a mental health problem each year, and the NHS has allocated £11.79 billion to mental health services for 2024/25. With rising demand and increasing strain on services, preventative strategies are more vital than ever, and cycling could be one of the most effective yet underrated solutions.

Whether you cycle to work, ride recreationally, or train for sportives, research shows that regular cycling can significantly improve mental wellbeing. Researchers in Edinburgh found that people who cycle to work are 15% less likely to be prescribed antidepressants or anxiety medication.

How Cycling Benefits Your Mental Health

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Physical activity has been proven to lower cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol plays a role in metabolism, blood pressure, and sleep. Chronically high levels can increase stress and anxiety.

Exercise like cycling also boosts endorphins - natural pain relievers and mood boosters. Cycling triggers the release of these endorphins, helping your mind to relax and reduce tension, therefore creating a sense of emotional balance.

Improves Mood and Fights Depression

Similarly, exercising also releases both serotonin and dopamine. These are neurotransmitters linked to feelings of reward and motivation, and mood regulation, respectively. This further demonstrates cycling's contribution to a positive mood and feelings of wellbeing. It is these neurotransmitters that make cyclists experience a 'cycling high' equivalent to the perhaps more famous 'runner's high'.

Boosts Mental Clarity and Focus

Aerobic exercise like cycling elevates your heart rate and leads to increased blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. This means that your brain will receive a greater supply of oxygen and other nutrients like glucose. It's this enhanced circulation that supports brain health - it improves memory, reaction time and decision making.

Enhances Confidence and Self-Esteem

Setting and meeting cycling-related goals, such as riding a certain distance, conquering a hill, or commuting regularly, gives you a sense of accomplishment. After you achieve each goal, it becomes proof of your capability, therefore reinforcing the belief that you can overcome challenges.

Regular cycling also offers tangible signs of improvement, whether that's increased speed or distance, better endurance or an improved physique. This, again, allows you to see yourself in a better light.

Improves Emotional Resilience

Regular cycling adds structure to your week, which can be psychologically grounding during uncertain or stressful times. It's also a physical release for built-up emotional tension due to the release of aforementioned hormones.

During rides, you'll also face and overcome challenges like steep hills, long distances, bad weather and mechanical issues. These experiences teach you that setbacks can be overcome, allowing you to build inner strength and a 'can-do' mindset. This applies beyond the bike.

Furthermore, cycling gives you quiet time to reflect, decompress and think more clearly, preventing emotional overwhelm. You might be able to work through personal and emotional problems mid-ride!

Reduces Fatigue and Boosts Energy

Cycling helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and get more restorative deep sleep, meaning you'll wake up feeling refreshed. As well as this, the more you cycle, the better your stamina will become. This means that your body will become more efficient at using energy during the day, reducing feelings of fatigue.

Your body's energy comes from the mitochondria in your cells. Regular aerobic exercise stimulates the growth and efficiency of mitochondria, meaning you'll produce more usable energy and you'll feel less drained during everyday tasks.

Amplified Benefits of Cycling in Nature

Combining physical movement with exposure to natural light and greenery can see amplified benefits as both are proven to reduce stress and elevate your mood. This is known as 'green exercise'.

Social Connection

By finding a group through platforms like Facebook, Strava and Cliq, you can enmesh cycling and your social life. This reduces feelings of loneliness, increases your sense of belonging, encourages routine and consistency and could even open up a space to share how you're feeling.

E-Bikes Offer the Same (If Not More) Mental Health Benefits

Think e-bikes don't offer the same benefits? They might offer even more.

In fact, a study demonstrated that older adults using electric bikes showed even greater improvements in mental well-being compared to those riding standard bikes. This is because:

• E-bikes reduce physical strain whilst maintaining movement
• Allow for longer and more frequent rides
• Increases confidence and encourages consistent cycling

In a nutshell, electric bicycles lower the barrier to entry as those who are older, recovering from injury, are new to cycling can join in and benefit from the improvement in mental health that cycling provides.

Bicycle Insurance from Eversure

Cycling offers powerful mental health benefits, but peace of mind comes from knowing your bike is safe. Whether you're commuting, training or riding for fun, comprehensive cycle insurance ensures you're covered when the unexpected happens. A policy from Eversure includes theft protection, accidental damage cover, e-bike coverage and coverage for both personal accident and public liability.

Your bike supports your well-being; let us protect it so you can cycle with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Cycling isn’t just great for your body, it’s one of the simplest, most accessible tools for boosting your mental health. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving sleep, focus, and emotional resilience, the benefits of regular cycling are backed by science and can be felt by each and every rider regardless of ability.