Cycling for health...

It's amazing how great you feel just by riding a bike to work! 14 miles is a fair distance too, well done. I started doing 5 miles across town when I realised that driving was stupid (and barely any quicker than cycling).

There is so much evidence of both the mental and physical benefits it almost beggars belief that government bodies are so reluctant to support active travel. But if you pause to consider the £billions spent by the car companies to persuade us to keep buying and using cars, and the roadbuilding industry etc wanting to cover the planet in concrete & tarmac to create yet more big roads, you begin to realise who is calling the shots.

There was a piece on the BBC yesterday I think, about how cold water swimming (and bathing/showering) is also good for your mental health.  At first. I didn't connect it with my cycling, but as I read more, I started to see similarities.  The peice about cold water says how the shock of the cold water kicks your body into fight or flight mode, you get a shot of adrenalin, you are ready to survive whether by fighting something or getting away.  It was by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and he said initially he dreaded it, but after a while, he came to realise he was getting a buzz after doing it.  When he was out of the water, warm and dry again, he felt high, like he'd done something special.  

I feel a bit this way too, after riding to work.  I love walking past the smokers outside the door, knowing I've had a bit of a workout, maybe a bit of an adventure, done something most other people haven't that day.  I look forward to riding over the Downs when it is below zero, it's truly magical.  And yes, I can only cope with that for an hour, maybe an hour and a half, whereas in the summer I might make a morning ride to work over two hours, but doing something that "normal" people think is "bonkers" is a great way to feel good.

I’m with you on that. Wish I could cycle to work but it would just not be possible, however I did 75 miles yesterday with my inspirational ‘vets’ - I’m about the youngest at 52, some are 75+! The 75yo out yesterday was chatting saying how he had been off the bike for two weeks and he could really feel how it affected not just his physical health but his mental well-being too. And it was close to zero degrees when we met up, warming to a balmy 5 degrees!

Im sure I have seen that cold water plunge item before with Hugh FW. Maybe it is a recycled story? I also remember this one https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43003892 where cold water swimming can bring pain relief to long term pain sufferers.

PP