Among the many reasons bike riding is so good for your mental and physical well-being is that it reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), and releases endorphins (the feel-good hormone), while physically, your heart, lungs and blood vessels all get a good workout.
According to the League of American Bicyclists, riding a bike has many benefits to one's mental health including stress relief, mood improvement, and improved mental clarity. You can find their article about the 5 Mental Health Benefits of Riding Your Bike here
If you are older, it's also a good idea to keep in mind that bike riding is not just for kids. If you are worried about injury or discomfort, consider the following tips for older bike riders: Always wear a helmet, wear bright reflective clothing so you can be seen, go in the same direction as the traffic, get a bike that fits you for comfort, stay hydrated, follow all the same rules that apply to cars, don't go faster than feels comfortable, choose bike routes that have bike lanes, and never assume a driver sees you (make sure to make eye contact with them so you know they see you). You can find a wonderful video about an 80yr old cyclist named Wendy Skean from Nathrop Colorado here, and though you don't have to be as ambitious as she is or win medals like she does, it should inspire you to know that you are never too old to get out and pedal a bike.
You can find my previous blog entry Reducing Stress by Going for a Bike Ride here
"You are one ride away from a good mood" ~Sarah Bentley
Thanks to Esteban Chiner for the great photo, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
