“To me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or the sun is shining or whatever: as long as I’m riding a bike I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world” – Mark Cavendish

Bike Ride Psychology

My brothers love to ride bikes and always very interested in car racing. And I never understood, why do they have so much love for bikes and cars. Whenever I talk to them, I always get to hear about their exhilarating experience of emancipation, how they feel the cold wind on their face with a blend of relaxation, fear and pleasures that completely changes their perspective for life. And I’m someone who is still unconvinced about the joys and happiness of biking or riding. Bikes are like true love, especially for boys.

Riding a bike makes them feel alive, non-stop smile on the face, feel the freedom in the air, get peace of mind and feel light as a feather on the long road. I may sound a little crazy but many people actually feel what I’m describing and also some of you can relate to this feeling. After listening to different adventurous stories from my brothers, I did some research and get to know the exact feeling of bikers. Though I haven’t experienced riding is not just a feeling for riders.

How Bike Ride Affects your Brain?

Milwaukee company collaborated with the UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and conducted research on more than 50 experienced riders, to find how a bike ride affects the human brain. A mobile EEG was used to detect brain activity. Their brain activity was recorded before the ride when they were relaxed. Riders we’re ready to go. According to the experts, the stress level reduces by 28%, 20 minutes ride could increase the heartbeat by 11%, adrenaline level increased by 27% along with their alertness and focus. Relieving stress is as simple as going out for a ride.

How bike riding is beneficial?

“It wasn’t until I went to college and I got the first motorcycle that I understood the thrill of speed.” ― Vin Diesel

Bikers often say riding is therapy. As it has been confirmed by many studies that riding is stress-reliever, also improve muscular and cerebral functions of the body. Let’s take a look at how riding can be more beneficial:

Boosts Your Brain Power

Who doesn’t love a perfectly fit body? I guess, we all do… To make a healthy body, you need to have an active brain which plays a pivotal role in achieving your fit body. When you ride, you feel at ease but actually riding needs both physical and mental state to be on an active mode. On a mental level, activation of prefrontal areas makes you focus on the road.

Your Mental Health gets better

As you have read earlier, riding a bike impacts your mental health in a positive way. Level of stress reduces, the mood gets better as you ride through scenic routes. Speed increase, so your adrenaline feels the rush, body releases endorphins and make you feel at the cloud nine.

Core Strength and Stability are enhanced

Riding a bike can enhance your strength and stability. To be upright on the bike, you have to work out your core. You work your core when you sit on the seat with the right posture. You work on your back muscles when you strengthen your neck.

Leg Day is on everyday

Your knees and thighs can be stronger without straining. Instead of doing a workout in a gym for hours, people need to learn about the benefits of riding a bike as it burns more calories.

To rule the road, you don’t need a crown but a HELMET

Don’t get wrong ideas, even if you are riding a bike or bicycle, you need proper protection called a helmet. I know it may sound silly as taking a bicycle ride without a helmet is really okay. But no, It can be hurtful and embarrassing, if you hit or being hit while riding your bicycle. But it’s inevitable. That’s why safety comes first as bike injuries can harm not your physical health but mental health also. These injuries can end up in lifelong issues. This is for people who live in populated areas or big cities. You must be aware of the consequences, as broken bones will hurt for a long time, especially head injury can be even worse. Brain injury can lead to hearing, vision and mental health loss, the body will face problems in coordination as the brain regulates various parts of the body.

Different brain areas and how these areas functions:

The brain is the one who rules the human body and if the brain gets injured then it can lead to numerous difficulties and lifelong problems in a person. These six areas are most likely to get damaged in a crash:

Brain stem

The lowest part of the brain which is linked to the whole body as it connected to the neck. If the stem gets an injury then it can create physical issues like loss of balance and the person may suffer from sleepless nights, irregular heartbeat, respiratory issues. The brain stem regulates B.P., body temperature, sweating, and digestion. All these things can get affected by the damaged brain.

Cerebellum

It regulates movement, equilibrium, and helps people with reflexes in their body. A damaged cerebellum can lead a person to have difficulty in performing a complex task. If the damage is major, basic actions like walking can be difficult.

Frontal lobe

It controls your thinking, reasoning and planning. Or you can say how you perceive your surroundings, emotions, language and how a person comprehends the concepts and how good he or she is at problem-solving. If this part is damaged, it can really hard to function in a proper way.

Parietal lobe

It regulates your senses like how you perceive after touching, also how you manipulate objects around you. A damaged parietal lobe can make things difficult.

Occipital lobe

It is responsible for the visual process. If this lobe is damaged then a person can have a blur vision or a loss of vision can take place.

Temporal lobe

The lobe is concerned about memory, emotion, hearing and the process of verbal information. Even a small injury can be a reason to decrease a person’s hearing, memory and major damage can make a person unable to express his or her emotion.

Don’t give up on your life in an injury.

Conclusion

Many of you have heard how difficult and dangerous it is to ride a bike. Most probably your elders have told you that you risk your life while going for a ride Or maybe wishing for a death wish. However, they are right but riding a bike can be safe, when you wear a helmet, you are extra attentive and you must be aware of your surroundings. Think more, but still feel alive and enjoy your ride.