5 Unexpected Benefits of Mountain Biking
You don’t need me to tell you that mountain biking is a physical sport. For many of us, that’s kind of why we like it. It’s a challenge for our bodies, it keeps us fit and active.
But what if I told you that building physical fitness is far from the only benefit. Would you ride more if the rewards were higher? Would you ride differently if there were other gains to be made?
The truth is, there’s a tonne of reasons why mountain biking will positively impact your life. Here’s just five, some of which you might not be expecting.
1. Inhale the good stuff
If you’re someone that likes to ride your bike in the forest (aren’t we all) then there’s something incredible that you can do whilst you’re there. It’s so incredible, it’ll improve your immune system, help you fight diseases and even prevent some types of cancer.
Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Must be something pretty special. Well, here it is…
Breathe.
That’s right. Just breathe.
You might not realise that as we breathe in fresh air whilst surrounded by trees, we inhale something called phytoncides. Phytoncides are airborne chemicals given off by plants to protect themselves from insects. These chemicals have antifungal and antibacterial qualities that act like warriors for the plants, but they’re great for us humans, too. When we breathe them in, our bodies respond by increasing the number of cells that kill tumours, fight viruses and even prevent cancer.
2. Find your tribe
Unless you ride tandem, pedalling a bike is a solo pursuit. But that’s not to say that life as a mountain biker is a lonely place. In fact, the mountain bike community is a bustling place, filled with folks of all kinds and plenty of opportunities to ride with others. So how does that benefit you?
In our modern world, we’re losing connections to one-another at an alarming rate. With every new round of technological advancement, we’re drifting further and further from the community-based civilization through which we evolved across millennia.
With more screen time and less human interaction, society continues to spiral towards anxiety and depression. Loneliness is also a factor in this, contributing towards poor mental health and increased risk of high blood pressure.
Developing and strengthening genuine connections with others has never been more important to our physical and mental wellbeing. It’s also scientifically proven to make you feel happier. One study found that a key difference between very happy people and unhappy people was good relationships.
We host regular Hope WMN events for exactly this reason. So if you’re used to flying solo, why not join a group ride? Check out our upcoming events via the Hope WMN Facebook page.
3. Enter the flow
You’ve probably heard a lot in recent years about the benefits of meditation. Perhaps you’ve even given it a try and enjoyed it. Or maybe you felt like you weren’t very good at it. Well, here’s a new truth bomb for you - all mountain bikers are secretly master meditators.
If you’ve ever been completely in “the flow” on your bike, the kind of state where you’re totally immersed in what you’re doing, concentrating fully and feeling completely at one with your bike, then you’ve pretty much nailed the art of mindfulness meditation.
There’s a heap of science behind the phenomenon, which you can read about in this blog we wrote earlier this year.
For those that want a shortcut - the benefits of entering this flow state are pretty wild. They include:
Higher motivation
Better emotional regulation
Increased happiness
More creativity
Reduced stress
…and more!
4. New tricks, young dogs
Mountain biking is a never-ending learning experience. Whether you’re looking to improve your cornering technique, conquer drop-offs or finally nail the wheelie, it’s a sport with plenty of skills to master.
It’s true that most sports require a development of skills in order to improve. But mountain biking is different in that it comes with a host of skills to develop OFF the bike, too. You’ll acquire knowledge in basic bike maintenance like fixing a puncture, tuning gears and dialling in suspension. You might also gain map reading and navigational skills when you’re out exploring in the wild.
Learning new skills like these won’t just make you better equipped to get yourself out of trouble when the inevitable mechanical happens. It’s also really good for you. Flexing those brain muscles to learn something new can improve cognitive functioning and slow down ageing.
That’s right. Mountain biking officially keeps you young!
Learning a new skill changes the physical structures of your brain. By stimulating neurons, more neural pathways are formed. The more pathways that are formed, the faster impulses can travel. This protects your brain against ageing because it promotes neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to develop new neural pathways). There’s also evidence to suggest that this helps to stave off dementia.
5. Mother nature knows best
Nature connection is more than just hanging out in the outdoors. It’s about engaging with nature through your senses and immersing yourself in natural surroundings, so you’re really noticing what is happening around you.
These moments may not feel prevalent when you’re shredding down technical singletrack. Granted, in those moments, your focus might be firmly on your body, your bike and making sure those two things stay in unison.
But there are plenty of opportunities to experience nature connection whilst you’re out on your bike. Perhaps when you’ve stopped for a drink, or you’re riding across a baron moorland, or just resting beside a beautiful waterfall. In those moments, don’t check your phone or fettle with your bike. Instead, notice what’s around you - the sights and the smells. Really be in your surroundings.
What’s the benefit of that? I hear you ask.
Nature connectedness is associated with a whole host of good stuff. For starters, it’s linked to greater feelings of autonomy, personal growth, and purpose in life. It improves your attention span, cognitive function and emotional regulation. It’s also attributed to lower levels of stress, depression and anxiety.
We all love to ride for many different reasons. Some of those reasons may be mentioned here, but perhaps you didn’t realise they were valuable to your well being. So, now that you know, let’s ask again - with all these added gains at your disposal, will you ride more? Will you ride differently? The benefits are yours to be had.
Words: Rachel Clayton Pictures: Pete Scullion, Sarah Hewitt, Tom Hill & Steezy Collective