Coopers_Dad

I'm under a good bit of stress at the moment. Work is crazy busy, I'm building a new house that is months behind schedule and life in general it just keep building. I didn't sleep well last night and woke up this morning a bit on edge. I'm trying to keep things under control with my staff but by 9am I knew today was going to be one of those bad days. Rather than barricading myself in my office for the day I grabbed my gear and went for a ride. I had planned on riding after work so I had everything with me.

30K later I feel much more relaxed and in a far better frame of mind to tackle the day.

I'm almost at my first 100K now was well not bad for a new rider in his first week!

Barrettscv 

Yes, cycling can do wonders. I can become a real sob when I'm not getting regular exercize and recreation.

Kneez

Cycling helps me enormously by relieving stress and improving concentration. I used to think that cycling was an escape, a way to avoid work, but now I think it absolutely essential to being productive in other areas of my life.

Seattle Forrest

Being forced to pay enough attention to the road to stay alive and unhurt can distract you from things that are irritating. Or, it can not be quite distracting enough, but it often helps. Getting outdoors, feeling the wind in your hair, etc, and concentrating on nothing at all but the world you're a part of ... it's wonderful. A good, moderately long bike ride makes it hard to stay in a bad mood.

BigUgly

Cycling helps clear my head of all the crap going through it at a million mph and then I am able to focus on what it important. I have actually solved problems in the workplace coming up with solutions while I am out on a ride. If I am grumpy around the house, my wife tells me to go foa ride and I come back all happy. Cycling does wonders for the mind and body (and hopefully is a life extender in the later years).

breadbin

thats gas, me too i am doing an assignment at the moment and got a bit stuck so went for a spin and it all fell into place its great to get the blood flowing i think and plus you don't be thinking of stuff when you're out on the bike apart from whats going on with the bike you'll have to keep it up coopers_dad

Coopers_Dad

It's really working well I needed another break tonight and got a ride in just before it got dark. I was probably out 20 minutes longer than I should have been without a light or anything reflective on but the wind on the way back slowed me way down.

Hillbasher

I whole heartedly agree with ALL the posts above. I ride 3-4 times a week normally. 3 weeks ago I stooped riding because I was going to be climbing Mt. Whitney in 2 weeks and wanted to save the legs for the climb. Well. it was the worst idea I have had in a long time. The 2 weeks leading up to the climb, my legs felt really bad because of my NOT riding, and i wish now that I hadn't made that mistake. The week after the climb. the legs also did not feel so great. But once I got back on the bike and rode, not only did the legs feel good, but the mind felt good also. Riding is an end in itself. I always feel so much better after a ride. Wish i could feel like that all the time.
untitled..jpg Me approaching 13,000 feet on Mt Whitney

xray1978

+1 without regular exercise I become irritable to say the least. Sounds like the OP has his priorities in place.

cyclist2000

Pretty soon you will ride all the time and quit working. And you will feel great all the time.

Coopers_Dad

It's taken years to find a form of exercise that I really enjoy and it seems like riding is going to do that. I love group activities but I really dislike playing competitive sports and with biking I can do my group rides but also have time to myself.

If I didn't have to move out of my house tomorrow I'd go for a ride tonight because it's supposed to rain all weekend. :-(

breadbin

sure you can head out 20 minutes in your jeans etc someone told me before try and head out whenever you can, everyday preferably even if its only round the block just to get the buzz i know sometimes when i'm thinking of going out for a spin and i start thinking about jerseys, shorts if they're ready or not i end up not going cos its too much hassle - whereas it doesn't have to be.

good luck with the move - supposed to be the most stressful times in a persons life so come in and tell us how you got on and if you need to vent its ok too

1242Vintage

I have my gear in my office and the bike stashed in a locker outside the back door of my building. I try to get out for a noon-time ride daily for that mental health break. Find I'm much more productive and less stressed in the afternoons after a ride.