The past couple of weeks have been pretty stressfull for me. There has been a lot going on. Well yesterday was a beutiful day and I decided to take off work early and go for a nice long ride.

I started out on the notion that I would just take off and ride and ride and ride. I had so much energy that I could not stop. Every time that I would get tired and start to head home I would start to think about things and just take off again and do some more miles. After I knew what was going on and how long I was gone I realized that I put in about 56 miles! I felt great! The ride gave me a good chance to think over all that is going on and help me sort things out and realize that it is not all that bad.

It was a very relaxing expierience and something that I will do more often. I feel so much better today!

Yes, cycling is great for getting rid of stress, depression, the "blues", and many other "ailments".
Glad you discovered this benefit.

When I was unemployed for 9 months (after corporate downsizing) and was depressed about it, or felt lousy when I was turned down for a job, or was having bad luck getting any job leads, I'd jump on the bike and go for a long ride. When I got home things always looked better.

For those who haven't tried it, take the plunge.
Life always look better at the end of a long ride.

You've discovered one of the well know secrets of physical activity. It really works wonders in relieving stress and anxiety. Too bad it is a secret treatment, because more people could benefit by using it.

I Love doing that - I played 'hookey' 2 times last year and they were the best rides I had.

I hope to do it again this summer.

True confession time. . . .

When I was young I was often teased and picked on by the big slob bully who was called my father. If I tried to defend myself, I would end up getting a beating for being "disrespectful".

My mother used to take me aside after each encounter and tell me "When you see it starting and you are getting mad, just go for a long walk" I was too young for a long bike ride so I walked for hours and hours. That became the best stress reliever I had. And it probably saved my life more than once.

I no longer need to take long walks, but I do enjoy them and I like to take long bike rides. I think that now I understand (more completely) why I prefer to take them alone. It has to do with conditioning in my youth.

Congrats on surviving your youth and having a wise Mother. She gave you very good advice.

I had a faculty meeting this morning. Aside from the fact that I hate meetings, this one was particularly trying. We're in the middle of a curriculum revision that I think is a total crock of spit and the faculty is divided, I'm in the middle of a difficult contract negotiation [anyone wanna hire a cycling journalism professor?], and there's at least one guy on faculty who I dream of running over with my bike.

I didn't realized how cheezed I was by the whole thing until I went for an afternoon ride. I took out my cyclocross bike and headed to the mountain. I rode for two hours with my HR within a couple of beats or above my AT for one hour and fifteen minutes of the time. It takes me about 15 minutes to get to and from the park itself, so I must have been charging hard the whole time I was there.

Like I said, I didn't realize how much frustrated energy I had inside me... but I got it out on the ride.

I feel much, much better how.

Absolutely a great stress reliever! When I went to the doc about 3 years ago for a check-up, I remember her saying, "exercise is your friend." We were talking about stress and blood-pressure at the time. I've noticed a big difference too. Makes me look forward to rides even more.