Expert Answers
Why Biking Feels Good
Bob's Question:
I just bought bikes for my son and me. I'm 49 and notice after a long ride I feel great. Why? Tell me more please.
— Bob
Steve Jones's Answer:
Dear Bob,
I believe this is the first time someone has written wondering about the good feeling biking produces inside the biker. It's a question whose answer allows an exploration of both the physiological and mental aspects of biking—you know, the things other than trigger shifters, tire color, and chain lube.
I'm obviously no doctor, but I do have a fairly good understanding for what is happening in the body as we bike. I realize you asked about"after" riding, but the physical post-cycling sensation you experience is directly related to what happens as you zip along on a pneumatic layer of air. Perhaps you have heard of a "runner's high"? What you're experiencing is similar to this and the condition athletes describe when they "get their second wind." Both are triggered by the body's release of hormones called endorphins.
Without getting into to chemical processes occurring, this is what happens: After a certain point is reached during moderate to strenuous exertion, the body changes gears to a sustained endurance mode. Endorphins flood into the bloodstream and trigger responses to help the mind forget the wear and tear taking place within muscles as performing in what the body views as a "battle situation."
What you're primarily feeling, as you and your son pull off your dirty socks after the ride, is part of the effects that come from having been pumped full of "feel-good hormones" like the endorphins. But that's only part of the connection between biking and feeling good afterwards. You are also mentally glowing because you have accomplished a goal you would have even felt proud of when you were your son's age. Now, as you approach that undeniably significant 50th birthday, remaining fit takes on even more importance. And biking gives us a fun opportunity to maintain physical fitness in a way that stirs up memories of the best days of childhood. So when we come back from a longer ride, we are left with not only the residual effects of the hormones, but the self-satisfaction that comes from having accomplished a significant physical goal.
You also feel good after a ride because, well, you don't feel bad. Let me explain. You could have read the pages and pages of advice found here on GORP. If you have done that already, you have discovered the numerous topics discussing the importance of riding a bike properly set up and sized. You might have also discovered the suggestions found on GORP's pages for developing and maintaining efficient and safe technique. Wherever you learned it, you apparently ride right and don't hurt yourself. And, as any biker who is nearing 50 can tell you, whenever you don't hurt, you feel good.
Finally, you also are the hapless victim of your own uncontrollable benevolence. Bless you. You obviously adhere to the principle that it is better to give than receive. When you reached deep in your pockets and forked out the dough necessary to buy you and your son good bikes, you made it likely that many happy trailside memories are going to be made. And I'm sure you will agree that there can never be too many happy trailside memories.
And if you feel good after you ride, don't worry. That's just the way it's supposed to feel.
