Mental health Archives -

Cycling as a weight loss plan? – just eat less

October 30, 2020 Nicola Heart health, Mental health, weight loss, Women cycling, Women's health

It really bugs me that so many gyms and others promote cycling as a weight loss plan, and indeed all forms of exercise as a weight-loss option. From my personal experience and from the research I’ve done it’s a complete myth. Cycling and other forms of exercise and great for so many reasons but have never helped me lose weight. The only way I lose weight is to eat less!! In fact, a few years after I started cycling, I found that I weighed more than I did previously but I was more toned. I suspect that is because muscle

How do you mentally prepare for a challenging ride?

October 16, 2020 Nicola Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling

When I first started doing long rides, my training and preparation were almost entirely based on my physical readiness and not on the need to mentally prepare for a challenging bike ride. I’ve always understood the big role that mental preparation plays for elite athletes, but I never thought I had anything in common with them. After 12 years of cycling, I’ve done quite a few charity rides and a small amount of racing and I always get very nervous beforehand. But I’ve never known how to overcome it except to just accept that it happens and live with it.

Develop an attitude of gratitude and enjoy cycling even more

October 9, 2020 Nicola Hill climbing, Life purpose, Mental health, Mindfulness, pay it forward, Women cycling

I’m a big fan of learning ways to improve your mental wellbeing and one idea that I really like is adopting an attitude of gratitude. You might wonder what an attitude of gratitude has to do with cycling but for me, I’m so very grateful that I found road cycling 12 years ago that the two things are inseparable. I try to be grateful for all the wonderful things I have in my life but I don’t always succeed so I thought it would be helpful for me and others to reflect on the benefits of developing an attitude of

It’s R U OK? Day but make sure you fit your own mask first

September 10, 2020 Nicola Brain health, Magic, Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling

Today is R U OK? Day which is a fantastic initiative to encourage us to pause for a moment and ask the people around us – R U OK? This is a topic that I’ve written about before because I feel really strongly about playing a role in making mental health a priority for everyone including our healthcare workers and Government decision-makers. The reason I’m writing about this topic within my cycling blog is that I know that cycling, and exercise in general, have so many positive benefits for mental health conditions. I’ve written about it several times before today so I’m

Why riding your bike will make you happy

July 3, 2020 Nicola Life purpose, Mental health, Mindfulness, women's bikes, Women's health

When I started riding some 12 years ago I could never have answered the question – Why riding your bike will make you happy. But I now know unequivocally why riding my bike makes me so happy. Here are my top five reasons: Riding is fun The simple act of propelling a bike along, and experiencing the wind rushing by, is fun. It’s strange that a bicycle cannot stand up on its own, but it stays upright when you ride it. I find it fun to achieve that balance. It gives me a sense of freedom that I really don’t

Here are 12 compelling reasons every woman should take up road cycling

May 15, 2020 Nicola Anti-ageing, Brain health, Cycling while pregnant, Heart health, Life purpose, Mental health, Women cycling, Women's health

Following on from my blog post a couple of weeks ago challenging women to take up road cycling, here are my 12 very compelling reasons every woman should take up road cycling. In truth, the posts should have been published the other way around, but better late than never. Here’s the motivation and you’ll have to skip back two weeks to read the practical stuff. Look younger Scientists at Stanford University have found that regular cycling protects your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduces the signs of ageing. Dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne explains: “Increased circulation

Don’t stop riding because of COVID-19 – ride your bike

March 19, 2020 Nicola Mental health, Women cycling, Women's health

I’m not here to repeat the advice of our authorities on COVID-19, on what the rules of road cycling should be during this crisis, but I am here to encourage all riders to keep riding their bikes during this time – Don’t stop riding because of COVID-19. We need to keep riding for our mental and physical health. I’d rather tell you how I feel about this situation rather than prescribe the rules. If you want some great advice and commentary I recommend you visit the Bicycling Australia website, and while you’re there, make sure you complete the survey. For

Do you worry about not keeping up? You may be suffering from FONKU

October 3, 2019 Nicola Magic, Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling, Women's health

I have to admit that I’m not a great fan of silly acronyms but I was rather proud of myself when I came up with FONKU – Fear Of Not Keeping Up. For me, it really sums up my own fears and lack of self-confidence and from talking to other female road cyclists it really is an issue. When I first wrote about this in February 2018 I got some great comments from other riders like “Great acronym – I knew straight away what you were talking about! I think another “fear of” that stops me riding with bunches at

Today is the day when you need to ask someone – R U OK?

September 12, 2019 Nicola Mental health, Women cycling

Today is R U OK? Day which is a fantastic initiative to encourage us to pause for a moment and ask the people around us – R U OK? You might ask what this topic has to do with cycling. I believe that mental health and cycling are closely linked because the magic bicycle can play a big role in the treatment of mental illness. But this topic is also really personal and close for me. A little over a year ago my friend Tom Lutton took his own life after struggling with depression for many years. Until he died

Here’s 12 reasons why you should take up road cycling

June 6, 2019 Nicola Brain health, Mental health, Women cycling, Women's health

I’m sure I could come up with a dozen more, but here’s my top 12 reasons why you should take up road cycling. I honestly believe that every woman could benefit from riding a bike, whether it be road, trail, transport, commuting or any other reason. You really have no excuse….. Fitness If you do enough kilometres (or miles) on your bike, no matter how fast or slow, you will improve your fitness. As a result of cycling I’m the fittest I’ve ever been in my life. Friendship I have met literally hundreds of great people through cycling and many