Mental health Archives -

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

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

Doctors should be prescribing cycling for mental wellbeing

May 16, 2019 Nicola Brain health, Mental health, Women cycling, Women's health

One of the many reasons I ride a bike is for my mind health because cycling for mental wellbeing is so great. So why don’t more doctors send their patients away with a bike hire voucher instead of a prescription? That’s exactly what’s happening in Wales right now. The pilot program, the first such initiative in Britain, according to the health board that is leading it, reflects an effort by medical professionals around the world to give patients alternatives to drugs, in order to avoid side effects and improve cost efficiency. Patients at two medical centres in Cardiff are offered

How to handle anxiety before a bike ride

February 28, 2019 Nicola charity bike ride, Mental health, Women cycling

I was on a longish women’s only bike ride a couple of weeks ago and the conversation between me and the rider beside me led to our common experiences with anxiety before a bike ride. She had had a poor night’s sleep before the ride because she was worrying that she’d struggle to keep up. I had also had a poor night’s sleep, not because I worried I would keep up but because I had the responsibility of ride leadership. As we talked, others joined in the conversation and shared their own experiences of pre-ride anxiety which got me thinking

Ten things I’ve learned about road cycling in ten years

November 27, 2018 Nicola Bike retail, Brain health, Heart health, Mental health, Women cycling

I recently celebrated my tenth anniversary of road cycling, so I thought I’d share the most important things I’ve learned about road cycling. Taking up road cycling was the second best decision I ever made. The first was when I chose my life partner, the gorgeous Phillip. Riding makes you fit The past ten years have been my fittest ever. Before I took up riding I tried various forms of exercise like gym membership, aerobics classes, jogging and power walking but it wasn’t until I started riding a road bike regularly that I could truly claim to be fit for

Why riding my bike makes me happy?

March 21, 2018 Nicola Heart health, Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling

Yesterday was International Day of Happiness, and of course I automatically thought about why riding my bike makes me happy. When I reflected, I came up with 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 experience in any other way. Social connections For me, cycling has brought so many

Female cyclists: do you suffer from FONKU?

February 13, 2018 Nicola Cycle groups, Mental health, training, Women cycling

I hope I’ve got your attention with that provocative question; do you suffer from FONKU? In case you’re interested enough to read to on, FONKU is an acronym for ‘Fear Of Not Keeping Up’. I believe that there’s plenty of female bike riders that suffer from FONKU and it’s holding us back. I actually include myself in that cohort. So I made up my own term for it. I sometimes go out for group rides and decide that I won’t be able to keep up even before I leave home, and I often hear similar laments from other female riders.

How to mentally prepare for a challenging bike ride

January 9, 2018 Nicola Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling

When I first started doing long rides, my training and preparation was 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 more than nine 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

The magic powers of the bicycle

December 19, 2017 Nicola Mental health, Mindfulness, Women cycling

It seems fitting that in the week leading up to Christmas we talk about the concept of magic, and there’s no greater magic for me than the magic powers of the bicycle. I know it’s a big call, and I’m sure any non cyclist reading this will think I’m a little strange, but those of you who have been mesmerised by bike riding, will be able to relate. For me, taking up road cycling nine years ago was life changing so I’ll declare it has magical powers. Here’s a few reasons why: Turns introverts into social butterflies A fellow female

12 reasons why every woman should take up road cycling

November 28, 2017 Nicola Anti-ageing, Mental health, Women cycling

I know that’s a bit of a bold headline, but I believe that every woman should take up road cycling, and to prove it I’ve come up with 12 reasons. I’ve borrowed these from an article I found in Bike Radar that listed 30 reasons. Here are my favourites in no particular order: Look younger Scientists at Stanford University have found that cycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce the signs of ageing. Dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne explains: “Increased circulation through exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more effectively,

How to get back to riding after an accident

November 14, 2017 Nicola Mental health, Women cycling

I had an accident on my bike earlier this year and it really threw me off, in more ways than one, so I thought it would be helpful to share my thoughts to get back to riding after an accident. My accident was not my fault and involved me rolling over the bonnet of a car where the driver had taken my right of way, because ‘she didn’t see me’. My physical injuries were gone within about a month or so, but my psychological scars remain nine months later. But I won’t let anxiety stop me because I’m determined to