Positive Effects of Cycling and Triathlon on the Brain

by Nadezhda Pavlova, Deputy Editor in Chief

NADEZHDA PAVLOVA
Deputy Editor in Chief

Never Stop Cycling! 🙂

We all know that cycling does wonders for your body-improves muscle tone, helps you to lose weight, create a stronger cardiovascular system – but that’s not all the benefits of cycling. It can also improve your brain performance and make you smarter – cycling can do all of these things!!

Growing Your Brain

Cycling not only grows your muscles but also your brain. It increases blood flow, brings in more oxygen and nutrients which can improve performance, function and memory. It can even slow your brain aging and help it become more efficient as it helps build neurons and grow the hippocampus.

One of the clearest effects of cycling is that it makes you happier! When your hop on your bike and start pedaling, you get a spike of serotonin, the happy hormone! And the level stays higher after the bike session and during the day! Studies have shown that cycling increases the level of endocannabinoids, biochemical substances similar to cannabis, which is why we experience a “cycling high”.

The most surprising effect of cycling is that people experience a diminishing of Parkinson’s disease from pushing pedals on a regular basis, high steady cadence (RPM) improves overall motor function and lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Numerous pieces of research have shown this happens because cycling boosts connectivity in the gray matter, as well as activates the same part of the brain as medication does.

Benefits Of Cycling

Enhance Mood. When you achieve the ‘cycling high’, the heart pumps more blood than the regular rate. This allows the increase in the release of good substances like endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Improves Mental Health. As you do cycling exercises, your self-esteem will improve due to the many physical benefits. Furthermore, your stress seems to be relieved as you divert all your attention to perspiring. Negative emotions and situations like depression, insecurity, and anxiety are reduced as you focus more on such a health-beneficial activity.
Better Sleep. Regular cycling can help in synchronizing one’s circadian rhythm. Moreover, it also helps reduce stress hormone levels so that you can attain a regenerative and deep sleep.
Refine Memory. As mentioned, cycling helps in reproducing protein that are meant for making new brain cells. In short, the more you cycle, the more retentive your memory becomes.
Boost Creative Thinking. If you recall, cycling helps in making the communication of the different regions of the brain more effective. This also affects your creative thinking and will, later, translate into actions.
Encourages New Thought Patterns. These are useful in calming oneself. In other words, when you cycle more, it sharpens your focus, and you can perform meditation much easier.

Long Term Effects

The long-term effects on the brain can be tremendous if integrated as a habit. Cycling can help in curbing the natural deterioration of brain function when aging. This includes memory loss and weakened cognitive skills. So, instead of slowing down as you get older, it’s far better to become more active; it’s a great way to keep both your body in shape and your mind too – and, you’re never too old… or too young to start.

In the modern world, we’re surrounded by pressures and chaotic influences. We also have so many devices to help us to do things, meaning that physical activity away from work or homelife is important. It not only gives you some valuable ‘me time’, but it helps your mental well-being by developing your brain in the right way. Make sure that you create some time for cycling and triathlon in your daily lives, and let the positivity explode 😉

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