Riding to work reduces depression by up to 60%

[lobstermash]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-16/e ... sk/5818074

[ValleyForge]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-16/e ... sk/5818074

16%?

[lobstermash]

16% is for exercising three days a week, with each additional exercise 'event' giving a further 6% benefit. If you're just commuting for five days, that accumulates to 58%, plus if you have exercise 'events' on the weekend, you could count each commute event as 6%. Of course I'm fudging the statistics, but that's what statistics are for...

[ValleyForge]

I felt a bit depressed doing hills yesterday... Maybe I should do some more.

[find_bruce]

Plenty of anecdotal evidence on these forums about exercise being useful in treating the symptoms of depression.

I felt a bit depressed doing hills yesterday... Maybe I should do some more.

You are doing them wrong - you should feel elevated after climbing hills

[piledhigher]

Unfortunately being at work increases depression by up to 59%...

[lobstermash]

Plenty of anecdotal evidence on these forums about exercise being useful in treating the symptoms of depression.

I felt a bit depressed doing hills yesterday... Maybe I should do some more.

You are doing them wrong - you should feel elevated after climbing hills

That's an uplifting perspective

[Tim]

Unfortunately being at work increases depression by up to 59%...

Ah, I love a pessimist.
But cheer up. Pessimists live longer than optimists.
I plan on living to 120, except some bastard motorist is gunna kill me well before then.

[lobstermash]

I plan on living to 120, except some bastard motorist is gunna kill me well before then.

At least you won't be depressed about it

[RonK]

Unfortunately being at work increases depression by up to 59%...

[ValleyForge]

Unfortunately being at work increases depression by up to 59%...

I'm reliving Hitchhiker through my children. My 10yr old son quotes Marvin, and my 7yr old daughter quotes Zaphod.

[beanspropulsion]

Meanwhile research just in........

Riding to work but riding past work and not going to work reduces depression 100%

[Mulger bill]

Unfortunately being at work increases depression by up to 59%...

I'm reliving Hitchhiker through my children. My 10yr old son quotes Marvin, and my 7yr old daughter quotes Zaphod.

Wonderful to see a younger crowd knowing where their towels are

[wombatK]

I'm reliving Hitchhiker through my children. My 10yr old son quotes Marvin, and my 7yr old daughter quotes Zaphod.

My life's regret is failing to get my wife's agreement to name now 31 yo Trillian. Maybe your daughter can make this right. The name deserves to live on

[gabrielle260]

Life, don't talk to me about life....

[TheWall]

Love this trilogy in five parts....The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground...and then miss. Just remember that next time you crash eh?

[wombatK]

The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground...and then miss. Just remember that next time you crash eh?

Umm, looking out for walls would be a pretty good idea too

[ValleyForge]

I'm reliving Hitchhiker through my children. My 10yr old son quotes Marvin, and my 7yr old daughter quotes Zaphod.

My life's regret is failing to get my wife's agreement to name now 31 yo Trillian. Maybe your daughter can make this right. The name deserves to live on

It would be Gag Halfrunt, Slartibartfast, or Grunthos the Flatulent.

[RonK]

Love this trilogy in five parts...

I have the original BBC radio dramatisations on my phone, and I'm slowly working through them.

Very entertaining for long rides on the backroads.

You can get them from iTunes or Audible.

[Duck!]

Love this trilogy in five parts....The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground...and then miss. Just remember that next time you crash eh?

This reminds me of a quote from Sir Charles Kingsford Smith: "An aviator's life is full of ups and downs, but the only hard thing about flying is the ground."

[ldrcycles]

Meanwhile research just in........

Riding to work but riding past work and not going to work reduces depression 100%

But work is necessary to pay for bike stuff .

No arguments from me re depression and cycling, it might not be a cure all on it's own but gee it helps.

[Dave-in-LK]

I recommend riding to my clients

I work in the drug and alcohol area as a counsellor. Riding does release good surges of dopamine and it's instant also.

The feel good chemical in our brain that makes is feel good. All movement creates small amounts of dopamine ...more is better.

Research suggests the faster we move mr dopamine is created - hence though sometimes why young men also do stupid things like drive cars at 180 kmph.

I have two bikes now at our office and I often offer clients a short ride of ten minutes or so .....every single person that's done it has instantly said geez that felt good. There is place for medication for beating some depression in some people.

But exercise has no negative side effects bar maybe your wallet or injury if you go too silly

Riding is very good for your brain as all exercise is good for your brain

I ride mostly for the positive effect rather than the physical ...that's just a bonus.

I can share this quick story.

As a child my sister and I experienced not a very positive upbringing - parents fought and there was some violence towards us also. My sister at 16 chose drugs to cope. She is 45 now and has depression all her life and struggles still.

At 15 I chose sport for my "drug" and that included riding my bike everyday 10km to school rain hail or shine. It released dopamine and also built resilience.

I don't have mental health issues at all. I swear by exercise and it's also now considered best practice to recommend it for anyone with mental health problems or other conditions. Sorry for the long post just have seen in my life and my work.

Rather passionate about it

[queequeg]

it was suggested that I drive the car to work a few days a week so I could be home earlier. A few issues with that:

1) The car is slower than the bicycle!
2) The car costs an extra $200 a week
3) cycling to work is the only thing keeping me fit and sane. in an insane world it is the sanest choice!

[Dave-in-LK]

it was suggested that I drive the car to work a few days a week so I could be home earlier. A few issues with that:

1) The car is slower than the bicycle!
2) The car costs an extra $200 a week
3) cycling to work is the only thing keeping me fit and sane. in an insane world it is the sanest choice!

This year I took my spare bike to work and it stays there

I take a longer lunch break and go for a ride at lunch time and work half an hour longer

Breaks up my day. I'm lucky our work has a shower also. So I can do a 1 hour ride at lunch, shower then go back to work.

Cycling decreases stress and depression, driving in slow traffic can increase stress (not going to say it causes depression though ...too far flung) but we know that chemical dopamine is released when we ride

It makes us feel good - it's why we do it in many ways.

[Downhill]

Cycling does more than just release dopamine during exercise. Getting out for the occasional dose of sunshine helps combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Joining a club or participating in group rides certainly increases social interaction, and helping those less fortunate by participating in charity rides can really put a smile on your dial.