The weather here today was practically spring-like for a change, sunny and just above the freezing point. This isn’t typical of Montreal winters, and just last week we had windchill temperatures of -31C (about -32F for my American friends). That’s quite a difference in temperatures, within just a few days!
It was so warm, in fact, that the accumulated ice and snow had mostly melted off the streets in my area by lunchtime… so I decided to take my bike out for a quick ride. Cycling is something that I love, along with other outdoor sports like canoeing, cross-country skiing, and alpine hiking and snowshoeing.
Unfortunately the canoeing and cross-country skiing are almost impossible for me to do now, because I can’t use my right hand and arm most of the time. That’s because of a rare autoimmune and neuro-inflammatory disease with which I’ve been dealing since 2016; CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. As the name suggests, it’s a rather painful condition.
I can still ride my bike though, but with only my left hand on the handlebar. That makes my rides more challenging, but perhaps also more satisfying. I beat the odds each time I get onto my saddle! Riding also helps me manage my CRPS pain, to feel better.
Recent research has shown that cycling is one of the activities that can have a positive effect on mental health as well: “Despite the fact that neither cycling nor aerobics and fitness technically counts as team sports, these activities can also have a considerable positive effect on your mental health.”(1)
Individuals who exercised had … fewer days of poor mental health in the past month than individuals who did not exercise but were otherwise matched for several physical and sociodemographic characteristics…
All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden…
The largest associations were seen for popular team sports (22.3% lower), cycling (21.6% lower), and aerobic and gym activities (20.1% lower), as well as durations of 45 min and frequencies of three to five times per week.”(2)
Today’s short ride, rolling rather slowly because the roads were wet from melting snow, made me happier than I’ve felt in a few weeks. Since my last outdoor ride? It felt fantastic to be riding outside again, for the first time in weeks – I’d been riding a stationary bike, ever since our first few snowfalls of the winter season.
December 23rd might be the latest I’ve ever ridden, at the end of a year, by the way. So I was absolutely thrilled to reach almost the 25 km mark today, or about 16 miles. I had a joyful smile on my face during my entire ride today, feeling happy to be back outside in nature again – and back on my bike.
For this holiday season I wish you activities that bring you joy, as much as today’s bike ride brought me joy! Happy holidays and all the best for 2020 and beyond ‘-)
References:
(1) Exercise Brings More Joy than Money, Says Study. Chardynne Joy H. Concio. The Science Times. 09 Jul 2019. Online, accessed 23 Dec 2019:
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/23248/20190709/exercise-brings-more-joy-than-money-says-study.htm
(2) Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1·2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. Sammi R Chekroud,Ralitza Gueorguieva, Amanda B Zheutlin, Martin Paulus, Harlan M Krumholz, John H Krystal, and Adam M Chekroud. 5(9); 739-746: 01 Sep 2018. ePublished 08 Aug 2018. Online, accessed 23 Dec 2019:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30227-X/fulltext#articleInformation