Why I use the word 'Bicycles' instead of 'Cycling' when talking about mental health

In my previous post I shared a few benefits that bicycles have for mental health. As I was writing, I was going back and forth about whether I should use the word ‘cycling’ or ‘bicycles.’ I ultimately decided on using the word ‘bicycles’ because while the activity of cycling is with no doubt beneficial for both our physical and mental wellbeing, I believe that bicycles by themselves can have positive effects on our mental health. I’ll explain why:

Have you ever owned something that you adored so much, you felt a flutter in your heart just by looking at it? That may sound silly, but join me on this journey for a spell. Take a moment and place your thoughts on something that you have (or that your parents or grandparents have) that elicits memories from your childhood. As you’re recalling this item (or better if you have the item with you and can look at it) and those memories start flooding in, put some attention on the emotions you’re feeling. Isn’t it cool how one little item can bring up such strong emotions? That’s also part of why people take photos, right? Photos are inanimate but they’re reminders - reminders of times that brought us so much joy we wanted to capture them and come back to that time, back to those emotions.

That’s exactly how I feel about bicycles – and I believe they have this effect on many people. I know not everyone can share in this experience, but many people, at least in the U.S., had a bicycle as a kid, even if they had to share it with their annoying little brother (unless you’re Phoebe from friends and only had a box with a picture of a bicycle). Can you remember the feeling you had when you got your very first bicycle? I can probably guess; was it excitement? Maybe it was gratitude, maybe it was awe, or maybe it was just plain happiness.

I ride around town on a tiny 1960 Schwinn Varsity (and even touring on it too), probably one of the most commonly owned bicycles in America in the 1960’s and 70’s. (And it’s red - how perfect, huh?) Schwinn was once the Ford of bicycles in America. I can’t count how many times a boomer has approached me on my bike and exclaimed, “I had one like that as a kid!” I hear it often and I never get tired of it, mostly because it brings me joy to see the way their eyes light up and to hear the nostalgic tales of a kid and his (or her) bike.

Painting of bicycles in Amsterdam

There's a reason bicycles are used so frequently in art, from black and white photographs, to paintings, to sculptures. Art is made with emotion and, resultantly, it stirs emotion. You’ve probably seen a lot more bicycle art than you can recall. Looking at a bicycle, for many people, can take us to a time and place when we were happy, when we felt free. Runners can probably relate to this example: how do you feel when you sign up for an ultramarathon? Excited? Happy? You’re not running yet, but just the thought of it, the anticipation of it, can elicit those dopamine swimmers in your brain. And why do we sign up for another race? Because we remember how good it felt when we finished the last one (despite the way we curse ourselves during the race and contemplate our own sanity). When we look at a bicycle, we’re reminded of how free and happy we feel when we ride. One of the many reasons I believe bicycles add significant value to our lives is that they have the power to bring us joy before we even hop in the saddle. So next time you decide to go for a ride, take a sec to admire that timeless piece of machinery.