Runner’s high vs… cyclist’s high?
Is there a cyclist’s high*, similar to how there is a runner’s high**?
I wonder.
I love riding my bike. It definitely provides exhilarating thrills that running cannot, like cycling downhill at 30+ mph. It also gets me farther, and quicker.
But does it ever get me to that euphoric state that running does? Not quite. Not yet.
A lot of my short little rides have the opposite effect than a run. Instead of leaving me calmer/happier, they leave me a bit agitated. By the wind. By the people yelling at me from their car. By the car that cut me off on a turn and almost made me ride in to the ditch. By the wind again – why is it coming from that direction, too? Ha ha.
I am bound to find this cyclist’s high! It must exist! Maybe I will find it in a week, on RAGBRAI***!
*Not doping
**According to this link, “the effect can occur anytime that people engage in any strenuous exercise or activity, not just running”
***I had my first RAGBRAI nightmare last night. It was Saturday, and we spent so much time screwing around we missed starting the ride. Then it was the next day and someone suggested we do the ride then, after all the pass-through towns were closed. I have lots of dreams about missing events and I hate them!
Themocracy
I’ve been wondering the same thing about swimming!
I’m purely a cyclist, having only ever done a 5k once. I definitely agree with the feeling of going 30+ MPH downhill…except for the last time I did that, I pinch-flatted my rear tire on the way down. I also completely understand how the wind affects me. Some days, it feels like a 3 MPH wind will be the death of me. Now, yesterday, I experienced a driver that just couldn’t have been thinking. I was coming to an intersection, with the right of way, signaled a right hand turn, and she pulled through the stop sign right in front of me. I usually take that corner a little wider, but I would have t-boned her if I had yesterday. I don’t have a lot of run-ins with cars that get me riled up, but drivers at intersections irritate me sometimes.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever experienced a cyclist high or not. It sure felt good completing my first century ride last August and I’m looking forward to the same ride this year!
That is very similar to what happened to me on Friday, only I was turning left. Gah. Scary stuff, right?!
Good luck on your century in August!!!! 🙂
I also get that feeling during a ride, like flying down hill! But I’m not sure I’ve gotten it overall, after a ride, like I do with a run. I’m pretty new at biking and still kind terrified of crashing, so I’m mostly just glad to be done.
I actually do feel like I get a swimmer’s high, though! And it’s nice in that you’re not as sweaty and gross (ok, the chlorine smell maybe replaces that), and don’t have tired legs from pounding on the ground. But the accomplishment feeling after is pretty close to a runner’s high.
I definitely have gotten that “high” feeling after other intense workouts, including cycling. It’s just harder to get to that point on a bike. Riding with the women’s group from Team Toledo does it for me.
Like Jen, I get the feeling of the “high” after a really hard workout, usually, but rarely during a hard workout (again, the euphoria of going fast downhill is amazing but different). You mentioned all of the other factors, and maybe that’s it – we have to focus on so many other things while cycling that it’s a challenge get into that zen place?
Also, I think progress on the bike is much less linear. This year, I had a terrible month of cycling (April) and was incredibly frustrated, but then saw big gains in May.
You’re going to have an awesome time on the ride next week! Can’t wait to hear about it.
Yeah, good point! It would be BAD to get in to that zen place. Maybe on a really wide trail… even then, there is so much to pay attention to!
I am sooooo excited about the ride!!!! I wish I was doing the full week and starting to day with everyone (ha ha ha, of course, in that wishful thinking, I would have trained for that).
I haven’t had a high after biking. I find it more relaxing than running DURING but I don’t get that post workout great feeling. If anything, my legs just feel tired.
Have fun on Ragbrai!!! I have a friend going. I’m sure you’ll see her. LOL! She’s on some team that is all purple and they wear purple wigs I think. She & her hubby ride a tandem.
Oh fun! I think I have seen pictures of that team in the past? Has the team been around for awhile?
Yep, awhile. It’s a pretty big team from Clinton, Iowa.
I definitely think there’s a biker’s high! Long rides in the forest preserve always make me feel good. 🙂
Maybe a bikers high for people who love cycling as their #1 sport? I don’t get a high off of cycling or swimming anything close to the high I used to get from a good heart pounding tempo run. Maybe that could change in the future… But yoga/cycling/swimming never gives me the “slay all the Krakens” feeling after an hour. 🙂
I’ve never had a runner’s high, but I don’t see why you couldn’t have the same effect (sensation?) while cycling. Maybe because you’re still not as comfortable biking as your are running, you have a lot of underlying subconscious thoughts that prevent it? And the Jackass award for total guessing goes to me. Ha.
I love biking. I hadn’t done it in years, and then did it at my moms…V needs to learn how to ride a bike.
I only get that high when I’m doing the bike piece of the triathlon relay! And even then it can be difficult because I’m yelling “On your left!” a lot. It breaks my zen 🙂 I think it’s probably easier with running because you’re not going as fast and you don’t have to think so far ahead when you come to intersections or hills or what have you. Biking requires a lot more concentration.