The benefits of mountain biking are as numerous and diverse as features on a trail!
So if you’re wondering whether you should give mountain biking a try (or pondering whether it’s worth the blood, sweat, and tears) here are a few reasons why mountain biking is good for your mental and physical health.
5 Significant Benefits of Mountain Biking
Here are 5 significant benefits of mountain biking that will keep you healthy and fit on the trail!
1. Mountain Biking Can Improve Your Wellbeing Mood
It’s been scientifically proven that spending time in nature can help improve mood and wellbeing. There’s something about being outdoors surrounded by nature that lifts our spirits and makes us feel happy! Maybe you’ve experienced this phenomenon with hiking or doing yoga outside or watching wildlife in your backyard. Spending just a short amount of time outside can really increase our happiness and well-being.
So it’s no surprise, then, that hopping on a mountain bike and taking a spin around the local trails can boost our mood and keep the blues away. It’s one of the best benefits of mountain biking, especially if you’re dealing with negative stuff in your life and you need a little boost.
2. Mountain Biking Helps Connect You With New Friends
Mountain bikers are awesome if I say so myself. We know how to have fun, rally for big adventures, talk shop all day long, and drink lots of beer (or cider for me!). In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of mountain biking is connecting with other riders and spending the day together out on the trails.
Mountain biking is also a great way to meet new friends. There are lots of local mountain biking Facebook groups to get involved with, mountain bike clubs that put on events (Google your state + “mountain bike club”), bike shops that organize weekly rides, and other groups and events where you can find new ride buddies.
Note: Always make sure to wear a full face helmet while mountain bike riding
3. Mountain Biking Is A Great Form Of Exercise
Just like road biking or spinning, mountain biking is a great form of physical exercise. It strengthens muscles and improves cardiovascular fitness all at the same time! Even just a quick 30-minute ride can be a great workout. I will say that mountain biking isn’t great for arm or core strength, so I try to supplement with 2-4 days of weight training a week.
4. Mountain Biking Builds Confidence
One of the biggest benefits of mountain biking for me has been building confidence on and off the bike. No matter your skill level or fitness, rolling down a singletrack trail on a mountain bike makes you feel like a badass, am I right? And this confidence often spills over to the real world with improved self-esteem in life, work, relationships, your body and so much more!
5. Great Family Activity
Looking to spend more time with family? Get everyone on a mountain bike. Mountain biking is probably the biggest thing that binds my family together. We take mountain biking vacations, ride local trails together, do post-ride meals, talk about bikes, and so much more!
There’s really no excuse for someone not to mountain bike (unless they really, really don’t want to…). E-bikes are great for family members who aren’t up for the physical challenge and there are lots of tag-along bike options for kids like the Mac Ride which my brother uses with my niece.
