According to Mind, the mental health charity, a quarter of the population suffers from some form of mental health problem each year. Depression and anxiety are among the most commonly reported problems. Still, a broad range of diagnoses will be made each week, including GAD, PTSD, OCD, ASPD, BPD and other terrifying-sounding collections of letters. A shocking 20% of the population will have suicidal thoughts throughout their lifetime, nearly 7% will attempt suicide, and just over 7% will self-harm. Think of all the people in attendance at the bike event you went to, and then think of those figures. It's shocking and quite unsettling.
People may not talk about their feeling or what they're experiencing, which may be due to the perceived stigma, misplaced embarrassment or shame. It can be tricky to listen to and hard to discuss. You may never know what friends, colleagues or strangers are experiencing, how they're feeling or if they're doing anything about it. Life is tough sometimes, and nobody should be ashamed to ask for help if they need it. Equally, if you think someone may be struggling, reach out to them. You don't need to confront them with a box of tissues, you can simply pick your moment and ask: "Is everything ok, mate?"
You're probably wondering what this has to do with motorbikes, which is a fair question. Motorbikes can play a large part in lifting your mood and offering some respite.
It's good to get out
Starting with perhaps the most prominent and immediate benefit of motorcycling: you get out of the house. If you're not feeling great, sitting around in the same environment can often make things start to feel worse. It's one of the joys of motorcycling that it can provide you with a change of scenery at a moment's notice.
Additionally, because motorcycling is a visceral and sensory experience, you get to encounter much more than if you were driving a car or going for a walk. You have the thrill of acceleration, the sound of the engine, the sights of beautiful scenery, and the smell of freshly fertilised fields - ok, not all the smells are great. When all of your senses are working to absorb information, it leaves little time for needless worrying. Furthermore, a tank full of fuel on most motorcycles can take you somewhere new and exciting.
If you're unsure where to go or bored of doing the same routes repeatedly, why not just stick a pin in a map and make a weekend of it? If you live in East Anglia, why not ride over to North Wales for the day, spend the night and ride home in the morning? If you live in Cumbria, how about a ride down to Swindon? Sure, it's not the most glamorous place in the UK but remember, it's about the journey, not the destination. The point is to get out, do something you enjoy, and experience something new.
You don't need a friend or group to ride with, either. If you plan a route ahead of time, you can research some popular biker haunts along the way, where I've no doubt you'll bump into other like-minded souls.
New friends
One of the best things about being a biker is the strong sense of community, and the immediate rapport you can establish with other bikers. Regardless of whether you're filling your bike with fuel or you're sitting outside a cafe in a Dainese one-piece about to take a bite out of a ham and cheese Panini, if you encounter another biker, you're probably going to have a conversation. It doesn't matter what you ride, either. Sometimes in the car community, owners may be a bit sniffy about who they converse with at car meets, but with bikers, so long as you have two wheels, you're in. I recall a couple of summers ago, sitting outside Bike Stop in Stevenage, enjoying a cup of tea whilst talking with a nice lady into her enduro bikers, a bearded, chain-smoking Harley rider and a teenage lad enjoying his first summer on a 125. Motorcycling is a broad and very accepting church, and we all just seem to get along.
One benefit of us being such a diverse and inclusive group is that we get an insight into other people's lives. Insights we perhaps wouldn't normally get to see. It breaks us out of the tired echo chambers we may endure at work, at home or online. It allows us to empathise, sympathise, laugh and learn, and it's all because we share the common thread of motorcycling. When we understand people better, we feel better.
The mental and the physical
Another way motorcycling can help is as a form of exercise. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's a suitable replacement for an Ironman event or that riding a Grom down a green lane is good training for the Olympics, but it definitely counts for something.
Riding a bike takes effort. The average human will burn approximately 68 calories per hour purely from existing. If you elect to perch motionless in an armchair and watch all of Avengers Endgame, you'll use up about 240 calories. However, if you head out on your bike for those same three-and-a-half hours, that number rises to just shy of 600 calories. If you spend that time on a track, you could burn up to 1,400 calories, and motocross will see that number peak at well over 2,000 calories.
It's not hard to see why, either. Riding in summer or on track days, you'll be wearing a good 8kg of gear. In winter, you can probably add another couple of kilos to that. Immediately, you're into passive resistance training. On top of that, you then have to wrestle a bike. Every part of your body, from your feet to your neck, is getting a workout.
You'll be gripping the tank with your thighs, and moving your hips, lower back, upper body and arms as you balance the bike. It doesn't matter if you're taking a trip around the M25 in high winds or desperately trying not to outbrake yourself at Goddards; you'll be getting a workout.
Concentration and distractions
Another great benefit of motorcycling is that it forces you to concentrate. While riding, you're a world away from social media distractions and phone notifications. It's doubtful you'll be worried about posting photographs of food on Instagram when you're negotiating a series of mud-covered bends. Nor will you be tempted to take a peek at work emails or get stuck in a cat video loop on YouTube. It's just you, the bike and the road.
In many ways, as soon as you don your helmet, you're immediately placed into your own very private environment. It's a physical transition from being available to everyone to being available to yourself. Motorcycling can be a selfish pastime, but that's not necessarily bad. Everyone needs a bit of time to themselves, and riding a bike is an excellent way of achieving it. You absolutely should not feel guilty about going out for a ride alone.
Improve your mood
I've frequently heard people say that they could never give up motorcycling. I always maintained the position that I'd give up after my first accident, but that didn't happen. It's almost as if there's something addictive about it, and, being addicts, we're incapable of giving it up. There's a reason for that, and it's all going on inside your head. Welcome to the world of dopamine.
The high we experience from riding hangs around until we've kicked off our boots and hung up our helmets. We begin to associate happiness and high moods with motorcycling; before we know it, we're addicted and frequently seeking that dopamine high.
At a more fundamental level, while some of us may use motorbikes for practical transport, we all love the feeling. We love the fun, the freedom, and the excitement that two-wheeled transport gives us. When you have something that gives you pleasure, it's a vital tool in your arsenal against low mood and depression.
Even if you find yourself struggling to do anything, I will implore you to force yourself to get geared up and head out for a ride. You'll be free from distractions, free from worries, and you'll burn some calories. Hell, you may even make some new friends along the way. Biking brings us close, and we're stronger together.
If you need more help
I'm not going to pretend that motorbikes are the silver bullet for the werewolf of depression. Everybody's situation is different, after all. If you find yourself struggling, don't feel embarrassed or ashamed. There are people out there who want to help. If you feel you need to talk but don't know where to start, here are some contacts:
- CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably with a helpline and webchat service: T: 0800 585858 W: https://www.thecalmzone.net/
- MIND - Advice on mental health, where to find help and treatment options: T: 0300 123 3393 W: https://www.mind.org.uk/
- The Samaritans - 24/7 helpline if you need immediate help: T: 116 123 W: https://www.samaritans.org/
- Give Us a Shout - Free, confidential and anonymous text-based service: SMS: 85258 W: https://giveusashout.org/
Finally, if you want to join a petrolhead-centric community of nice people with warm, welcoming events and meets, take a quick look at the fantastic work being done by Takona: https://www.takona.co.uk/
Stay safe, everyone.
