We knew it all along: cyclists are smarter

We knew it all along, didn't we? Cyclists are just smarter. To appreciate the beneficial effects of cycling on the body, one need only look at any of the participants in the Tour de France or maybe even those seniors leaving from Sun City three or four times a week. But what does cycling do for our minds? Answering that question has been difficult for psychologists and neurologists. As early as 1896, which is roughly when some of us were in grade school and riding our first bikes, it was said, "In the nature of the motion is another unique combination. With the great speed, there are the subtle glide and sway of skating, something of the yacht's rocking, a touch of the equestrian bounce and a suggestion of flying. The effect of all this upon the mind is as wholesomely stimulating as is the exercise to the body." OK. I've been miserable on my bike. But very infrequently. I've bonked. Chafing? Sure. I have even unexpectedly met the pavement, once or twice. But far more often, cycling makes me feel both physically and emotionally improved. Most of us have experienced what I call a "smile moment." That's when everything comes together and you notice it. The weather is perfect. You get a whiff of that honeysuckle bush you just passed and you had a great donut just a few miles back. What has been learned in the last 120 years about this stimulation? Several studies have shown that exercise, including cycling, makes us smarter. In a recent study designed to determine the effects of lunch and dinner on the performance of school children, it was accidentally discovered that walking or cycling to school had a more positive impact on academics. Research has shown exercise to be more effective in preventing age-related cognitive decline than doing crossword puzzles. I wonder if a crossword puzzle with a cycling theme would be better? A study from University of California at Los Angeles found that senior citizens who exercised regularly had 5-percent more gray matter in their brains than those who did not, reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's. This does not include gray matter on the chin and head. And it doesn't take much to benefit from exercise. Moderate intensity a few times a week will do it. There have been patients whose severe depression has all but disappeared after they started cycling. Cycling increases chemicals in your brain that make you feel peaceful and calm. The focus required to operate a bicycle can be a powerful medicine. Subjects who performed the complex coordinated actions required for cycling did better on tests than subjects who did similar aerobic but less complex exercises. Cycling can change the brain's structure, too. A Parkinson's patient participated on a multi-day ride on the back of a tandem to raise awareness of the disease. To everyone's surprise, the patient showed significant improvement by the end of the ride. Cycling, and cycling harder, improves one's motor abilities. That's why you feel so superior after climbing Baxter Grade. Cycling isn't just good for our brain. We all know cycling can boost blood flow to joints, improve flexibility and strength, and cut the risk of further joint damage. But cycling has an added benefit: its smooth, repetitive action thickens cartilage in the knees, ankle and hip joints. Unlike jogging, tennis, etc., biking won't wear down our joints. Einstein said he thought of his theory of relativity while riding his bicycle. I usually think of a crumble donut while riding. Tom Frady is a Lincoln resident and avid cyclist and driver.