After an interview yesterday, I talked cycling briefly with a fellow cyclist who was one of the interviewers.  It brought up an interesting subject that I’ve always been aware of and have discussed occasionally with other cyclists, but have never really fully thought out – so cyclists, runners, athletes in general, give me your feedback:

I’ve participated in a great variety of sports throughout my life.  That includes everything from rec soccer as a kid to fencing in high school.  While cycling is without a doubt the sport I’ve been most drawn to and involved in, it’s also the only sport I’ve experienced withdrawals from.  I think mental withdrawal is a part of it – staring out the window at snow and ice on the road wishing you could be on your bike is understandable, but there’s a physical aspect of it that I’ve noticed as well.  If I’m on a regular training schedule (riding at least 3-4 times per week) and then skip a period of 4 or 5 days, I find myself becoming anxious, moody, and more easily flustered.

I first noticed this in college, but didn’t immediately recognize the correlation with cycling.  I confused my normally upbeat and happy self by being more down than normal without a good reason to be.  Then it’d pass and I wondered what the slump was all about.  Eventually I found myself anxious physically and mentally wishing I was on my bike at the same time, and wondered if that might be the root cause.  I polled numerous friends from the cycling team and many of them eperienced the same sort of thing. We came to the conclusion that your body does actually go through withdrawals physically from not biking.

My best conclusion is that it’s an actual chemical/hormonal imbalance created by a lack of cycling that results in the downer.  While a cycling high is definitely a little different from the ethereal runner’s high that I’ve experienced several times, cycling definitely boosts the body’s happy hormones (endorphins would probably be a little more scientifically accurate).

I think this could explain a lot.  It would explain why cyclists crash and suffer road rash and get back on their bike to race the next day.  Or why someone will break bones yet count the days until they can get back to training.  Basically, cycling is an addiction.  You don’t see me complaining.

So now time for your feedback:  If you’re a cyclist, have your experienced this same thing?  How about endurance athletes in general?  Or perhaps it’s the case for all serious athletes in their respective sports?

Looking outside there’s no ice or snow on the road.  In fact, it’s not even raining.  I think I’m going to boost my endorphins and maybe do some hill repeats while I’m at it.