The solitude of cycling can be a tonic for your soul

As a kid growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I always felt different to my peers. Perhaps they all felt the same, but no one was brave enough to admit it, so everyone just played football and rugby, went shopping with their parents, then watched The Dukes of Hazzard on TV.

Not that there was anything wrong with any of this; my friends and I played outside whenever we could, we built dens and climbed trees. But I knew there was more adventure out there.

I just didn’t know how to access it. It wasn’t until I participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Dofe) that things became clearer.

All of a sudden, there was a different path ahead of me. To this day, everything I did as part of that award has had a major impact on my life, from the 18year career in social care I started after volunteering on the award, to the career I have now in cycling – I joined my first cycling club as part of the Dofe award.

I gained skills and confidence to break out of my young, teenage shyness and try new activities.

One of the key aspects was the independence I gained. I discovered sports such as hill-walking and cycling that I didn’t need to be part of a team to enjoy. I could just head off into the hills.

Cycling still gives me this sense of freedom and release from the world.

Increasingly, technology, pressures from work and family and just day-today life can become big grinds on our mental and physical health. The ability to escape all of that, even if only for an hour, pays huge dividends.

I have other motivations to ride my bike, such as fitness and work, but taking time to cycle just for myself is a tonic for my soul.

When the sun shines, it is nice to feel its warmth on my face, but equally, I have pedalled through dark and dingy forests where the mist has hung heavily in the air, and have felt just as uplifted. I don’t think I am alone in this feeling. Of course many of you will recognise the same feelings, but there are many who would not identify, or even welcome a cycle ride out in the rain and mud. But – and I don’t want to philosophise too much here – I believe we are heading so far from our primordial instincts that we are being detrimental to our health.

We are constantly surrounded by artificial stimulation and rarely, if ever, find ourselves out of our comfort zone.

Many of us live, work and play in large towns and cities and never get opportunities to be on our own, with just nature around us. I know in situations like that, I get increasingly stressed and angry, and long for the isolation and solitude of a mountain or a forest.

The physical benefits of exercise are well-documented and knowledge about improving mental health is increasingly linked with being in the natural world.

We tend to fret a lot about our physical health, but perhaps it is our mental health that should come first. Rather than head to the gym for a spin on a static bike, take a ride into a muddy forest. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Join the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at: www.strava.com/clubs/ Blazingsaddlesweekendcourier

Where to ride: The Glassie Circuit, Appin of Dull

Terrain: Land Rover tracks, some single track and a lot of ascent

Description: OS Landranger 1:50000 Map: 52

Start at: Highland Safaris – Dull NN801489

Distance: 9 miles/ 15km

The initial part of this ride heads out on the B846 from Dull, towards Aberfeldy, and then left towards Strathtay. At the signpost for the Glassie Bunkhouse, turn left and the hard work begins. The climb is fairly steep and unrelenting up to Loch Glassie. The route can be linked with other trails around Dull Woods, and Highland Safaris also offer a “drop at the top” service.

As Jo used her training to play sounds designed to connect to the body’s chakras, Gayle and her fellow sound bathers took their own individual journeys into relaxation. Pictures: Kris Miller.

When was the last time you took some time out in nature?