3 ways biking boosts mental health

in this article

• how biking helps families connect
• 3 ways biking boosts your mental health
• start your biking journey today with our special discount code!

Riding a bike is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get moving, and spend time with family! 

Whether you are a cyclist training for a big race or biking with the family to get ice cream, cycling isn’t just good for your body—it’s great for your mind, too! 

“I feel lucky to live in a city with great bike trails. Each summer, as our kids get older and better at riding, we try to bike to more places,” shares Emily Weitz, children’s mental health expert with On Our Sleeves.

“Some of our favorite rides have been biking to soccer games at Belmont Park, grabbing ice cream at Dairy Queen, stopping by our local root beer stand, and even riding to dinner at Frickers." 

It’s a fun way to spend time together as a family!”   - Emily Weitz, children's mental health expert

Since May is National Bike Month, we’re teaming up with our partners at Huffy to share three ways biking can support your family’s mental well-being.  

National Bike Month gives us the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of cycling, one of which is bringing families together," says Katie Begley with Huffy Bicycles. "Cycling is an activity that people of all ages and abilities can participate in, and it encourages families to turn off their screens, put away the to-do lists, and get outside to enjoy some quality time together. We love seeing all of the ways that biking helps families become healthier, happier, and more connected!"

"Biking encourages families to turn off their screens, put away the to-do lists, and get outside to enjoy some quality time together." - Katie Begley, Huffy Bicycles representative

Let’s ride to break stigmas together!  

3 mental health benefits of biking

Biking isn’t just a fun activity—it helps us connect in powerful ways! When we ride, we connect with our minds, nature, and each other, all of which support emotional well-being. Here’s how: 

1. Connecting with our minds 

Riding a bike is a movement that improves both your physical and mental wellness! Here’s how cycling can support mental well-being: 

• Boosting mood and focus: Getting physical exercise releases endorphins which boosts our mood and improves our focus. 
• Helping with classroom behavior and academic success: When kids are physically active, they are better able to maintain control in the classroom setting and show more academic success. 
• Building confidence: Cycling promotes confidence for both kids and adults as you work to overcome challenges together on their bikes.  
• Helping to manage stress: Regular physical activity has been shown to help people better manage stress and gain resilience.  

2. Connecting to nature 

Riding a bike usually happens in the great outdoors and research shows that spending time in nature can significantly boost mental wellbeing. Spending time in nature can: 

• Clear our minds: Nature provides a serene setting for reflection and letting thoughts wander.  
• Improve our mood: Spending time in the fresh air surrounded by trees after spending an entire day indoors and away from natural light can help us to refresh and recuperate.  

3. Connecting with others 

When we ride, we often do this with family and/or friends. This time together can provide some emotional wellbeing benefits like: 

• Overcoming challenges and goals together: Tackling challenges and achieving goals together while cycling develops a deeper sense of connection and strengthens relationships. 
• Spending quality time together: Spending time together, outdoors and away from distractions promotes communication and emotional bonding. 
• Strengthening conversations: Kids are more likely to talk openly when they are physically active, making cycling a great opportunity for meaningful conversations! 

When families engage in physical activity like cycling, it promotes not only physical health but also emotional wellbeing. Cycling provides families with opportunities to be physically active, spend time in nature, and have quality time together. 

get ready to ride with this special discount code from Huffy!

If you're excited to hit the road or trail with your family, our friends at Huffy have got you covered! They’re offering an exclusive 15% discount to members of our movement. It's the perfect time to get your bikes and gear to make the most of your family adventures!

Use code: ONOURSLEEVES to get 15% off at huffy.com until June 30, 2025!

About Huffy: 

National Bike Month is a month-long celebration of bicycling and its many benefits, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists. Huffy and our broader family of brands under United Wheels celebrate National Bike Month by participating in various events and activities throughout the month, in addition to supporting key partners that help us encourage more people to get outside and give biking a try.

To us, celebrating National Bike Month means joining a movement to make streets safer for cyclists, to help communities become more connected, and to create a healthier and happier world. Follow along with Huffy throughout the month of May to celebrate Bike Month with us! 

learn more about On Our Sleeves

If you're looking for more ways to support your child's mental wellness, we invite you to join the On Our Sleeves e-community for more free, expert-created resources!

Our mission is to provide as many caring adults as possible with tools to understand and promote children’s mental health. By joining us, you'll get monthly resources, expert advice, and first access to special giveaways—like our Activity Book and Conversation Starter Cards.

Click the orange button below to sign up and be part of the movement to support kids' mental wellness and break the stigma around mental health!

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