Introducing my latest perzine: “Biking Through Burnout,” a personal exploration of my experience with burnout and biking. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and Bike Month in May, I wanted to share my story and offer a fresh perspective on the connection between mental health and biking. In this perzine, I delve into my journey of change and growth, while aiming to inspire and uplift you along the way with some practices I have found helpful on my journey. Let’s remember that mental health is a holistic approach, far beyond a simple prescription of “get on yer bike!”
When I created issue four, Unfiltered, for the zine, I made a conscious decision to include stories from individuals recovering or coping with both visible and invisible conditions such as ADHD, brain injury, body dysphoria, and perspectives from abolitionist and liberation therapists on mental health. My intention was to challenge prevailing narratives about biking as a panacea for mental health, recognizing that while it can be a valuable tool, it is just one among many in our vast toolbox of coping mechanisms.
Issue seven, Bike Joy, was a turning point for me in rediscovering self-care and the joy of biking. Collaborating with our contributors and hearing their stories became a source of healing for me as well. Through this community and the creation of the zine, I’ve learned invaluable lessons that have aided me in times of need, even though the process can be demanding. Thankfully, I’ve become much better at managing these demands.
Last August, I reached a point of burnout that sparked a healing journey that continues to this day. Burnout, often described as chronic stress, can worsen anxiety and PTSD if left untreated. I didn’t realize I was experiencing burnout till it began affecting my health, relationships, and work with Cyclista Zine. While my healing journey is deeply personal, I feel compelled to share it with you that the last three years of witnessing pandemic loss, isolation, racial reckoning and work/advocacy stress left me on empty that my body began to shut down. Healing is neither linear nor one-size-fits-all, and as I navigate the loss, grief, and stress from the past three years, compounded by building a business, I do not have all the answers. However, I can share how “bike medicine” has been a helpful companion on my path to healing.
Among BIPOC communities, the term “bike medicine” has emerged to describe the therapeutic benefits of bicycling for physical, spiritual, and mental health. It encompasses the ways in which biking serves as preventative medicine, a release for stress and trauma, a means of regulating the nervous system, an avenue for radical acceptance and liberation, and a connection to our ancestors and the land.
Physically, biking helps us establish a connection with our bodies, quieting the voices that tell us we are inadequate. It serves as a low-impact exercise that improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles and bones, and maintains overall physical well-being. Regular biking reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other conditions. Furthermore, biking allows us to embrace the outdoors, soak up vitamin D, and foster healthy bones and overall health.
Spiritually, biking encourages us to slow down and fully engage with our surroundings, rather than merely speeding through in a car. By immersing ourselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature, we ground ourselves and become more mindful of our connection to the land. Biking can also heighten our awareness of the environment, fostering a sense of interconnectedness with the natural world. By choosing a low-carbon mode of transportation, we make a conscious effort to reduce our carbon footprint and live in harmony with the Earth.
Mentally, biking offers mindfulness and stress relief. While it does not resolve mental health conditions, the physical activity of biking releases endorphins, which alleviate stress, anxiety, and improve mood. Additionally, biking allows us to reconnect with nature, which has proven to have a positive impact on mental health.
Beyond physical and mental health benefits, bike medicine extends to community building and social connection. Participating in group rides or bike events enables us to meet new people and forge relationships based on a shared interest in cycling. Biking also serves as a platform to engage with our community and advocate for infrastructure improvements and policies that ensure safe and accessible biking for all.
Moreover, biking becomes an avenue for exploration, offering opportunities to discover new places, cultures, and perspectives. By traveling on a bicycle, we can slow down and fully absorb the richness of our surroundings—the sights, sounds, and smells—that often go unnoticed when traveling by car or public transportation.
In conclusion, Bike Medicine encapsulates the therapeutic benefits of biking, encompassing physical and mental health advantages, community building and social connection, as well as opportunities for exploration and travel. As more people embrace biking as a form of transportation, exercise, and recreation, they discover the profound healing potential of Bike Medicine.
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