Forest Bathing on a Bike

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ir. But wait, is the benefit of a Saturday ride, just because it is a longer ride? No, I don’t think so.</p><p id="aa4a">Occasionally we do our longer Saturday rides on bike paths that are long, smooth rides but are not through forests. These for instance might be on the bike lane on the bridge over the gulf water. These rides are like my morning neighborhood rides. I feel better because I am outside in the sunshine getting some exercise, and I’m happy to be doing a longer bike ride, but the feeling isn’t the same as on our rides through forested areas. There are no trees or birds or butterflies and there is loads of traffic noise. It doesn’t feel as relaxing or mentally refreshing. I feel better if I spend time in a forest, whether I am walking or riding my bike through the forest. The mental and physical benefits are there within the trees.</p><figure id="15b6"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*KOY9R1z9ojBsmGk-NZzTJA.jpeg"><figcaption>photo by author</figcaption></figure><p id="03de">So, make sure you have a forest in your future, even if it means riding through it on your bike.</p><p id="0e7d">Read about how we started bike riding.</p><div id="42b7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/happyon-a-morning-ride-33d6baade38f"> <div> <div> <h2>Happy On A Morning Ride</h2> <div><h3>Summer Six Word Story Challenge: “Shine!”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background

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-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*SF1-5suRcWpCrPDNsY7ZoA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="79cd">Also, read more about Forest Bathing</p><div id="a147" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/forest-bathing-a-walk-in-the-forest-for-your-mind-and-body-2343e6e22391"> <div> <div> <h2>Forest Bathing: A Walk in the Forest for Your Mind and Body.</h2> <div><h3>What if there is no forest nearby?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*RO-hf_zu27I-XKzser9QLg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6047">Then thanks to <a href="undefined">Anne Bonfert</a> for her response suggesting that I use my bike mirror to frame a photo</p><div id="66ae" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-frame-your-photographs-1a24592e8c9"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Frame Your Photographs</h2> <div><h3>It’s all about the composition of details</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*O3IvX3YdlFN3G8uGt2Z2bA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Forest Bathing on a Bike

Shinrin-Yoku is the Japanese concept of forest bathing. There is scientific research to support the idea that spending time in natural areas, especially where there are trees, helps to improve health. I’ve written about this before. (See link below).

Can I get the positive effects of forest bathing while riding a bike through a forest area? Yes, I believe so. We ride 7 miles a day on our Monday-Friday schedule. The Mon.-Fri. trips are around our neighborhood. There are large live oak trees and tall pine trees along this path, but it isn’t a dense forest environment. There are trees to enjoy but I also watching out for traffic at the intersections and for pedistirans on the path. On Monday-Friday, I feel better on the days we ride simply because I have been outside in the sunshine getting some exercise. I enjoy it. I feel better because of it but it isn’t as relaxing or mentally refreshing as a ride through a forest.

On Saturday, we go for longer rides, usually 12–20 miles. We hitch our bikes to our car to drive out to bike paths through forest areas. The Saturday ride results in a higher level of happiness and satisfaction than the Monday-Friday rides. As we ride through the forest, I look for birds and butterflies. I watch the clouds. I listen to the wind. I breathe in the air. But wait, is the benefit of a Saturday ride, just because it is a longer ride? No, I don’t think so.

Occasionally we do our longer Saturday rides on bike paths that are long, smooth rides but are not through forests. These for instance might be on the bike lane on the bridge over the gulf water. These rides are like my morning neighborhood rides. I feel better because I am outside in the sunshine getting some exercise, and I’m happy to be doing a longer bike ride, but the feeling isn’t the same as on our rides through forested areas. There are no trees or birds or butterflies and there is loads of traffic noise. It doesn’t feel as relaxing or mentally refreshing. I feel better if I spend time in a forest, whether I am walking or riding my bike through the forest. The mental and physical benefits are there within the trees.

photo by author

So, make sure you have a forest in your future, even if it means riding through it on your bike.

Read about how we started bike riding.

Also, read more about Forest Bathing

Then thanks to Anne Bonfert for her response suggesting that I use my bike mirror to frame a photo