Cycling and Happiness

A recent survey confims what we as cyclists already knew: that cycling and happiness are correlated - in a good way.
The happiest cities according to John Helliwell of the University of British Columbia, all have a high number of cyclists. Denmark routinely tops the list of the happiest countries in the world with Copenhagen having one in three of its inhabitants cycling to work or school. I'm fortunate as I don't have to commute to work at all and there are still many reasons I could list for a link between happiness and cycling.

Cycling somehow clears the mind and frees it up. Imogen Heap, an eccentric British singer who wears odd clothes and feathers, ribbons and butterflies in her hair, has said that she pedals her bike to and from her recording studio in London as a creative exercise. Lyrics come to her as well as snatches of musical phrases.

There is a woman I sometimes see in my neighbourhood, who rides her bike through the traffic, seated upright in her saddle, wearing a dress and nice shoes, her purse in the basket on the front. Smiling and helmet-less, she is fearless and graceful as a swimmer doing a gentle, steady crawl through a choppy sea. l like what it suggests: that you’re confident, oblivious to the chaos, trusting in others’ goodwill and courtesy, at one with your bike. From the comfort of a car, it looks like an existential statement.

My quick list of further cycling pluses would also include:
+  good exercise whatever the speed you choose
+  very sociable - a great way to meet the locals
+  very sociable - a great way to spend a day out with your friends
+  inspirational - nature has so much to offer

What's on your list?