Can a bike ride really make you happier? At Much Better Adventures, we’ve noticed that more people are reaching for their bikes for reasons that go far beyond fitness trackers and Strava segments - with 44% of our riders saying that they cycle for their mental health, in our 2024 Cycling and Adventure survey.
That 44% represents 120 of the 270 respondents, meaning a substantial number of people are riding not just for performance, but for peace of mind. The other top reasons for cycling - fitness (72.6%), time outdoors (69.6%), and fun (59.6%) - also all feed into the same result: a clearer head and a calmer mood.
From wheels to wellness
Over the past year, interest in cycling as a form of self-care has grown rapidly. In the UK, Google searches for “cycling for mental health” have doubled, and there are now more than 28 million TikTok videos on the topic ‘Ride a Bike for Mental Health’.
At the same time, the number of published articles exploring the connection between cycling and mental health have jumped by 133%, from 40,400 in September 2024, to 94,100 in October 2025. Cycling is no longer just for sport or commute. It’s increasingly becoming part of the wellness conversation.
Cycling science
Science backs up what riders are feeling. When you cycle, your body dials down cortisol and releases endorphins - the chemicals that lift your mood and calm your mind. Regular cycling also boosts dopamine and serotonin, improving focus and overall wellbeing.
Just 20-30 minutes on the bike can ease tension and sharpen focus for hours afterwards.
Just 20-30 minutes on the bike can ease tension and sharpen focus for hours afterwards. That includes riding to work. One recent study found that people who commute by bike are far less likely to experience depression or anxiety than those who drive, thanks to a simple mix of movement, fresh air and freedom.
Adventure cycling takes it further
Adventure cycling amplifies the benefits of everyday riding. Research into adventure therapy shows that multi-day rides in nature can significantly boost mental health, combining movement, connection and time in wild places.
Not only is it supported by our survey - we see it first hand on our trips. When you spend days riding through wild landscapes with local guides, staying in places that give back to the community, and sharing each day’s effort over food and laughter, something shifts. The mix of movement, connection and purpose is what turns a good ride into something genuinely restorative.
Multi-day rides in nature can significantly boost mental health, combining movement, connection and time in wild places.
Take our ‘Cycle the Highlands of Northern Vietnam’ tour, a nine-night journey along the Ha Giang Loop through limestone peaks, rice terraces and remote villages, with nights in homestays, locally-owned hotels and even a traditional junk-boat on Halong Bay. What stands out isn’t just the route, but the rhythms of travel, hospitality and a pace that invites presence, making it a true mental-reset.
Our new e-bike adventures open that experience up to almost anyone. They’re a passport to wilder, more remote places - removing the barriers of fitness or experience while keeping all the joy and challenge of the ride. For many first-time riders, e-bikes are the gateway to adventure cycling: the same mental lift, just with a little extra power on the climbs.
We run 37 cycling and e-biking trips across 19 countries, from snowy Arctic trails to Vietnam’s rice terraces. “Time and again, riders tell us they return home stronger - not just physically, but mentally too,” says Vicky Leach, adventure expansion manager and cycling specialist at Much Better Adventures.
“People come on our trips for the landscapes, but they leave talking about how the trip made them feel,” Vicky adds. “There’s something about the rhythm of riding every day that just clears the head.”
Ready to ride?
So if 44% of riders are already turning to cycling for their mental health, why shouldn’t the rest of us? The science backs it - lower stress levels, higher mood, better focus - and the benefits don’t stop when the ride does. It seems the simplest route to feeling better is often the one you ride.
The combination of movement, connection and wild places seems to strike the perfect balance. It’s not just a break from daily life; it’s a reminder of how good being outside, moving at your own pace, can feel.
Whether it’s a weekend intro to off-roading in the UK or a week-long journey through the Balkans, our cycling and e-biking adventures are designed to move your body and your mind.
Sam Bruce, co-founder of Much Better Adventures
"What we’re seeing is that people aren’t just riding to get fit - they’re riding to feel good,” says Sam Bruce, co-founder of Much Better Adventures. “Cycling has this incredible ability to quiet the noise of modern life. You start pedalling, find a rhythm, and suddenly everything feels simpler and more in balance. It’s that combination of movement, nature and presence that does wonders for your mental health, and it’s exactly what we aim to build into every adventure we run.
"Adventure travel should always be a force for good - for people, for local communities, and for the planet. It can also have really well documented benefits for travellers too. Our mission is to inspire people to live adventurously while ensuring our collective love of the outdoors helps in protecting it.”
The rise of e-biking is only likely to further these benefits, Sam says.
“E-biking opens up the world’s wildest places to more people, making tough terrain feel more doable and big adventures feel within reach. Knowing you’ve got that little boost gives you the confidence to go further, climb higher and explore deeper all under your own steam, just with a bit of extra 'oomph'. This launch is about unlocking that sense of freedom and supporting our goal to make adventure travel more accessible.”
Methodology
Experts at Much Better Adventures used their well-established expertise in adventure cycling tours, analysing both their own data and external data, to create a report on the relationship between cycling and mental health.
Analysed data includes: Much Better Adventures 2024 Cycling and Adventure survey, Google Keyword Planner for UK search trends, Google Advanced Search for the number of published Google articles in the UK, TikTok for social trends.
Data correct as of October 2025.
Inspired? Check out our full range of cycling adventure holidays now!