88% of riders say motorcycling is good for their mental health
Most of us couldn’t explain it at the time. You just knew that after a bad day, an hour in the saddle made things feel manageable again. Turns out, we weren’t imagining it.
A survey commissioned by Carole Nash has found that 88 per cent of motorcyclists believe riding has a positive effect on their mental health. The timing ties in with Mental Health Awareness Week (11 to 17 May), but the numbers themselves aren’t really a surprise to anyone who’s ever pulled out of their road and felt their shoulders drop.
Break it down and 37 per cent of riders said motorcycling makes them feel calmer. Another 31 per cent said it clears their mind of worries. Twenty per cent said it actively reduces stress. Different reasons, same destination, somewhere that feels a bit more like themselves.
The riders surveyed put it better than any statistic could. Mark Purnell from Pontypridd, who’s owned 26 bikes, described riding as a way to “empty your mind of the mundane day-to-day things.” He said even a short ride can leave him feeling like a completely different person. Can’t argue with that.
Others pointed to the sensory side of it – the stuff a car simply can’t give you. Nigel Shields from Scotland talked about being able to smell, feel and properly experience the countryside around you. Adam Wills in Dorset called riding his Triumph Bonneville “the best therapy.” Jay Wild from Kent said it helps blow the cobwebs away after a rough day. All three are onto something.
Carole Nash’s Daniel Nield also flagged the community angle, which is easy to overlook but probably just as important. Bike meets, online groups, shared routes – they all add up to something that pushes back against isolation. “Whether it’s the freedom of the open road or the bond between bikers,” Nield said, “riding can play an important role in easing feelings of isolation and stress.”
That part matters. The solo ride clears your head. The community reminds you you’re not on your own. Both things can be true, and for a lot of people, both things are.
Two wheels, one club.
