Mountain Biking Addiction
Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.
March 27, 2024
An
addiction is an activity that one engages in repeatedly in spite of it harming oneself or others. Mountain bikers often acknowledge their
addiction, but shrug it off. As with addiction to drugs, they can only rid
themselves of their addiction with the help of other people who are not
addicted. Even mountain bikers who have accidents that turn them into
paraplegics (or quadriplegics?) often try to continue mountain biking, using
bikes that don’t require the use of their legs. The existence of addiction
makes it imperative not to expose children – who are too naïve to understand
its dangers -- to mountain biking. Teaching children to mountain bike is child
abuse! See also https://irispublishers.com/oajap/pdf/OAJAP.MS.ID.000643.pdf
Here
are just a few examples:
https://shredtrail.com/why-is-mountain-biking-so-addictive/
·
Home
·
Tools
·
About
Why is mountain biking so addictive?
Ask
anyone around me what I am obsessed with and they won’t hesitate to tell you
that it is most definitely mountain biking!
And I’m
certainly not alone in this, as the sport continues to explode in popularity
around the world, mountain bikers everywhere are sharing their
stoke with their friends, family, and anyone else who will listen!
So why is mountain biking so
addictive?
There
are several reasons that are widely agreed upon, and actually backed up by
science in many cases:
- Exercise is scientifically proven to make you
feel better.
- Exposure to a dangerous situation stimulates
adrenaline, which in turn activates the bodies reward system, flooding the
brain with the euphoria of dopamine when you overcome the danger.
- Adrenaline is one of the fastest ways to “feel
alive”.
- Immediate experience of and connection with
nature.
- Satisfaction of achieving goals and overcoming
fears, which are both connected to the release of dopamine.
- Building meaningful friendships, around shared
challenges and enjoyment.
- Quieting of the mind, being 100% in the moment,
also known as “flow state”.
- Immediate and measurable stress reduction.
More to mountain biking than adrenaline?
You may
notice that beyond the adrenaline inducing side of the sport, many of the
things that mountain biking brings as it’s
strongest assets are the same things which modern “always on” city life has
diminished for many people – whether that is a connection with nature, or the
mental space for a quieting of the mind.
Over
the years I’ve been into all sorts of hobbies and interests, and you might
argue that some of these are going after some of the same things – take for
example video games. These routinely are designed around overcoming challenges,
and rewarding increasing skill. Some are designed very much to be played with
friends.
However
in my years of experience of gaming, very few if any have resulted in a calming
of the noisy chatter of the mind, and while flow state can be achieved, it is
noticeably less tangible than when combined with physical movement and an
element of adrenaline and the survival of real challenges!
Likewise
the social interaction and building of friendships I would argue is more
meaningful when all are progressing through real-life challenge (and danger)
together.
Can I mountain bike
too much?
Of course not. Well… maybe.
I’d
like to say that I haven’t found that limit yet myself. But perhaps I’m just
telling myself that, blocking out the times I’ve fallen asleep on the floor
after getting home from a huge day on the bike, body completely spent and mind
looping POV footage in my dreams of swooping through berms and charging down trails.
As with
any intense physical exercise, and particularly those which include an element
of danger, it is indeed possible to completely exhaust your body and mind
through endless laps at a bikepark or climbing giant
mountains.
While
this might not be the end of the world in most situations and can usually be
solved by a cold beverage, a hearty meal, and some solid couch time after the
fact, there is no doubt that getting too thrashed can increase the risk of
injury – something we each need to weigh up for ourselves.
Anyone
who has spent any amount of time mountain biking can tell you about times
they’ve started making dumb mistakes on the trail when they’ve been exhausted.
And as we all know with mistakes come injuries sooner or later.
Why do mountain bikers
keep trying to get everyone out riding anyway?
I’ve
lost count of the number of people I’ve urged to get out mountain biking –
friends, family, acquaintances… They’re all fair game! So why is it that it’s
quite common for riders to try and drag unsuspecting “non
bikers” into their world of shin flaying pedals and muddy teeth?
It all
comes back to the addiction of mountain biking.
I know
for a fact how much of a positive difference riding trails has made in my life,
and the instant destressing effect it has, how energizing getting better and
faster and more confident as a mountain biker feels.
Wanting
other people around you to share in all the awesomeness and discover a new
exhilaration and level of fitness seems entirely natural to me, and it’s super rewarding to see others getting into it in a big
way after their introduction to the sport.
So is an addiction
to mountain biking a good thing?
Out of
everything that it is possible to be addicted to, most people would agree that
a sport is one of the better things to get hooked on!
But
there are always two sides to every story, so let’s weigh up the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Mountain bikers get a fantastic full body
physical workout.
- Very regular exercise – after all it’s just fun
to get out on the bike, and as fitness increases, so does the enjoyment.
- Mountain biking gets you out in nature,
experiencing the world.
- Helps create an active outdoor way of living
for the family, and encourages the kids to naturally get into a fit active
lifestyle.
- Rewards pushing past your fears and
self-imposed limitations, something you can take into other areas of your
life.
- Can talk about nothing but mountain biking
non-stop for hours on end.
Cons:
- An intense restlessness when too many hours
have passed without riding a bike.
- Mountain biking can be an expensive sport, from
carbon full suspension bikes to all the upgrades and replacing of broken
parts.
- Need to be careful about getting sunburnt too
much from all the hours spent out in the blazing sun.
- Temporary abandonment of wife and newborn baby
is a possibility.
- Can talk about nothing but mountain biking
non-stop for hours on end.
So what does an
addiction to mountain biking lead to?
As they
say, the first step is admitting you have a problem.
It
turns out that problem is that you don’t have enough mountain bikes.
Thankfully
this can easily be portrayed with a mathematical equation. The correct number
of bikes to own is N+1, where N equals the number of bikes you currently own.
You may
want to print out the following handy checklist and tick off the bikes as you
add them to your rapidly overflowing garage.
Mountain bikes owned:
- Enduro bike
- Downhill bike
- XC bike
- Trail bike
- Single speed bike
- Bikepacking bike
- Dirtjumper
- Fatbike
- Tandem mountain bike
- Hardtail
Obviously
you may find that you are required to get multiple types of each mountain bike
– long and short travel, alloy and carbon, and so on.
Your
significant other may not understand the need for what they incorrectly
perceive as “too many bikes” – so naturally you’ll have to clarify how vital
each bicycle is for its specific purpose, at length.
Feel
free to discuss in minute detail every strength and aspect of each bike, and
accompany this with wild gesturing and excited whooping. Your significant other
should see the error of their ways within a few hours, freeing you up to begin
researching your next bike.
CategoriesBike Obsessed
Christchurch Adventure Park Trails
(with Videos!)
Flat Pedal Showdown – OneUp
Composite vs Shimano Saint vs DMR V8
About ShredTrail
Do You Have
Mountain Biking Dependence Disorder?
The maddening effects of MBDD upon construction of trail. Photo: Bob Heimbuch.
Signs and
Symptoms
·
Rides that last longer than intended (aka, epics)
·
Riding continues despite inherent physical risk
·
Delusions or fixed beliefs in light of conflicting data
evidenced by statements such as:
o Fat bikes are the greatest revolution in the
history of mountain biking
o If it wasn’t Strava’d, it never happened
·
Knows his/her bike’s torque specs better than children’s
birthdays
·
Hoards old, odd, and obsolete, bike parts citing “just in
case” as an excuse
·
Acutely aware of exactly how many days have passed since
last ride
Risk Factors
·
Having one or more mountain bikes in the home
·
Demonstrates thrill-seeking, adventurous behavior
·
Strong affinity for the outdoors
·
A score of 5 or more on the MBDDQ (see below)
Screening Tools
This MBDDer continues riding despite inherent physical risk and
increased financial burden
MBDD
Questionnaire
9. Is your bike
worth more than your car?
12. Do you use a
toothbrush more often to clean your bike’s drivetrain than your teeth?
MBDD renders one useful
to nothing more than riding a mountain bike
Treatment
Mountain Biking as Therapy: Scottish Researchers
Integrate Trails into Mental Health Treatment Plans
My Old Hardtail Mountain Bike Was Turned into a Meme, and
I LOL'd
9 Comments
Please log in or create a free account to join
the discussion.
stumpyfsr Minnesota // 2011
on Jan 11, 2017
Good stuff! Wish
only this and similar disorders bother us for the rest of the life.
Tim Roache 2017
on Jan 12, 2017
I can finally
put a name to the condition I have!
Paul Loeffelholz Ontario // 2015
on Jan 12, 2017
Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
on Jan 11, 2017
I'm having a
hard time deciding which article is better, this, or the bro-brahs!
So funny!!
mongwolf Mongolia // 2011
on Jan 12, 2017
Mountain biking
is the good meph. One hit and you are hook. Ride on !!!!!!!!!!!
bikerboy15 California // 2016
on Jan 11, 2017
That looked like
a lucky shot of the poor guy who looked like he was about to nail himself.. LOL :)
IwantmyMTB1999 Florida // 2016
on Jan 12, 2017
This needs to be
added to the DSM-6!
Joel DH North Carolina // 2016
on Jan 11, 2017