[Closed] Mag Feature: Vicious Cycle (cycling and depression)

Absolutely outstanding article! I can't see any other mag publishing anything Remotely like that! Hats off Singletrack!

Great piece of writing + agree one of the best things I've read in a mag for a while.
Respect to ST + the writers.

I've not read it yet and I'm not sure I want to.
Can someone summarise please, is it actually about bikes and is it a depressing read? I just want to read about bikes really... its bad enough theres all that CX shite in the back of the mag this month and a page devoted to an 'article' about someone who lists every SPD pedal ever made and then says he's switched to flats for a bit.

Renewal? I don't think so...

christmas grump 🙄

Great read. Props to singletrack for publishing that.
Enormous respect to the author, I hope he found writing that piece in some way cathartic. I also wish him the best of luck in his battle. I'm routing for him.

Is it a forum member?

Is it a forum member?

Any chance of a brief, couple of line, summary of the article?

Hats off to the writers and editors for producing and including an artice on depression in a cycling magazine.

Yes a superb article and well done for ST for publishing it.

The content was very personal to me and I can totally relate to it . Cycling has turned my life around in the last 16 months...

Well done

It's about a chap who suffers depression and explains how and why cycling helps him.
It's brutally honest, dark, engaging, enlightening. Ultimately left me with a better understanding of the suffering, reinforced the reasons I ride (although I don't suffer depression) and left me hopeful for the author.

It's quite a complex article exploring possible reasons for a correlation between depressives and cyclists. Not really possible to summarise except to say it's not a depressing read. It's analytical, which is normal for a depressive perfectionist; except it's accurately researched, reasoned and written; which is normal for a depressive perfectionist in a good mood :0)

Is it as depressing as not being able to ride because you are injured??
8 freaking weeks and counting.

He does discuss the effect of enforced layoff on a compulsive personalty who cycles as self-medication. Can be quite positive...

Definitely insightful/uplifting/inspiring rather than depressing read. Worth seeking out.

Great article. I can't speak for others, but for me it absolutely nails the descriptions of the various states and emotions I go through, and the reasons why the simplicity of cycling works for me. Really eery to see a mirror of others' feelings without me looking back out!

So good in fact that it's inspired me to re-subscribe! 😀

Good one, Singletrack.

Great article, and highlights why ST isn't just another cycling mag.

Is it a forum member?

Yes, yes it is..

One I know well, and have the great privalage of calling a friend, and someone who I enjoy riding with on many occasions.

I won't name names, but I'm sure he won't mind you knowing who.

But, thats not my place to say.

*nods* Was a big step for all involved, Tom wrote the things we think about all the time but never voice.

Happy to have contributed, really hope it opens eyes for some.

Chapeau to those in STW towers who were behind the article.

Superbly written article, well done stw for publishing it.

One of the best things I've read anywhere on the subject and it arrived on my doorstep at a time when I can relate to the content rather too well.

*deep breath*

First things first, thank you for all the kind words above. They are very humbling, and I'm a bit taken aback to be honest. The article was singularly the hardest and easiest thing I've ever written, and yes, with no small amount of catharsis. It is obviously deeply personal, but I am really pleased to see that others have been able to draw parallels.

I'm sure it won't be everyone's idea of a good read, and a lot of kudos should go to the magazine for being brave enough to devote a good few pages to the subject. It certainly isn't traditional bike mag fodder, and I know it was a risk for them. Depression is, well, a bit depressing at times, and I know I look to mags for inspiration and entertainment primarily. It is an important subject though, and one that crops up on the forum regularly. I hope I've shown that it isn't just shades of black though. There are bright, perfect moments in amongst the gloom, and riding bikes is the quickest route to reaching them that I know of.

Thanks also to Greg ^^^, Amy and Lou for letting me bend their ear and nick some of their thoughts. And, with mates like Teetosugars and others to ride with, I'm a pretty lucky chap all in.

Tom

+1 Excellent article. Tom's Column "New Build" in the cyclocross section is good too.

How much do they pay you?

A packet of biscuits? 😉

Mince pies, get with the seasonal change dude. 😀

Well done Tom and to all those involved,ta 😀

Sounds very interesting - will have to purchase the mag - well done!

I thought it was excellent- went that step beyond the obvious or well understood. Some of the comments in it are things that I've worked out myself but never consciously broken down like this, which was helpful too.

Thsnks very much!

As long as I have a ready supply of Tunnocks I'm a happy man 🙂

Read it last night, made me cry in good way, thank you thank you for writing it. Your very brave

Just wanted to add my thanks for the powerful article.

There were a few 'looking in the mirror' moments, although difficult, at the same time reassuring that others have been there.

Being currently injured and having the news today that its another 2 weeks minimum off the bike, the timing of both the article and the mag in general was spot on.

Looks like I'll have to buy this one, sounds very interesting in the same way Matt Seatons book is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Artist-Life-Saddle/dp/1841151041

I'm only part way through but it strikes a chord with me. Very insightful
Thanks Tom

give me surprising articles like this any day of the week, give me sections on parts of cycle sport that are things the writers and editors are into and a bit different from the normal stuff every other mag is trotting out.

it's fine that most of the magazine has the same structure to it each month, but it is the odd leftfield article and things you weren't expecting to see that keeps the magazine amongst the best out there i think.

cracking issue, great article, and the design is smashing again... really like the christmas themed tyre tracks :o)

As long as I have a ready supply of Tunnocks I'm a happy man

I can confirm that this man has a stash of dark chocolate tunnocks caramel bars he distributes to the needy VeloCaker 🙂

I'm pretty sure everyone likes Tunnocks cakes.

feature of the year without doubt. as mentioned above, props to the magazine for publishing something so different to the norm, yet relative to so many.

Wonderful article, thank you Tom for being so honest. It's a fascinating read, and reflective of personal battles. It's great to read but must have been hard to get down in print. Well done!

Just read the article. Not wanting to jump on the depression band wagon but it's something I have been very aware of in recent years. Reading the article and these responses helps to quantify and qualify my own state of mind and relate my own thoughts and processes.

Well done on writing and printing this to all involved.

Thanks to stw and everyone involved in this article, I personally think it is the best article I have ever read mainly because I can totally relate to it . I have battled with depression for over 10 yrs and almost everything in this article I feel on a all too regular basis. Only a handful of friends and family know I have this cloud hanging over me so it helped me reading this article as I don't even speak to them about it really.
Thanks again for printing this and good luck .

Great article by Tom Hill and thank you ST for actually publishing it, no one likes to talk about this and it's a subject that needs bringing into the open, unfortunately there is a stigma associated with depression which needs to be absolved. I can relate to a lot of what is in this article, I only started cycling after the death of my wife and I can honestly say that it helped immensely in saving my sanity and equilibrium. The actual mechanism of riding a bike became almost meditative and freeing, allowing me to gain momentary peace within my head for a short time, so that I could still function as a human.

Once again, thank you ST for printing this and good luck to everyone involved in the article.

will have to get a copy of the magazine.

Superb article I can relate to lots of parts of it too.

Thanks again for the kind words. I'm really please that so many people have been able to relate to the sentiments.

Bike riding is pretty amazing, eh!

Bike riding is pretty amazing, eh!

Speaking of which, gimmie a shout about riding out over Christmas..

Defo Nick. Will drop you a line on twitter

Wow. Its not just me then. Read it this morning and can't quite decide how it makes me feel yet. Good to know there are others out there, shame I can't continue to delude myself that if I just rode more everything will get better. Thank you, Tom and ST. It shows that its not just about the bike, and there aren't many better communities than those involving two wheels.

Really interesting and enlightening article, read it last night. Thank you.

No 78 was my first time buying Singletrack.
I have to say that this article was brilliant. Well done Tom for writing it. I can relate to most of it and I can only imagine how difficult it was to write.
Well done.
Subscription to ST will be bought

Good stuff Tom. I'm off the anti-depressants currently but the black dog is always there waiting in the background. It's an interesting experience dealing with wildly cycling emotions during the day. Stupid things can reduce me to tears or set off laughter.

Sandwich - it is really odd trying to analyse what is going on inside your head from an "outside" perspective, isn't it? Hope the mood swings ease, and good to hear that you are able to be off the anti-depressants for the time being. Keep going!

Tom

Not wishing to divert from the substance of Tom's article, but heck... I've a good friend who was knocked off his moped in London 5 years ago. Serious head injuries and long term consequences. He's always been a driven character, high achiever, keen outdoorsy. But this thing knocked him right back. He's always run a bit, but in the last couple of years taken it more seriously (and with some seriously big achievements). He bikes as well, but running's his thing.

Anyway point being, he credits exercise with rewiring his brain, clearing the static and letting him function at a fairly normal level. It's good for us sure, we all know that, but I think he shows that it's deeper than that. More than just a bit of a distraction for a couple of hours.