Pros and Cons of Cycling in Nature
Cycling in nature, like any activity, comes with its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. This is my very objective, definitely-not-biased analysis, written by someone who still has mud on his shoes and dust in his hair. Each ride feels like starting over: a new route, new faces, new stories. The road doesn’t repeat itself, it changes with every sunrise and every mistake.
Advantages
1. Freedom on Two Wheels
There’s something almost addictive about pushing forward and letting the road decide who you’ll be that day. No map, no deadlines, just the sound of tires and the rhythm of your breathing. For those always hungry for adventure, each ride is a feast.
2. Nature as a Teacher
Nature doesn’t try to teach, but it always does.
You start noticing how the road changes after rain, how the smell of wet soil clings to your clothes, how the same trail never feels the same twice.
There’s no narrator, no soundtrack, just the crunch of gravel and the hum of tires. That’s how you learn things no classroom covers: how to fix a chain with dirty hands, how to read clouds to guess if you’ll make it home dry, how silence can be louder than traffic.
3. Mental Reset
Some people meditate. I ride. The sound of wind replaces music, the climb replaces chaos. Somewhere between exhaustion and peace, your mind clears. You forget Wi-Fi, deadlines, and everything that tells you to hurry.
Disadvantages
1. The Shoe Tragedy
Sometimes adventure comes disguised as a puddle. From a distance, it looks harmless. You speed through, then realize too late it’s a mini lake. The splash baptizes your brand-new shoes in glorious brown.
2. The Bottle Battle
My bike doesn’t have a holder for a water bottle. Every scratch and dent on that poor bottle tells a story of falls, jumps, and “oops” moments. It’s now more art piece than hydration tool.
