If someone calls you an ‘adrenaline junkie,’ do you want to give them a high five or a black eye? I’m no fan of the term, but I’d be full of shit if I denied that the hormone is one element that keeps many of us reaching for our mountain bikes. Nobody wants to be called a junkie, but the impact of adrenaline on our bodies and brains is largely positive, even after our ride is done. On top of elation and other sweet sensations, it may boost our immune systems and stave off the physical effects of aging.
On the trail our bodies respond to adrenaline, in both subtle and dramatic ways. It increases our heart rate and blood pressure, boosts energy in our muscles and expands our pupils so we can see more. It even decreases our ability to feel pain, for better or worse. Most importantly, adrenaline makes us focus intently on what’s in front of us, pushing the hassles and headaches of real life aside. It feels amazing to zero in and forget anything but the trail, but that focus is one reason mountain bikers can sometimes be accidental assholes.
[continued...]
From NSMB
Quality mountain bike editorial, photos, videos and news from a North Shore perspective.
