{"id":23518,"date":"2022-03-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/?p=23518"},"modified":"2022-03-14T15:31:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T15:31:43","slug":"cannabis-exercise-cyclist-tackling-lazy-stoner-stereotype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/2022\/03\/15\/cannabis-exercise-cyclist-tackling-lazy-stoner-stereotype\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis and exercise – the cyclist tackling the “lazy stoner” stereotype"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mike Traynor, aka Roger Boyd, set up a blog to showcase the benefits of cannabis and exercise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

A British biker, who cycled around the world to bust the \u2018lazy stoner\u2019 stereotype, has highlighted the benefits of combining cannabis and exercise.<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 2018 Mike Traynor, who until now has been known under his pseudonym, Roger Boyd, hit the headlines after cycling around the world while vaping cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

The former IT worker launched his blog, <\/span>Healthy Stoner<\/span><\/a> in <\/span>2013,<\/span> to highlight the benefits of using cannabis alongside exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It came about when Mike, now 41, quit smoking and invested in a dry herb vaporiser, saying he was \u201cblown away\u201d by the impact it had on his health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over two years Mike cycled an estimated 19,000 miles, visiting countries such as Spain, Croatia, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal and India.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cannabis<\/p>\n

He documented his adventures, along with the fellow advocates he met along the way, on his blog, leading to international media coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCycling around the world has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, before I even knew what cannabis was,\u201d says Mike.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always loved riding my bike and getting high, but there wasn’t much on the internet about exercise and cannabis at that time, so I set up the blog to showcase the benefits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He continues: \u201cIt started as me and some mates making videos, but I\u2019ve always wanted to travel the world, so why not make it a cannabis themed trip?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike would cycle 20 miles before he had his first vape, before going on to cover up to 100 miles a day until he reached his next destination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His aim was to bust the common \u201clazy stoner\u201d stereotype often pinned on cannabis consumers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Far from it, Mike says cannabis is actually what motivates him to get out on his bike.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI find it really motivating,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I get stoned I want to be outside, doing something fun and active. I don’t really want to be sitting around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cFrom a safety point of view, I don’t find it at all impinges on my ability to ride a bike. I\u2019m pretty tuned in and focused on the task I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cannabis also helps him mentally and physically, both during the ride and when recovering afterwards.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He was even featured in the 2021 book, Runner\u2019s High, which explored the \u201csecret world of stoned athletes\u201d and the role of cannabis in ultra endurance training in the United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While most still, rightly, exercise caution when it comes to THC, in recent years increasing numbers of professional athletes have spoken about the benefits of CBD products in aiding muscle recovery or helping with injury and pain management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps in a multitude of ways as we all know cannabis does, both mentally and physically,\u201d says Mike.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt elevates me above any kind of discomfort or physical pain during the exercise – it takes any kind of pain out of the legs or from sitting on the saddle for six hours a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps with recovering too, and sometimes when you’ve done a lot of exercise, you’re really not hungry, it increases your appetite so you can refuel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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An outdated stereotype?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Mike is not alone, during his travels he met people who consume cannabis before taking part in extreme sports such as skiing, scuba diving and speed riding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI met a lot of people who enjoy cannabis in their own way,\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe lazy stoner stereotype is lazy in itself, it is outdated and it doesn’t reflect reality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Known as \u201c<\/span>cannabis amotivational syndrome\u201d<\/span><\/a> this theory suggests that regular cannabis use leaves consumers less likely to engage in goal-directed behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n

The term was coined around 50 years ago, to describe the <\/span>\u201cintroversion, passivity, and lack of achievement-orientation\u201d<\/span><\/a> observed in regular cannabis consumers. Other studies have also reported that cannabis users were more likely to experience apathy and passivity, which could lead to \u201closs in productivity\u201d and \u201caversion of goal-oriented behaviours\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But a <\/span>recent study <\/span><\/a>has found evidence to dispute this hypothesis.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The study examined the relation between cannabis use and effort-related decision making in a sample of college students, of which 68 per cent met the criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n

The findings suggest that those who use cannabis are actually more likely to expend effort to obtain reward, according to the study authors.<\/span><\/p>\n

A career in cannabis<\/b><\/h4>\n

Since returning from his trip in 2017, Mike has found himself at the beginning of a potentially flourishing career in the cannabis industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

After two years back in his former job in IT communications, he trained as a flight attendant before being approached by major US vaping website Planet of the Vapes.<\/span><\/p>\n

He applied for a position with them just as he was placed on furlough during Covid, and now has what he describes as his \u201cdream job\u201d working in the Planet of the Vapes customer service team.<\/span><\/p>\n

The change of career has meant Mike is able to talk more openly about his hobby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m proud of what I do, it always opens up conversations, but the only reason I had to keep it secret was because of work,\u201d he admits.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole thing is about challenging the stigma and it\u2019s difficult to do that when you can’t be honest about your own life because you\u2019re worried about losing your job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The UK landscape has changed significantly since Healthy Stoner first launched, with the rise in popularity of CBD and legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think attitudes are definitely changing, but we’ve got a long way to go,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re still lagging behind most other countries and I can\u2019t see it being legalised here until the US has federal legalisation. I think that will be the tipping point.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, he would love to take on an American highway trip and help people realise t<\/span>hat it is possible and – indeed likely – to be a \u201chealthy, professional and successful stoner\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s a whole spectrum of humanity out there,\u201d adds Mike.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCannabis is whatever you want it to be, just like life itself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow Mike’s blog at www.healthystoner.com\u00a0<\/a> and find him on Twitter @HealthyStonerUK<\/a> and Instagram @healthystoner<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Lifestyle<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Sport<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Cannabis and exercise – the cyclist tackling the “lazy stoner” stereotype<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n