June 20, 2026

The Health, Science & Technology Podcast Episode 4: The Cycling Dynamo: Dr. Sarah Ruggins

Podcast: The Health, Science & Technology Podcast

Season: 1 (Episodes 1-25)
Episode: 4
Title: Cycling Dynamo: Dr. Sarah Ruggins
Produced by: Djere Services Group
Release date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Free Software (FOSS) used in production: Pop!_OS GNU/Linux, GIMP, Shotcut, Zim Desktop Wiki
Proprietary software used in production: NotebookLM
Associated article: https://djere.com/the-health-science-and-technology-podcast-episode-4-the-cycling-dynamo-dr-sarah-ruggins.html

Executive Summary

In my professional life as a saxophonist and owner of an IT business, I'm constantly looking for sources of inspiration. I consider Charlie Parker to be the greatest saxophonist of all time, so I use his amazing story to inspire me to practice. On the IT side of things, I've got several heroes: Linus Torvalds, the inventor of Linux; Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Foundation; and Bjarne Stroustrup, the inventor of the C++ programming language, to name a few.

As I'm getting older, I realize that physical fitness is one of the pillars of all successful endeavors. If one's mind, body, and spirit aren't healthy, then practicing the saxophone or studying programming languages becomes impossible. So I realized that I had to add physical fitness to my recipe for success. I bought a road bike and I started cycling every day to lose weight and to become physically fit. I became obsessed with cycling and I started watching all of the YouTube videos that I could on the sport.

In this article and video, I'm going to focus 100% of my attention on world-class cyclist Dr. Sarah Ruggins. She recently set a new world record time for cycling across Europe, and in doing so, she broke through some of humanity's remaining psychological barriers that say "there is a limit to how well we can perform". Will I ever be able to ride 6,042 kilometers (3,754 miles) as Dr. Sarah Ruggins recently did? Probably not. But I can take inspiration from her amazing performance to help to improve my current average cycling speed from 11 miles per hour (17.7 km/h) to 13 miles per hour (20.9 km/h). Please sit back, relax, and enjoy this deep exploration of Dr. Sarah Ruggins's story.

Keywords: cycling, fitness, mental health, Sarah Ruggins, Pop!_OS, Free Software, open source, endurance sports

Glossary of Terms

Bikepacking: A combination of all-terrain cycling and minimalist camping; essentially backpacking with a bicycle.
CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome): A broad term describing excess and prolonged pain and inflammation that typically follows an injury to an arm or leg.
Endorphins: Chemicals produced naturally by the nervous system to cope with pain or stress. They are often referred to as "feel-good" chemicals because they can act as a pain reliever and happiness booster.
FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software): Software that is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change in any way, and the source code is openly shared so that people are encouraged to voluntarily improve the design of the software.
Greenhouse gas: A gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect and contributing to climate change.
Iron lung: A large medical ventilator machine that enables a person to breathe when normal muscle control has been lost; it was widely used during polio epidemics.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): A psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, life-threatening event.

A. The Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Benefits of Bicycling

A1. The Mental Benefits of Bicycling

Human beings were not designed to sit indoors for extended periods of time. By nature, we are outdoor explorers who need and crave sunshine for Vitamin D, and for overall mental health. Cycling outdoors several days a week helps to improve a person's mood and mental well-being (see Reference 1). During strenuous exercise, the human body releases endorphins: a chemical that helps to improve your mood as it floods your brain during exertion. Because exercise is almost free (you can buy a basic road bike at places like Walmart for less than $100), riding a bicycle daily, especially riding outdoors, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help to rapidly improve both your mood and your mental health.

In today's modern world, we are constantly bombarded with disorganized, and often unrelated information. Many people have reported that this overload of information leads to a perpetual state of confusion known as "brain fog". I have experienced it myself, and for that reason, I decided to leave certain social media platforms forever a few years ago. I got tired of being bombarded by confusing, irrational, and largely irrelevant information, misinformation, and disinformation. One of the biggest positive side effects that I experienced from cycling daily was an improved ability to focus on the task at hand, and improved mental clarity.

Human beings were not designed to be hidden behind desks in offices with no windows or sunlight. It is not a mystery why so many people have a hard time finding happiness within a system that is so contradictory to the fundamental human need for a connectedness to the natural world around them. We were literally designed to be one with and connected to the natural and beautiful world around us. Cycling outdoors fills this primal need that we have. Whether you decide to buy a road bike and cycle down the streets and sidewalks of your local town or city, or buy a road or gravel bike and explore local woods, trails, bike paths, and state parks, riding a bike every day is a great way to reconnect with the amazing natural world that has been given to us as a free gift.

Like high blood pressure, stress, especially chronic stress, is a silent killer. The damage that stress does to your body can become permanent with time. For the body to repair damage, the damage must periodically stop long enough for the body to rest and to heal. However, the feverish pace of modern day life often leaves us with little or no time to recover. The result? Increased death and mortality from stress-related maladies such as strokes, heart attacks, cancer, etc. What is the solution? Daily exercise, good health nutrition with plenty of fruits, water, and vegetables, managing stress, avoiding chronic stress when possible, and getting enough rest. I have found that since I started cycling every day, I have lost weight and I sleep better. This has inspired me to make cycling a lifestyle that I will practice for the rest of my life.

Humans were not designed to be alone. We are fundamentally social creatures. Community and social interactions are critical to our well-being. Fortunately, there are many low cost ways to interact positively with other human beings such as places of worship, community centers, schools, community bands, volunteer opportunities, and gyms. In many communities around the world, there are cycling clubs where you can commiserate with other cycling enthusiasts.

A2. The Physical Benefits of Bicycling

We are all going to die one day. Fortunately, we can take measures to help to improve the odds of living a long, joyous, and prosperous life. Daily exercise is a key component of a successful life strategy. The Department of Health of the Victoria State Government in Australia teaches how a lifelong cycling strategy can help to keep us healthy (see Reference 2).

There are several chronic diseases that are the leading causes of death globally. These include heart attacks, strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression, arthritis, and cancer. Rigorous daily physical activity, such as cycling, can help to reduce the probability of being afflicted with one of these diseases. Running is a great exercise, but it puts more pressure on the knees than cycling does. One of the main benefits of cycling over other forms of exercise is that it is very low impact: it does minimal damage to the joints and other body parts. This means that a person can often maintain a daily cycling regimen well into their 80s and beyond.

Many cyclists incorporate cycling into their daily routine. For example, many cyclists commute to work using their bicycles instead of driving a greenhouse gas-producing car. Others use their bicycles to do their grocery shopping. Many desirable visitation locations are now quite bicycle friendly. For example, I have already bought my ticket for the upcoming (as of the writing of this article on June 20, 2026) Supergirl movie. Superman was one of the best movies that I saw in 2025 (I saw it in movie theaters twice). So I am quite excited by the upcoming movie. I called the IMAX theatre where I will view the movie and I asked them if they had accommodations for bicycle riders. They confirmed that they do in fact have bicycle racks in front of the theatre to accommodate cyclists. So one of the best ways to help to improve physical fitness through cycling is to make a bicycle your primary mode of transportation. Famed YouTube cyclist Ryan Van Duzer once proudly stated that he doesn't own a car, and he probably never will. As of 2026, he is in his forties, but he could easily pass for late twenties or early thirties. There is empirical evidence that daily cycling works as a primary vehicle to achieve physical fitness.

A3. The Spiritual Benefits of Cycling

Contrary to what people may think, virtually all of the world's religions have a focus on well-being. For example, ancient Christian texts talked about walking as a form of spiritual discipline (see Reference 3). As we all know, life is full of challenges, and it is through overcoming physical, mental, and spiritual challenges that we gain strength. For example, Romans 5:1-5 teaches us the following (see Reference 4):

1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I recently watched a YouTube video by Ryan Van Duzer where he bikepacked the entire Colorado Trail from Denver, Colorado, to Durango, Colorado (approximately 486 miles or 782 kilometers). During the hour-and-a-half-long video, he talked about how you learn so much about yourself during such arduous rides. There is a great deal of suffering in such a difficult ride, but you also are given the gift of experiencing how beautiful our natural world is. You can watch the video linked in the References Section below (see Reference 5).

B. The Challenges That Inspired Dr. Sarah Ruggins

Greatness often comes from suffering. For example, the late David Sanborn is one of my favorite saxophonists: I saw him in concert more than 30 times. As a child, he was afflicted with polio: he spent a year of his childhood in an iron lung (see Reference 6). However, Romans 5:1-5 teaches us that suffering and adversity teach us perseverance. Sanborn took his suffering and he transformed it into a disciplined regimen of saxophone practice. Dr. Sarah Ruggins is cut from the same cloth as Sanborn.

Dr. Sarah Ruggins grew up in Canada, and she had a very active childhood as part of a very active family (see Reference 7). She ran track and field, and she holds several national records in middle distance running. However, she did have to overcome physical challenges along the way. She battled a disease of her nervous system and PTSD, and overcoming those difficulties made her a stronger person. Her illness removed her ability to walk or to use her hands, so in the spirit of Romans 5:1-5, she developed a passion for cycling (see Reference 8).

B1. Dr. Sarah Ruggins's Battle with CRPS

CRPS is a very painful medical condition. As a teenager, Sarah Ruggins was a rising track star who destroyed every obstacle in front of her. However, at the age of 15, she received a devastating diagnosis of CRPS, a disease that is still not fully understood. Instead of quitting on herself, she decided to take the reins of her life, and to drive herself to modes of success that bypassed her disability. She earned a PhD in financial economics from the University of Edinburgh, and accomplishing that dream helped to boost her confidence to return to endurance sports in the form of cycling.

In 2026, defying all odds, Dr. Ruggins rode her bicycle 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) in 13 days to break the world record for cycling the entire length of Europe. She surpassed the previous record by 3 days and 32 minutes (see Reference 9).

C. What Dr. Sarah Ruggins's Triumph Teaches Us

Each of us is but a small part of the universe, so we have to believe in something bigger than ourselves. That might be your family, or your community, or your church, or your mosque, or your synagogue, or the scientific method. However, each of us also needs to fundamentally believe in ourselves, but not in a selfish or narcissistic way. "Believe in yourself" means that you are here for a purpose: to complete a mission. And we are born not knowing exactly what that mission is. However, life is a mystery that slowly reveals our mission to us. We cannot discover our mission by ourselves: the universe is designed to slowly reveal our mission to us. This might be in the form of a sermon that deeply moves you, or an unexpected act of kindness from a stranger. Yes, life inevitably involves disappointment and suffering, but life inevitably also includes moments of profound inspiration where you realize that you can do something that you originally did not think you could do.

If there is anything I hope that people take away from this video and article, it is this: whatever you think you are capable of, you are actually capable of much more. If you think you can only ride your bike one mile per week, there are people in your life who know and believe that you can do more, and they quietly encourage you and inspire you to seek a bigger part of your potential. Seek out those sources of inspiration to help to give you the courage to do those things that you dream of doing. If you want to build a business, seek out people who will encourage you by saying that "you CAN do it." If you want to lose 50 pounds, watch YouTube videos of people who have already done it, and then imagine yourself doing the same thing. When I started riding my bike, I knew that there are many people in the world who are far better bike riders than me, but that is not what matters. All that matters is that you dig and find ways to inspire yourself to do things that you may not really feel like doing. Do I skip cycling days? Of course: we are all human and we all have days where we fall short. But after I am rested, I hop back on the bike for a 10 or 20-mile ride. Life is a miracle; life is a journey; life is a gift.

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read and to watch this article and video.

D. References

[1] 5 Mental Health Benefits of Riding Your Bike (The League of American Bicyclists). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[2] Cycling, health benefits (Victoria State Government Department of Health). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[3] The Spirituality of Bicycling (Sisters of Charity). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[4] Romans 5:1-5 (World English Bible). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[5] Bikepacking The Entire Colorado Trail, Denver to Durango (Ryan Van Duzer's YouTube channel). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[6] Whitaker Jazz Speaks: David Sanborn, Growing Up In Gaslight Square, Live from Jazz St. Louis (Jazz St. Louis). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[7] Dr. Sarah Ruggins, Record-Breaking Endurance Cyclist on Pushing Limits, Managing Pain, and the Power of Aggressive Patience (Tough Girl Challenges). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[8] Meet Dr. Sarah Ruggins (Liv Cycling). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.
[9] "This proves women can compete alongside men": Sarah Ruggins rides 6,000km in 13 days to break world record for cycling the length of Europe (Bike Radar). Retrieved June 20, 2026 from here.

Article Summary Tree

├── Podcast Metadata & Executive Summary
│   ├── The host's musical and IT inspirations
│   └── Why he's using Dr. Ruggins's record to boost his cycling goals
├── Keywords & Glossary
│   └── Defining core terms like CRPS, Bikepacking, and FOSS
├── A. Bicycling's Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Benefits
│   ├── A1. Mental: It's a natural stress reliever that clears brain fog
│   ├── A2. Physical: A low-impact exercise that's ideal for daily commuting
│   └── A3. Spiritual: Overcoming physical trials builds character and hope
├── B. Dr. Sarah Ruggins's Inspiring Challenges
│   ├── B1. Her battle with CRPS from a young age
│   └── How she didn't quit, eventually breaking the trans-Europe cycling record
├── C. Life Lessons from Dr. Ruggins's Triumph
│   └── You're capable of much more than you think when you find the right inspiration
└── D. References