Why do you do it?

mat1971

I know this has been done before..but I thought it would be a change from the old "bad drivers" post.
So the question is why do you ride?
I ride mainly to lose weight and get into shape..i also love the feeling of freedom..or riding with family and friends.Even when my legs are screaming I love it..so come on tell us why you do it...to get fit?..as transport?..to save money?..or just for the love of it?...Cycling is a fantastic thing to do,lets celebrate it!!

sparklehedgehog

To try and live longer for my daughter

btiratsoo

Health, Physio and sanity! It never ceases to amaze me how well a ride clears you're head.

iPete

Gets me to work (quicker), pays for itself (rail ticket is 2.2k), keeps me sane, there are no mountains here (started as a mtb-er), get to crush people on a daily basis (and myself), keeps me in touch the seasons, sexy legs ... etc.

keef66

Keeping the weight down and maintaining some cardiovascular fitness are really side effects for me. The main reason I ride is for my mental health.

Recurrent bouts of depression, medication giving only temporary relief, often the world is a bewildering, daunting, lonely place.

Until I get on the bike. Then I am in complete control of what I do, where I go, what happens. The feeling of speeding along as a result of my own efforts is just so fulfilling; that of riding out in the cold, wind and rain so empowering.

Without it I'd be in a room with no shoelaces and no sharp corners.

markhewitt1978

A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and dismounted their bicycles, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student said, "It is the bicycle that is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that my back has escaped the pain of bearing the weight"

The teacher was glad and said, "You are a smart boy. When you become old you will be saved of a hunch back unlike me."

The second student had a different answer. “I love to have my eyes over the trees and the sprawling fields as I go riding," he said. The teacher commented, "You have your eyes open and you see the world."

The third student came up with yet a different answer and said, "When I ride I am content to chant 'nam myoho renge kyo.'"

The teacher spoke these words of appreciation, "Your mind will roll with ease like a newly trued wheel."

The fourth student said, "Riding my bicycle I live in perfect harmony of things." The pleased teacher said, "You are actually riding the golden path of non-harming or non-violence."

The fifth student said, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle."

The teacher walked up to him and sat at his feet and said, "I am your student"

ic.

The voices make me

Secteur

keef66 wrote:

Keeping the weight down and maintaining some cardiovascular fitness are really side effects for me. The main reason I ride is for my mental health.

Recurrent bouts of depression, medication giving only temporary relief, often the world is a bewildering, daunting, lonely place.

Until I get on the bike. Then I am in complete control of what I do, where I go, what happens. The feeling of speeding along as a result of my own efforts is just so fulfilling; that of riding out in the cold, wind and rain so empowering.

Without it I'd be in a room with no shoelaces and no sharp corners.

+1

Very well put

deadhead1971

A very moving response, keef66. I have a friend who experiences similar things, and I wish I could get him riding...

I ride to avoid getting fat sitting in a car. To try to offset a desk bound day job. To delay the inevitable physical decline that's coming to us all eventually. To minimise the chance that I might need a triple heart bypass, like my dad.

But having become hooked, I've discovered that what I get out of cycling is far more than damage limitation.

It's become about living in the moment, and appreciating the "now". That meditative state I get into on a long climb is so therapeutic. Sure, I need to put some physical energy in, but I get more energy back, in terms of motivation, creativity, drive and basic engagement with life.

Great question, OP!

vimfuego

I just like it

nunowoolmez

It's a cheaper vice than skag. Just.

Super Domestique

For the glory of suffering!

supermurph09

I like pushing myself, flogging myself up and down steep hills in the peak district gives me a great feeling. When you're going deep into the red and seeing just what you are capable of it feels pretty special sometimes. I'm quite obsessive by nature and an analyst by trade, cycling certainly lends itself to that type of person.

I try not to have too many regrets in life as all the decisions you make lead you to where you are today, that place for me is a very happy one. But if I did have one regret it would be to have taken cycling up earlier, whilst I still have plenty of years to improve (only 38) it would have been good to know how much faster I could have got up that hill!!

vertigo16

I ride due to popular demand.

andyeb

Secteur wrote:

keef66 wrote:

Keeping the weight down and maintaining some cardiovascular fitness are really side effects for me. The main reason I ride is for my mental health.

Recurrent bouts of depression, medication giving only temporary relief, often the world is a bewildering, daunting, lonely place.

Until I get on the bike. Then I am in complete control of what I do, where I go, what happens. The feeling of speeding along as a result of my own efforts is just so fulfilling; that of riding out in the cold, wind and rain so empowering.

Without it I'd be in a room with no shoelaces and no sharp corners.

+1

Very well put

+100

Words right out of my mouth.

w00dster

Some great replies, very interesting question OP.
Is it normal for people to take pleasure in pain? I ride for lots of different reasons, not least for the feeling of when my legs are shouting at me to stop pedalling, when my lungs are struggling to breathe in the oxygen and the feeling of thinking I'm Jens Voigt and I'm in a break away! (I seriously have that mental picture when I'm deep in the red - I'm 41 as well, works for me though and makes me smile through the pain)

markhewitt1978

It isn't pain in the normal sense, e.g. stabbing yourself with scissors type pain. It's putting effort in, and that's entirely different.

mm1

Fun, sanity, out of habit. I can't imagine not riding, nor how empty life could be without it. Sometimes hate not being as fit as I would like, the knackered knee and other bits that don't work, but for as long as I can climb on to a bike I will be riding. Also very pleased that my daughter is becoming a cyclist (rather than somone who sometimes rides a bike), out of choice rather than anything to do with me.

davebelushi

I'm paraphrasing here, but a quote I think I once read, which I totally agree with, said words to the effect of.......
'whilst I'm riding a bike my problems (and all the worlds problems) belong to everyone else'....
'on a bike I think of nothing but riding the bike..............'

Ok, maybe I think of punctures and a sore arse from time to time but you get my drift.

Vandiesel

It's only taken me 50 years to find, after a year what a discovery!
Some great responses so far!

cdrewery

Vandiesel wrote:

It's only taken me 50 years to find, after a year what a discovery!
Some great responses so far!

Likewise, just turned 51 and started cycling beginning of last year - wish I started years ago.

As a long haul pilot I spend far too much time sitting on my arse doing nothing, used to do a bit of running but then the knees started to complain. Several colleagues are keen cyclists so decided to try it out. What a difference, have dropped 8kgs pretty easily, i.e. no diet/drinking change, feel much better and really enjoy getting out on the bike. Got a turbo at Christmas and even enjoying a good beasting on that!!

barry_badrinath

I can't really top what a lot of folk have said already, but agree with all of it!

I actually got my first road bike 'as an adult' in late 2010, but stupidly let it slide to being only an occasional rider - I blame this mostly on working so close to home. And laziness.

However, since August I have been working further away and properly got the bug. Lost two stone since then, joined the local club, and spent what can only be described as a bum load of cash on general stuff and a new 'summer' bike. Currently waiting for a Kinesis 4s frame to come in for what will be my new 'all weather' and commuter bike. (I have to call it that, as getting a new winter bike in April seems a bit silly.)

Can't see myself ever letting it slide again, and even though I am only 31, really wish I had taken it up a lot earlier.

chris_bass

cdrewery wrote:

Vandiesel wrote:

It's only taken me 50 years to find, after a year what a discovery!
Some great responses so far!

Likewise, just turned 51 and started cycling beginning of last year - wish I started years ago.

As a long haul pilot I spend far too much time sitting on my ars* doing nothing, used to do a bit of running but then the knees started to complain. Several colleagues are keen cyclists so decided to try it out. What a difference, have dropped 8kgs pretty easily, i.e. no diet/drinking change, feel much better and really enjoy getting out on the bike. Got a turbo at Christmas and even enjoying a good beasting on that!!

set the turbo up in the cockpit :-)

Phil_D

It's a question I ask myself most mornings as I commence my journey to work.

I haven't given up yet, so I guess the £2 a day train fare it saves me means the answer is "because I'm a tight arse".

socistep

There are two types of cycling for me

The first is commuting where I do about 100miles a week, its much quicker, cheaper and a great energy boost/de-stresser before and after work, plus I never tire of that slightly smug feeling passing a long queue of traffic on the way in. I also have no problems with adverse weather, I grew up in Cumbria and can't beat getting out in a bit of cold and wet weather :-)

Secondly the weekend ride for me is a solo thing, its my chance to get out by myself and get away for a few hours from a busy work and family life which I'm sure is the case for a lot of us, I love getting out, fresh air and that I can see places quickly, I also like to push as hard as I can do - currently not got a massive urge to join a club as I'm a bit of a loner/anti-social deep down and spend the rest of the week talking to people! There is also a slight addiction (if thats the right word?) to the post ride feeling, I get a bit grumpy if I don't go out!

Cycling has overtaken football for me as main exercise, I still play once or twice a week and enjoy it but I'm out on the bike 6 days a week now

navrig2

Endorphins

PompeyPaul

Because im more miserable when im not cycling........

No really because of the following:

1) Freedom
2) Camaradarie
3) Escapism (the GREAT outdoors)

neilo23

andyeb wrote:

Secteur wrote:

keef66 wrote:

Keeping the weight down and maintaining some cardiovascular fitness are really side effects for me. The main reason I ride is for my mental health.

Recurrent bouts of depression, medication giving only temporary relief, often the world is a bewildering, daunting, lonely place.

Until I get on the bike. Then I am in complete control of what I do, where I go, what happens. The feeling of speeding along as a result of my own efforts is just so fulfilling; that of riding out in the cold, wind and rain so empowering.

Without it I'd be in a room with no shoelaces and no sharp corners.

+1

Very well put

+100

Words right out of my mouth.

I've had similar problems and that's what can keep me off my bike. I find that I have too much time to think and worry when I'm out on the bike. Glad to hear that it helps you, though. Keep it up!

ManOfKent

I ride for those moments when I'm in perfect harmony with the bike, flowing effortlessly along the tarmac.

The rest of my riding is about trying to make those moments more frequent.

Baby Trek

Freedom, mental sanity, peace, a feeling of physical, rather than mental tiredness and to be free of 'life' for a few miles of pedalling.

TakeTurns

To make others on their bike suffer. I like it when they suffer and I'm suffering so much that I cough blood.