Is road cycling addictive??

wbrad

Hi, I'm 49 and I've been a casual cyclist for a few years now but over the past six weeks or so things have been getting a little more serious.
I'm now doing around 300km per week and I'm finding that if I don't get out for at least 40-45km each day I find myself getting somewhat irritable and have trouble concentrating on my work. I'm self employed and usually manage to make time, but work and family commitments (have 6yo and 12yo daughters) sometimes "get in the way" and I find that a bit rattling. The short days of winter are certainly not helping.
On the plus side I've lost around 10kg over the past 2 months (now 75kg) and am feeling better and fitter than I have since my early 20's, but fear I'm maybe becoming selfish and obsessive about my cycling. I'm hoping maybe this is a "newbie" thing and the feeling that I need to get out every day will settle down and I can have a more laid back attitude to my cycling.
Does this strike a chord with anyone or is it just that I am in fact an obsessive lunatic?

kajjal

Its normal if you put alot of effort into cycling. Luckily you can see what is happening and not turn into an angry strava chasing mad man. It soon wears off and you see cycling as something to be enjoyed when you get the chance .

bronco016

Like any exercise it can become "addictive". You particularly notice it more when you can't get out for whatever reason.

I feel like a caged animal if I don't get out a few times a week!!

Enjoy

ben@31

Yes.

Can we form a Cyclists Anonymous club? *

The way I see it, some people are addicted to alcohol, some cigarettes, some addicted to crack or heroin. I just like cycling, theres worse things you can be addicted to. Cycling can only make me fitter and stronger.

Earlier I was admiring the Trek Madone 9 on another thread and wish I had £9000 to buy one. Then when I was out cycling tonight I was thinking to myself I bet people spend £1000's on golf club membership, I know people who probably spend £100's in a weekend on alcohol and have nothing to show for it come monday. Repeat the next week.

I think Strava is a cracking website despite the haters on another thread. I use Strava for setting goals like cycling x km this week ( or aim for a 100km ride and then aim for a 100 mile ride) and I hate to see big gaps where I've had days off. I'm not really bothered about segment times, but I do like to see if I can get out and put the milage-in compared to others. The Strava distance / accent and number of rides data has got me hooked.

Theres nothing negative to it, I disagree with the angry Strava chasing mad man stereotype. The good thing about cycling is it can be what ever I want it to be... I can have chilled out relaxed therapeutic rides where I think away, or I can have adrenaline fuelled MTB rides or I can have a hard cardio workout or a long distance challenge.

However, during the day I do tend to spend a lot of time thinking about potential routes, when I have a spare minute I'll be looking at the OS maps on the Bing Maps website and the weather forecast. But then I've discovered so much about my area through cycling different routes that most people never see. Different routes every time keeps it interesting.

I blame Wiggle for having lots of nice kit and now using a fantastic courier that gets here in less than 24 hours. I once saw a tshirt that said "cycling runs on fat and saves you money, cars run on money and makes you fat". Get addicted and forget about the "saves you money bit"

* I think our lycra and funny shoes will give away our anonymity

pblakeney

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19640836#p19640836]ben@31[/url] wrote:

Yes.

Can we form a Cyclists Anonymous club? *

CAC?

peddlingmadness

As the saying goes "Its as addictive as Cocaine, but more expensive"

mfin

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19643070#p19643070]peddlingmadness[/url] wrote:

As the saying goes "Its as addictive as Cocaine, but more expensive"

But cocaine's not expensive enough to be out of most people's reach at all, and it's not as addictive as people make out as there are so many people who only do it at the weekends. Oh, saying that, it is like cycling after all.

Brian B

I used to have the same addiction in that I needed to get out on the bike at least 5 times a week or I would feel frustrated - even an hour on my local roads would put a smile on my face.

Unfortunately I've got worse and I hardly go out on my local rides anymore as I am within an relatively small distance in my car of so many great runs in the Scottish Borders or the Highlands. I now have to ride at least 100miles when I go out or more(sometimes even up 200miles) to feel it worthwhile. I just love the quiet roads, scenery and stopping for a café break/petrol station for a refuel and thinking how far I have to go to get back to my car.

I have to feel like I have had one heck of a day in the hills to feel good. I moaned the other week that I only managed a 4 hour ride.

I am getting worse in that I am coupling together routes from various sportives to ensure I get maximum hills and distance. Its like I am addicted to the feeling of exhaustion.

ben@31

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19644747#p19644747]Brian B[/url] wrote:

and stopping for a café break/petrol station for a refuel

Petrol station refuel? Do you have a hidden motor in the frame?

fatsmoker

I don't record every ride on Strava, but do tally up every day's miles on a spreadsheet. Am I sad or addicted?

markhewitt1978

One of the few addictions which is good for you at the same time!

I do often feel guilty for time away from family but cycling is literally the only thing I do apart from work, I don't go out drinking etc.