I wouldn't say cycling saved me, but I did go through a very dark time when turning 40 (triggered by the death of a very good friend from pancreatic cancer I thought - swift and very brutal) with the usual career worries, young kids and lost the ability to play team sports to a high level (cricketer - it's worryingly common). But I did need a fix at the time and cycling came about at just the right time. It did become a bit of an obsession for a while, but I'd say take it or leave it; there's always a parkrun, or a walk in the country / urban streets too.
I definitely chime with Navrig above. My wife was used to me being out every saturday for 20 years playing either football or cricket, and still prefers it if I get out and do something as it prevents the grumpy voodooman hanging around the house all day.
I gave up for around 12 years due to having a young family, lack of time and other hobbies that I preferred to do when I did have spare time.
Slightly different but I gave up racing completely when, after a rider was killed in a race I was involved in, many of those who were present and witnessed it continued taking risks with traffic in another race a did a few weeks later. I decided it wasn't worth risking being in a bunch with people who didn't care about their own safety let alone that of others.
These days I rarely cycle as I either work from home of have to commute a 60 mile round trip and sport / hobby wise I have started running instead as it takes less time and is cheaper. I doubt I'll give up completely but it has become a rarity.
I think giving it up is a big drastic however it is important to take need breaks! or when a pressing matter is at hand or marriage needs help or kids need assistance always obviously family before cycling.But giving up completely, unless I get severely injured I would never!
I think getting older has a lot to do with it. I no longer have the same toughness or bravado or bravado to cycle outside in deep winter, pitch black and shite weather.
I also feel much more tired on an evening after work.
Now I've got a decent turbo trainer I struggle to get the motivation to outdoors this time of the year.
Once you get out of the routine it's hard to get going again.
Ironically I feel I can get a better workout programme on the turbo trainer than I can by cycling around outside. I also find I can go for a 30 minute run and achieve the same intensity as cycling for a few hours, running seems a more condensed workout ?
What has hardly been mentioned on this thread is that disgusting Daily Heil website that spreads bigoted hatred and cyclists seem to be one of their targets. In certain places I don't feel safe or comfortable as a cyclist because of the narrowminded attitude of some motorists. They don't see you or me as a vulnerable human that can be killed or injured in a traffic incident (it's never an accident) but the Daily Heil seems to promote dangerous driving or aggression against us.
I look forward to the nice long summer nights in the countryside again
"The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby
Keeps the weight off - as one of my other hobbies is mod\60's\northern soul dancing you need to look slim.
By not cycling you just shift the danger to somewhere else. A couple of years back they discovered minor arthritis in my hip - I asked if the cycling would make it worse - speed up the wear and tear ?- I was told that was a possibility - but stopping cycling would probably lead to weight increase which would be worse.
Cycling has kept me going through bouts of severe depression - sometimes climbing on the bike I was such a wreck I wondered how I would control the thing - but always did and always come back feeling better.
I am 55 now, and I am starting to hear of friends passing away - one guy aged 51 - just didn't wake up one day - another work colleague 45 has thyroid cancer - so its not just cycling that can kill you - any day I could wake up finding something horrible - this year I had a suspected detached retina, (and got to realise just how easy you can go blind) - Also diagnosed with a leaky heart valve - but thats made me more determined to do stuff I enjoy - I expect to live into my 70's - cycling or not cycling - I might not
Posts
I definitely chime with Navrig above. My wife was used to me being out every saturday for 20 years playing either football or cricket, and still prefers it if I get out and do something as it prevents the grumpy voodooman hanging around the house all day.
Slightly different but I gave up racing completely when, after a rider was killed in a race I was involved in, many of those who were present and witnessed it continued taking risks with traffic in another race a did a few weeks later. I decided it wasn't worth risking being in a bunch with people who didn't care about their own safety let alone that of others.
These days I rarely cycle as I either work from home of have to commute a 60 mile round trip and sport / hobby wise I have started running instead as it takes less time and is cheaper. I doubt I'll give up completely but it has become a rarity.
I also feel much more tired on an evening after work.
Now I've got a decent turbo trainer I struggle to get the motivation to outdoors this time of the year.
Once you get out of the routine it's hard to get going again.
Ironically I feel I can get a better workout programme on the turbo trainer than I can by cycling around outside. I also find I can go for a 30 minute run and achieve the same intensity as cycling for a few hours, running seems a more condensed workout ?
What has hardly been mentioned on this thread is that disgusting Daily Heil website that spreads bigoted hatred and cyclists seem to be one of their targets. In certain places I don't feel safe or comfortable as a cyclist because of the narrowminded attitude of some motorists. They don't see you or me as a vulnerable human that can be killed or injured in a traffic incident (it's never an accident) but the Daily Heil seems to promote dangerous driving or aggression against us.
I look forward to the nice long summer nights in the countryside again
By not cycling you just shift the danger to somewhere else. A couple of years back they discovered minor arthritis in my hip - I asked if the cycling would make it worse - speed up the wear and tear ?- I was told that was a possibility - but stopping cycling would probably lead to weight increase which would be worse.
Cycling has kept me going through bouts of severe depression - sometimes climbing on the bike I was such a wreck I wondered how I would control the thing - but always did and always come back feeling better.
I am 55 now, and I am starting to hear of friends passing away - one guy aged 51 - just didn't wake up one day - another work colleague 45 has thyroid cancer - so its not just cycling that can kill you - any day I could wake up finding something horrible - this year I had a suspected detached retina, (and got to realise just how easy you can go blind) - Also diagnosed with a leaky heart valve - but thats made me more determined to do stuff I enjoy - I expect to live into my 70's - cycling or not cycling - I might not
If you have other ways of keeping active then loosing the bike isn't a big deal.