Originally Posted by
hubcyclist
. I think a lot of recreational cyclists would enjoy riding much more if they put some effort into some degree of structured training.
As a recreational cyclist for 35+ years I enjoy my rides more when I'm in some kind of shape. Always a slacker, structured training has been difficult and the thing that has kept me going is consistency, keeping up with 10+ hours per week, or 5-6000 miles per year. These days it's more like 13-15 hours.
I do understand the zen part of which Gary speaks. A steady, hard pull when you get that breathing thing going, there's nothing quite like it. It imprints on your brain and you feel it later. Just this Sunday I got in a line with 7 or 8 guys for 15 miles with no stoplights or traffic. I kept thinking about it later and how much fun it was. Is that weird?