what makes cycling so much fun?
12-18-14, 04:21 AM
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what makes cycling so much fun?
My magic moment when I realized what makes cycling fun (important) to me was at a lunch with two doctors about 20 years ago. We got to talking about the vicissitudes of life, like sudden death, or trival symptoms as harbingers of a serious disease. We eventually came around to that old chestnut to live life to the fullest everyday.
As we were leaving, the surgeon, a marathon runner, said, “Well, any day with a run in it is a good day for me.” I was already an avid cyclist and cycle commuter, and that clicked with me, any day with a ride in it is a good day for me.
This is what makes cycle commuting in particular fun. A big part of life is gettiing from A to B, and back.
As we were leaving, the surgeon, a marathon runner, said, “Well, any day with a run in it is a good day for me.” I was already an avid cyclist and cycle commuter, and that clicked with me, any day with a ride in it is a good day for me.
I make no claim to be wise, but I'll toss out two possible smile-inducing aspects:
1) Mechanical Advantage -- bicycles are wonderful machines that magically increase the output of our physical efforts….There's an inherent pleasure in having that level of physical efficacy.
2) Near-Perfect Optic Flow Rate -- we are visual critters, and there's an intrinsic joy in watching the world flow by. But driving in a car is really too fast to appreciate the world around you …and walking is too slow to be that visually interesting (unless you're surrounded by visual wonders). But biking -- that's pretty much a perfect pace.
1) Mechanical Advantage -- bicycles are wonderful machines that magically increase the output of our physical efforts….There's an inherent pleasure in having that level of physical efficacy.
2) Near-Perfect Optic Flow Rate -- we are visual critters, and there's an intrinsic joy in watching the world flow by. But driving in a car is really too fast to appreciate the world around you …and walking is too slow to be that visually interesting (unless you're surrounded by visual wonders). But biking -- that's pretty much a perfect pace.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 12-18-14 at 06:40 AM.
12-18-14, 04:43 AM
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As a collateral comment to what makes cycling fun, with regards to the personal image one projects as a cyclist, I posted a reply to the above identical comment on another Fifty-Plus thread, ”The appeal……”
…My cycling lifestyle in many ways makes me feel somewhat “alienated” (“immature”) in a good way from the usual American car-focused lifestyle, and I’m grateful for that. My cycling reputation, mundane as my cycling might be to the hard-core cyclists, is always a source of amusement and conversation with my friends and acquaintances; e.g. in bad weather, “You didn’t ride your bike today, did you?,” or at fancy social events, “Did you ride your bike here?.” Always asked with amusement and respect….
12-18-14, 08:06 AM
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The answer to the question is probably all those mentioned above and many to come.
In a way for the most part cycling is a personal thing, and you are left to your thots as you roll along.
In a way for the most part cycling is a personal thing, and you are left to your thots as you roll along.
12-18-14, 08:30 AM
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It's socially acceptable sadomasochism. I even get to dress up. What's not to like?
12-18-14, 09:34 AM
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..When I’m carefully dressing in layers for my winter commute, making sure everything is in place and adjusted, I envision an astronaut preparing for a mission. When I arrive, all pumped up from the ride, and I walk down the hall swathed in my winter gear, helmet on my head, I think about the scene from the movie, “The Right Stuff.” where the astronauts stride down a corridor in their space suits to the Hallelujah Chorus at 2:58 in the movie trailer.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 12-18-14 at 09:38 AM.
12-18-14, 02:10 PM
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With the palette I wear, I always think of this scene from Monster's Inc.
18 Seconds in....
Anyhow, definitely have the face. Especially love this comic and all the local references. (Except the dutch-style child seats didn't make it to our shores until after he was too big. Still remember the day when he was on the trailer bike and for the first time pulled his own weight, well really pushed his own weight.)
-mr. bill
18 Seconds in....
Anyhow, definitely have the face. Especially love this comic and all the local references. (Except the dutch-style child seats didn't make it to our shores until after he was too big. Still remember the day when he was on the trailer bike and for the first time pulled his own weight, well really pushed his own weight.)
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 12-18-14 at 04:32 PM.
12-18-14, 07:13 PM
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12-19-14, 10:54 AM
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Not being able to ride much recently has made me ponder this question a little more.
The aerobic high I get after just an hour in the saddle usually lasts six hours after the ride. It's more relaxing than a stiff drink and thus, I find myself abstaining.
I've tried many other forms of exercise: running, rowing, treadmill, elliptical, but nothing compares. They're all too boring because you're either moving too slow or not moving at all. So I think the second part of my answer has to do with how fast the scenery changes, and how many things you have to focus on to remain safe. I am NEVER bored on a bike. I have a touch of A.D.D. and I've read that some people call cycling their Ritalin. So that's probably true for me as well.
The aerobic high I get after just an hour in the saddle usually lasts six hours after the ride. It's more relaxing than a stiff drink and thus, I find myself abstaining.
I've tried many other forms of exercise: running, rowing, treadmill, elliptical, but nothing compares. They're all too boring because you're either moving too slow or not moving at all. So I think the second part of my answer has to do with how fast the scenery changes, and how many things you have to focus on to remain safe. I am NEVER bored on a bike. I have a touch of A.D.D. and I've read that some people call cycling their Ritalin. So that's probably true for me as well.
