Barrettscv 

I'm absolutely convinced that cycling is compatible with my personality. It combines several elements that keep me engaged. It helps me avoid periods of inactivity. It takes me outdoors. It provides an element of adventure and exploration. It has a techi element. It gives me a chance to use my hands to maintain, repair and upgrade. The list goes on. Ultimately, it's about maintaining and improving my health, but it's more than that.

What keeps you engaged?

Iride01 

I put on too much weight and feel lousy when I don't ride regularly. I suppose I could do other activities that give me a good cardio workout, but cycling is the one I know I enjoy and can be done at my whim.

davester

All of the above plus the social element. I almost always ride with a small group of friends (sometimes only two of us). It gives me a chance to have some protracted conversations with those folks, unwind, share stories, etc.

PaulH

Being able to always find a parking space at my destination. Allowing me to not drive my car on salted roads.

Carbonfiberboy 

I enjoy kinetic sports: cycling, skiing, running, hiking, that sort of thing. I like being outdoors. I like working my body hard. That feels good. The techie stuff is OK, but I don't love it. I don't really care much what my bike looks like as long as it will go for me. I like getting up the road, up the trail, up the mountain, down the slope, movement.

I also enjoy the cycling community. I say that one speaks with one's bike. You don't really know someone until you've ridden with them. it all comes out. I enjoy riding with people who will come in and have a beer and yak after the ride.

rayooo

There's not much I enjoy more than a nice long ride on a warm day. Good hard exercise that I enjoy doing immensely. It's a win win for me. If I only lived somewhere without winter!

bobwysiwyg

Bingo on all counts!

bkaapcke

I live three blocks from a paved MUP trail that goes from the foothills to the edge of San Francisco Bay. 11 miles each way and the last two miles to the bay are on a levee. It's inspiring, beautiful and there are no cars/crazed drivers to contend with. Often, there's a tail wind on the way back from the bay that works really well with my LWB recumbent. What could be better than that for a 70 y/o guy? bk

rseeker

Pretty much exactly what you said (minus the techie part -- no computers, no phones, just a 1980s-vintage Timex Ironman watch). All of that. ^^^

I always feel better after a ride, and I feel like crap when I go too long without. And I see it as life-stage-appropriate (for me) adventuring. All my life I've been questing, exploring, whitewater kayaking, two-week-long hikes, stuff like that. Biking lets me do local adventures that don't require weeks off of work.

ETA: Forgot, I do carry an MP3 player/FM radio.

Wildwood 

KenCT

Deal4Fuji

Like most of you, multiple reasons. I need the endorphin buzz of exercise and always have + I have an irregular heartbeat and regular exercise seems to keep it more steady. I love the outdoors and cannot stay inside too long w/o feeling the need to be outside. Luckily I live where I can ride year-round. I love bikes, especially older bikes with horizontal top tubes and chrome fittings. I have a bad case of personification and feel attachments to inanimate objects like bikes I've had experiences with. It makes it hard to get rid of any of them, so in a way bikes are like family. I also get shoppers high from getting a really good deal and luckily I can be just as happy with entry level gas pipe bikes as a grail bike with an historic pedigree. I enjoy bringing old bikes that have been neglected for years back to life with cleaning and new parts where necessary. I love the quietness of a well maintained bike purring along at a good pace with hardly any noise which leads to uninterrupted time to think.

As far as the ride itself I enjoy the demanding club ride that pushes me harder than I normally push myself because I know that does me the most good for exercise, but I wouldn't enjoy that all the time. My most enjoyable rides are solo or with a friend or family member at a steady pace, talking and taking in nature.

2manybikes

All of the above.

Helderberg

For me it is time alone with my machine Have been mechanically inclined my entire life and bond with any machine that I personally interact with. I also collect mechanical watches and old key wound clocks. I have found the perfect companion in my latest bike and enjoy having some interaction with it on a daily basis. I also get very attached to the machines and feel responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. I believe the phrase "responsible" is not accurate as it is a part of the total enjoyment for me to be able to ride, tune, and correct the parts of the bike that I can. The ride is always alone as it is my time for reflection and to find some inner peace. My bike has always been both my escape and my challenge.
Frank.

Ikester

Machka 

What keeps you engaged to cycling as an activity?

I've been engaged in cycling as an activity for the past 48 years. Why would I stop now?

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrettscv

I'm absolutely convinced that cycling is compatible with my personality. It combines several elements that keep me engaged.

It helps me avoid periods of inactivity. It takes me outdoors. It provides an element of adventure and exploration. It has a techi element. It gives me a chance to use my hands to maintain, repair and upgrade. The list goes on.

Ultimately, it's about maintaining and improving my health, but it's more than that.

What keeps you engaged?

I have described myself as a decades-long, year-round lifestyle cyclist particularly motivated for fitness. Touring was the initial hook that drew me in, and much of my early experience was with my girlfriend, now wife.

Since the 80’s nearly all my cycling has been local in Boston, mainly as a commuter, with some road cycling. Riding totally fits into my lifestyle, and indeed, enhances my reputation (link) among friends and co-workers, not as a goal, but a subsidiary value.

I won't delve further into the metaphysical benefits (link).

Lemond1985

eja_ bottecchia

rumrunn6

diphthong

the groupies. almost goes without saying.

scozim 

What most have said above. Three knee surgeries and a bad lower back mean cycling is really the one good activity for me. I love the ability to go out and enjoy nature (sights, sounds and smells) vs. just driving around in a vehicle all the time. As @Wildwood said, having a large stable doesn't hurt because maintaining them keeps you engaged - especially in the winter when the weather is bad. I ride alone most of the time and enjoy challenging myself to go a little harder, spin the pedals at a little higher rpm or, sometimes, just slow down and enjoy what's around me without worrying about others.

I have the classic car (and it definitely isn't cheap) but the bikes are just more fun.

Barrettscv 

That's my kind of collection!

I actually need to change around my cycling with a new route, a new component or sometimes a new bike! I certainly couldn't stay engaged without some old steel bike or new carbon bike to think about, build up and ride. I've started rebuilding some of the bikes in my collection, just for something to do.

​​​​​Older bike restorations and newer bike builds started as an off-season hobby, but the passion for cycling gear is ongoing. I've just finished a new bike built up with electronic shifting. I've got a Paramount and an Eddy Merckx that need a rebuild. My Serotta is getting a new drivetrain, not that it really needs one.

The other technology that helps during winter and bad weather is the direct drive smart trainer. Planning and completing workouts is actually something I look forward to.

CliffordK

My bike gets me to my destination, albeit sometimes drenched.

Wileyrat

I don't give it that much thought. I just get the itch to go, so I do.

It so happens that I also enjoy working on them...Except wrapping bars.