What Do You Enjoy the Most About Cycling?
#51
Senior Member
Now its my only form of exercise but I have always loved it.
Years ago it was obsessing about dream bikes, generally custom made Italian bikes made of steel and painted to the 9s.
Now it’s basically the same, but obsessing about custom made Italian bikes in both steel and carbon, especially Officine Mattios which are made along side Ferrari and Lambo carbon parts. 🤣
Years ago it was obsessing about dream bikes, generally custom made Italian bikes made of steel and painted to the 9s.
Now it’s basically the same, but obsessing about custom made Italian bikes in both steel and carbon, especially Officine Mattios which are made along side Ferrari and Lambo carbon parts. 🤣
#52
Grupetto Bob
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This is a good question.
It used to be when I closed my eyes, I would often meet with memories of being on my bike, especially racing -- I'd see myself in the pack, descending through a tunnel of trees, charging around a corner. I loved every second of it so much, the moments became permanently part of me.
I don't ride much anymore. Instead of hours and hours each weeek on the bike, now I just ride my bike about 2 miles to my office a few times a week, and I've been thinking about this question the last day or two. My car is safer and more comfortable. It's always the right temperature. It's easy. There are other ways for me to be outside.
A car hit me on my bike about a year and a half ago, and I broke two bones, crushed my helmet. At first, I kept riding every day on the trainer in my basement and forced myself to be undeterred. But I think I lost whatever it is that is necessary to really chase it and love it. Maybe it'll come back.
It used to be when I closed my eyes, I would often meet with memories of being on my bike, especially racing -- I'd see myself in the pack, descending through a tunnel of trees, charging around a corner. I loved every second of it so much, the moments became permanently part of me.
I don't ride much anymore. Instead of hours and hours each weeek on the bike, now I just ride my bike about 2 miles to my office a few times a week, and I've been thinking about this question the last day or two. My car is safer and more comfortable. It's always the right temperature. It's easy. There are other ways for me to be outside.
A car hit me on my bike about a year and a half ago, and I broke two bones, crushed my helmet. At first, I kept riding every day on the trainer in my basement and forced myself to be undeterred. But I think I lost whatever it is that is necessary to really chase it and love it. Maybe it'll come back.
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#53
Senior Member
Laid back larry
I have been cycling for 40 years. I love the exhilarating nature of covering ground fast under my own power. I would say though that without the wonderful social aspects of cycling with my club and the friendships I have made it would not be near as rewarding. This is especially true at my age of 75. It is MUCH more than just exercise.
#54
Junior Member
In the spirit of High Fidelity:
Top 5 things I like about bike riding:
1. Riding old bikes that I and mostly my LBS keep tuned up. I'm amazed that a 40-year bike can ride so well. I wouldn't depend on a 40-year old ... anything else.
2. Used to be some hills I had to sometimes walk the bike up. Either they've gotten flatter or I've gotten in better shape.
3. Contact with the streets, the bike trails - as other have commented, seeing the city from a point of view invisible from cars.
4. Exploring and getting into places I've never been.
5. Biking is is the only exercise I've ever done that, when it's time to stop, I want to keep going.
Top 5 things I like about bike riding:
1. Riding old bikes that I and mostly my LBS keep tuned up. I'm amazed that a 40-year bike can ride so well. I wouldn't depend on a 40-year old ... anything else.
2. Used to be some hills I had to sometimes walk the bike up. Either they've gotten flatter or I've gotten in better shape.
3. Contact with the streets, the bike trails - as other have commented, seeing the city from a point of view invisible from cars.
4. Exploring and getting into places I've never been.
5. Biking is is the only exercise I've ever done that, when it's time to stop, I want to keep going.
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#55
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I enjoy Exploration, going fast and not being in my car.
Exploring my city in ways I wouldn't otherwise and just generally sightseeing while I ride is fun. Going fast is a no brainer, adrenaline rush I don't get from other ways to go fast. Lastly, I very much dislike driving so any chance I get to bike somewhere is a win in my book!
Exploring my city in ways I wouldn't otherwise and just generally sightseeing while I ride is fun. Going fast is a no brainer, adrenaline rush I don't get from other ways to go fast. Lastly, I very much dislike driving so any chance I get to bike somewhere is a win in my book!
#56
Senior Member
Yes. Bikepacking is cool.
#58
Junior Member
What do I love about cycling...all of the great things that others have mentioned, the physicality of muscles and lungs working without apology, the sense of abandon or freedom to just go!, and most times out I'll see something about the natural world I'm moving through: a cyan sky, or sunset that makes me gasp as I reach the top of the hill and look off into the vast North Maine Woods to the west or Canada to the east, a wood thrush's flutey call at dusk rising from the aspen grove that is pure music. I was going to say that not every ride is inspirational, but each one is, even if just offering the chance to get away and think.
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#59
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My top reasons are:
1) It's a healthy obsession. I cycled a bit 20 something years ago, very casual recreational. Got more serious about it last year. At almost 60 I'm in the best physical condition I have been in many years, if not ever. Still have a few pounds to loose but I don't take any medications, have low BP, and I sleep better then before I was riding.
2) Started group riding last year, social group doing no drop rides. The group rides have been the biggest driver to improving my cycling skills and abilities.
3) The thrill of reaching personal cycling milestones, I did my first century last month, may do another next week. Two years ago a 15 mile ride on a flat MUP was a big ride for me. Many of the hills I rode last year seemed to have gotten flatter this year.
4) Cycling clears my head, reduces stress, it's fun and gives me a better appreciation of the land and features that I miss while driving a car.
1) It's a healthy obsession. I cycled a bit 20 something years ago, very casual recreational. Got more serious about it last year. At almost 60 I'm in the best physical condition I have been in many years, if not ever. Still have a few pounds to loose but I don't take any medications, have low BP, and I sleep better then before I was riding.
2) Started group riding last year, social group doing no drop rides. The group rides have been the biggest driver to improving my cycling skills and abilities.
3) The thrill of reaching personal cycling milestones, I did my first century last month, may do another next week. Two years ago a 15 mile ride on a flat MUP was a big ride for me. Many of the hills I rode last year seemed to have gotten flatter this year.
4) Cycling clears my head, reduces stress, it's fun and gives me a better appreciation of the land and features that I miss while driving a car.
#60
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Carbo loading.
#61
Junior Member
There's a lot of things to encounter and do while cycling, from one self's soul searching to adventuring the outside world, all the good things are one's to enjoy, even the treacherous climbs or lengthy stretch of the ride!
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#62
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To begin with....everything
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWC3p2FwLkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWC3p2FwLkA
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#64
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There is satisfaction in knowing that I can get on a bicycle and ride 40-50 miles non-stop, pull 3000 feet of incline and laugh about it while most other people are watching TV.
#66
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Bike gives me an opportunity to see the nearby towns and villages and the countryside where I grew up and got to know it as a kid biking around (starting on and old and oversized bike) and I still live there part of each year (it is in Europe so everything is more human sized). But now as grown up and older, without a bike I wouldn't go to many of those places except some few where one drives a car and as people noted, that is not the same thing.
As in the quote, you get to know the place in a quite different way than folks who live there and commute only to some place to work and that is mostly that for them.
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I’ve loved riding for a lot of reasons over the years. Today was pretty special. I was out on a regular route and had brought a book to drop off at a “little library” on the way. I was putting the book onto the shelf when a guy came out of the gate and I said Hi. One thing led to another and it turns out we are both Peace corps veteran math teachers. He pretty recently (Namibia) and now a high school teacher and me from 1975 (Ghana) retired. It was great to chat for a few minutes with someone with a wider view of the world than some I talk too. He was on break from doing his online parent teacher conferences. Best of luck to him,
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#69
Grupetto Bob
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It’s fun to know all the backroads and shortcuts in a relatively large area. When driving and there is a traffic jam, I know all the sneaky ways around them.
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For me, it's just being there, in the moment. The rhythm of the pedals, the sound of the tires, the click of the derailleur, the sights, sounds and smells as I pass by. Seeing the sunrise or set. Watching leaves skidder across the path. Seeing and hearing birds. Watching how the light plays on the water of the rivers. It's the zen of it all. I can step outside of my daily life while on the bike. It's become especially important in the train wreck of 2020 in keeping my stress at manageable levels.
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#72
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A slight northerly breeze, which is a tail wind on my slow climb, and at speed, the air seems / becomes calm - no wind whatsoever.
#73
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I love buying new saddles. There is nothing like buying one, trying it, having it kill you, and searching for another...
#75
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Feeling as fit in my 70th year as I did decades ago; climbing 1500 ft and feeling there’s something left in the tank; riding with friends; the beauty of the Pennsylvania farmlands and forrests; being in love with a bike I’ve ridden for 27 years; posting 18+ mph over a hilly 35 mile ride; wearing cool techno gear. I couldn’t be any happier. Hope you all have similar highs.