From '92-'04, it was all about racing, and every time on the bike was about suffering to get faster and stronger. I had a lot of fun, and made a lot of friends, and won some races. It all came to an end in '04, after my youngest daughter was born. I couldn't keep riding and racing like that and also be the kind of dad I wanted to be. My motivation to keep pushing my body was also fading. I hung it up.
15 years later, I got back on my bike, dropped 40 lbs., and got some reasonable fitness back. I'll never be as strong or as fast as I was in my early-30s, but at 54, I'm back riding with the same guys I used to ride with, and I feel good on the bike again. This time around, I learned how to ride for fun. I might ride with some sort of training intent, but there are times I just go ride for the joy of rolling along under my own power. I don't expect to ever race again...probably
