Why did no one tell me cycling was so addicting?
06-01-21, 04:22 AM
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Why did no one tell me cycling was so addicting?
Oh God. It started off with a used bike off Craigslist. Then a better bike from a store that I saved up months for. Then the shorts, bibs, and jerseys. Then the 20mi, to 40mi, to 62.5mi rides... Then the 500ft, to 1000ft, to 2000ft elevation gains. And my breathing now feels so clear and open. Not sure if anyone's had a similar problem but I used to develop thick saliva/phlegm all the time and I had to keep spitting. Man.... This is amazing
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06-01-21, 05:28 AM
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Oh God. It started off with a used bike off Craigslist. Then a better bike from a store that I saved up months for. Then the shorts, bibs, and jerseys. Then the 20mi, to 40mi, to 62.5mi rides... Then the 500ft, to 1000ft, to 2000ft elevation gains. And my breathing now feels so clear and open. Not sure if anyone's had a similar problem but I used to develop thick saliva/phlegm all the time and I had to keep spitting. Man.... This is amazing
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06-01-21, 05:38 AM
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Oh God. It started off with a used bike off Craigslist. Then a better bike from a store that I saved up months for. Then the shorts, bibs, and jerseys. Then the 20mi, to 40mi, to 62.5mi rides... Then the 500ft, to 1000ft, to 2000ft elevation gains. And my breathing now feels so clear and open. Not sure if anyone's had a similar problem but I used to develop thick saliva/phlegm all the time and I had to keep spitting. Man.... This is amazing
Seriously, there are worse ways to become addicted. Have a good ride!
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06-01-21, 05:53 AM
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Howdy!
Got started with the addiction young myself.
Just moved about twenty bikes into storage and have close to another twenty in the basement...
Got started with the addiction young myself.
Just moved about twenty bikes into storage and have close to another twenty in the basement...
06-01-21, 07:44 AM
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First rule of bike club.
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06-01-21, 08:00 AM
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It's the exercise high that's addicting. And it's a real thing.
"Researchers have discovered that the "runner's high", usually attributed to endorphins – the body's self-produced opiates – may actually be caused by endocannabinoids, self-produced chemicals similar to those found in marijuana."
-- WIRED Science 2017
"Researchers have discovered that the "runner's high", usually attributed to endorphins – the body's self-produced opiates – may actually be caused by endocannabinoids, self-produced chemicals similar to those found in marijuana."
-- WIRED Science 2017
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06-01-21, 11:01 AM
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Shhhh--if it gets around how much fun it is, everyone will be doing it. Oh, wait, that already happened, during Covid!! (not that we're completely done with it).
06-01-21, 11:52 AM
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06-01-21, 12:11 PM
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I'm just a moderate cyclist. I can stop anytime I want.
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06-01-21, 12:18 PM
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Bwah hah hah! We have him now!
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06-01-21, 03:18 PM
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let's hope you won't get hit, or know someone from the club. I know a few guys who got hit, about half of them ended up quitting
06-01-21, 04:47 PM
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You are asking addicts why we didn't warn you this was addicting? Three quick reasons:
1) Addicts are often the last to recognize their own addiction - denial; it runs deep.
2) Addicts like the company of fellow addicts.
3) Gives addicts more people to buy, sell and trade with.
My story - I graduated to 3-speeds when I was11. At 12 I was souping it up. 13, bought a UO-8. High school and college slowed things a little and it was another 6 years when I bought a light bike with sewups! Cycling shorts, shoes, cleats ... Raced and won my first club race. Set my UO-8 up fix gear. And on and on for another 200,000 miles of riding. In my 50s started setting up old frames for specific types of riding. Now in my late 60s, I've settled down to 5 bikes, three custom, three fix gear and none "normal". Simply love it (and all of them). Now I am going to start building sewup wheels to return to "the ride" that I haven't had for decades.
I am a little more aware of my condition than most and I try to not lure people in, but don't get me talking.
1) Addicts are often the last to recognize their own addiction - denial; it runs deep.
2) Addicts like the company of fellow addicts.
3) Gives addicts more people to buy, sell and trade with.
My story - I graduated to 3-speeds when I was11. At 12 I was souping it up. 13, bought a UO-8. High school and college slowed things a little and it was another 6 years when I bought a light bike with sewups! Cycling shorts, shoes, cleats ... Raced and won my first club race. Set my UO-8 up fix gear. And on and on for another 200,000 miles of riding. In my 50s started setting up old frames for specific types of riding. Now in my late 60s, I've settled down to 5 bikes, three custom, three fix gear and none "normal". Simply love it (and all of them). Now I am going to start building sewup wheels to return to "the ride" that I haven't had for decades.
I am a little more aware of my condition than most and I try to not lure people in, but don't get me talking.
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06-01-21, 05:04 PM
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Well, yeah. Of course you can stop. Your bike has brakes. Can you quit, though?
They say a true addict is never really cured, no matter how long they stop the behavior. I quit cycling for 15 years...but here I am.
They say a true addict is never really cured, no matter how long they stop the behavior. I quit cycling for 15 years...but here I am.
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Last edited by Eric F; 06-02-21 at 04:16 PM.
06-01-21, 07:20 PM
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I relapsed after being away from cycling for 25 years. I become moody if I cannot ride after about 4-5 days. I would ride more, but it is a major time investment much like an addict might spend either recovering from, obtaining or using his drug of choice. Any activity can take on the form of an addiction if it becomes maladaptive and causes a functional impairment.
And that is the rub. Can I ride enough to make it a healthy pleasure without causing self-harm? Everyone has to find their own balance.
And that is the rub. Can I ride enough to make it a healthy pleasure without causing self-harm? Everyone has to find their own balance.
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06-01-21, 07:49 PM
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We've been telling everyone all along, haven't you been listening?
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06-02-21, 04:06 PM
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A word of warning to the OP, do not buy a fixed gear bike or you will need to enter a 12 Step Program for Cyclism. There really isn't a cure, only managing the addiction.
06-02-21, 05:11 PM
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wait until you go off hard in the paint & experiment with seats, lubes, & pedals. Soon enough you'll be booting up a smart device!
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06-02-21, 05:21 PM
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Actually riding a fix gear isn't necessarily a death sentence. Those that use brakes actually CAN stop. (Maybe not for very long ...) If you are willing to accept the consequences of your addiction and make the necessary concessions, you can live life in the bubble of fix gear addiction a long time. I offer myself as proof. First fix gear ride was in 1976. I tried to coast and crashed at 20 mph. I was hooked for life by the end of that 8 mile loop. Now I've ridden over 100,000 miles fixed for over half my total. 3 of my 5 bikes are fixed. I often go out to the garage intending to ride gears and on impulse, switch to a fix gear at the last minute.