Jim from Boston

Why Ride

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker395

So the subject came up among us endurance cyclists after our windy double last weekend ... why do you ride? I'm sure this has been touched on before, but I couldn't find the thread. And there are several new members here. So I thought I'd open (or reopen) that discussion.

One opined that the reason was the suffering.

Not for me. For me, lives are measured in adventures, not years. And endurance cycling is always some kind of adventure. Sometimes, the adventure includes a healthy side order of suffering (windy doubles qualify for me), but suffering is not my raison d'etre.

Cycle commuting is a different story ... I think I do that for three reasons(1) I hate traffic (2) I want to stay in shape (among other things, for theendurance cycling) and (3) it's just fun to ride a bike.

Et toi?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machka

Why ride?

Because I can't imagine life without bicycles. I've never known life without bicycles.

Dittoes to most if not all the replies. I have posted previously mainly as a motivation, my most existential reason to ride:

Quote:

Originally Posted by A BF subscriber

At 70 yo, I'm not sure how many new conventional bikes are in my future, so I've been waiting a while for the "I gotta have one" bike for me to come out….

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

Hi BF Subscriber,

Your opening sentence struck a particular existential chord with me. I’m a few years younger than you, but in the Medicare generation. Back in 2012, I was in a serious bike accident, and started to feel my age, and realize most of my cycling years were behind me. My beloved Bridgestone RB-1 steel bike was totaled…

I have previously posted about my most profound reason to cycle:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

Several years ago, I had lunch with a couple of MD's and the discussion turned to the vissicitudes of life, such as sudden death, and trivial symptoms that are a harbinger of a serious disease. The conclusion of our conversation was that old chestnut to live life everyday to the fullest.

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 a serious cyclist for many years, but it suddenly clicked for me; any day with a ride in it is a good day for me.

Ever since then, I make a definite effort to ride my bike every day and I'm lucky to have a nice year-round cycle commute.….

locolobo13 

I started riding again in '08. Several factors made riding a good fit for me. Exercise, weight control, cost of gas back then. Riding is something I enjoy. It is both relaxing and intense. For that matter you can make any ride as intense or relaxing as you want. It all depends on what you want.

Suffering? Sometimes, but only when necessary. Never understood people who did something for the suffering. Maybe that's just me.

oldschool56

I began riding about one year ago for fitness. Since then it has evolved into something else. Cycling has become my own "time machine". When I ride, I am transported back to the mid seventies, a nineteen year old in Germany riding my ten speed Peugeot through the towns and country side.

OldTryGuy

I imagine my "WHY RIDE" reasons were very much the same as many who posted, other than RETURN TO MORE YOUTHFUL DAYS , but so be it.

As for now, I ride to acknowledge that I am SURVIVING my diagnosed and treated AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER. The solutions I took for treatment were outside the box and at this point in time I am glad to be an outsider. Despite my current age of 66 and the physical condition I am in, I was still able to finish Sunday's https://spacecoastfreewheelers.com/events/xfl/ ride #19 on the list of this year's STRAVA riders.

eja_ bottecchia

There you go, best answer-question so far.

Rick@OCRR

Great job on that ride OldTryGuy! Please post your Strava link so I can understand the ride better. You did it in one day, right?

Rick / OCRR

OldTryGuy

New to STRAVA so hope this works......

https://www.strava.com/activities/92...ts/22604877528

supposedly 24th of all recordings to date**********

raceboy

It's how I find my zen.

Riding turns any day into at least a bit of an adventure.

It brings together sensations from all of my other favorite sports/activities. Motor racing. Sailing. Climbing a mountain peak.

I also like turning wrenches and working on cars is now more about electronic diagnosis and computer chips.

albireo13

... to keep up with my Ironman wife!

timtak

So that I can drink wine.

bobwysiwyg

This one I can identify with. However, 40-60 miles per day doesn't fit my daily schedule. My wife still works for another 8-9 months. Until then, I do the yard work (snow removal as necessary), housework, laundry, cleaning but she is the primary cook, and an excellent cook she is! I really got into cycling as support for quitting smoking a few years ago. There are some geeky aspects that appeal to me, gadgets, etc. and apps such as Strava. Love the numbers part of the game. I used to have a 24 mi. route I rode regularly until breaking a leg last fall. Hoping to get back in shape to do this again this year on a new bike.

rando_couche

volosong

Why ride?

Setting aside the health benefits, communing with nature, and those special moments with the wind at my back on a -1% grade . . .

I do my best thinking on the seat of a bicycle.

Piratebike

Because I already had a heart attack in late 2009 and I need some way to try and stay alive longer. By knees and back have been through too much to run or hike. So riding gets me some exercise. It's fun too. Reminds me of being a kid again.

kevrider

GLORIOUS, that!

i am a mtn biker and i ride for fun. my bliss is riding a bike thru the woods, or thru the desert, as the case may be.
all other riding is to support that, directly or indirectly.

as to the suffering... i don't embrace the pain because i want to suffer. i want to be able to climb a trail without stopping. there is a lot of satisfaction in pushing thru the pain to reach a goal.

jon c. 

I just ride for fun.

rydabent

I would worry about the person the OP claimed "its for the suffering". Why would anyone want to suffer. Cycling should be fun, not pain.

Jim from Boston

Other than my previous existential post above, I ride for more mundane reasons, primarily fitness. I have developed for myself a defined semi-quantitative training program:Secondary to that I set up (frequently missed) mileage goals to ride in the manner described. Because I'm so busy (work/family time-crunched life), mileage goals get me out on the bike more than I would otherwise ride just for pleasure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsl

…I was concerned about getting decent miles in…It takes me 50 miles a week just to feel good and normal, I feel fantastic over 100 miles a week, and like Superman over 150

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

I particularly agree with your assessment of weekly mileage, though at over 150 miles per week, I call it hyper-fit…

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumrunn6

for the new members, by "double" I take to mean double century, as-in 200 miles in one day. correct? impressive, I could never. but I'm willing to dedicate a full day to cycling & cycling related activities. for me, it fills my empty days

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker395

In a way, I think what qualifies as "endurance" depends on the rider...

Empty days? Damn ... that is an alien concept to me. At this point in my life, I have so many competing interests and demands, I have to block out time for things I want to do, or time goes sailing by.

So true...

ironknee

Suffering a little is good for you. You build tendon, muscle, heart, lung, character and fortitude.

If everything was fun in life, all the time- I'm sure we'd find a way to gripe about that too

Cougrrcj

I ride because:

• I can
• I enjoy it
• It makes me feel much better physically - sometimes for days afterwards
• exercise/cardio
• peace of mind
• fresh air
• sights/sounds of Nature
• healthy alternative to being a couch potato
• I still can - some 45 years after starting to ride solely for personal enjoyment

berner

I have a theory that sporting activities, cycling, skiing, tennis, whatever, are an entry to the phenomenon known as a peak experience. During a peak experience we are fully engaged, mentally and or physically and are at our happiest and most alive. I suspect that some other activities accomplish the same thing such as mathematics or music.

There are times during a ride when miles flow by with hardly any effort. I've had a similar experience on week long packpacking trips where I suddenly realize I have no memory of the past few miles. I've had the experience playing tennis, where that experience is known as being in the zone and I could not miss.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by berner

I have a theory that sporting activities, cycling, skiing, tennis,whatever, are an entry to the phenomenon known as a peak experience. During a peak experience we are fully engaged, mentally and or physically and are atour happiest and most alive. I suspect that some other activities accomplish the same thing such as mathematics or music.

There are times during a ride when miles flow by with hardly any effort. I've had a similar experience on week long packpacking trips where I suddenly realize I have no memory of the past few miles. I've had the experience playing tennis, where that experience is known as being in the zone and I could not miss.

I am familiar with the terms “peak experience,” and “being in the zone.” I personally subscribe to a “lifestyle,” described in the book, “The Power of Full Engagement.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

… I have been greatly influenced by a book, The Power of Full Engagement byJim Loehr and Tony Schwartz with the basic concept that “Managing Energy,Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.”

For example, riding my ride bike to work energizes me at the expense of a half hour longer commute, a good investment. IMO full engagement, if not the same as peak experience, is a sure path to it.

BTW, Dr. Jim Loehr is a world-renowned performance psychologist. A sampling of his elite clients from the world of sport include tennis players Jim Courier, Monica Seles,and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. In 2014, he was inducted to the Professional Tennis Registry Hall of Fame.

The other author, Tony Schwartz was the co-author with Donald Trump on the “Art of the Deal.”

Trsnrtr

OK, that's quoteworthy.

PaulH

I started riding because of gridlocked roads and a lack of parking. I nod sympathetically and keep quiet when someone describes how today's trip to work took an hour and a half.

Mobile 155

My story or take on this.

I guess for me it is long and even evolutionary. Like some I started as a kid and it was I ride for freedom. In College it was the 70s bike boom and it seemed revolutionary and fun. Early working years I did some commuting and it was a form of rebellion. Life got in the way and it took years before I got back to cycling for exercise and entertainment. Retired and slowly got into group rides and it became more of a driving force. Fell for the suffering part and even managed to get into the old Furnace Creek 508 even if I never wanted to do the RAAM. Weight was down, all systems were go and one day climbing out of a canyon and trying to set a Strava PR I got a bit of a chest pain. Ended up with a quad bypass and a long lay off. Asking the doctor why with great cholesterol and good BP did I end up in the hospital? Genetics was his answer. Family history. I am back at it but now it is for fun without suffering. I ride both road and MTB plus have acquired a FG/SS for coffee shop rides. I will stop and take pictures, put in 60 miles along the beach or do a 25 mile cross country on the MTB. But as soon as it stops being fun I turn for home and put my feet up. I ride because I still can and I still want to.