I ride because I enjoy it. The bicycle is the most efficient means of transport in terms of payload moved at the greatest speed for the least input of energy. It is a beautiful machine because it is possible to understand how it works just by looking at, except for how it balances - that can only be understood by doing it.
Civilization reached its peak in the period between 1880 and 1900, which saw the invention of the safety bicycle, the pneumatic tires, tangential spoked wheels, freewheel, rim brakes. Things have become more complicated since then but not necessarily better.