General Cycling Discussion - Favorites

What's you favorite thing about cycling?

Originally posted by fubar5
What's you favorite thing about cycling?

Wow - how is it possible to narrow down all the good things to just one? If I had to do this, I would have to say that it's the people. From my ride-mates to the rider that I wave to on the trail or the street. It's the riders that make the sport for me.

Cycling, particularly commuting, gives me a feeling of independence/power. When others get excited about gas prices, cost of parking, insurance, having two car notes, etc., I can just smile smugly to myself because these things don't affect me. I'm not sure if this is my absolute favorite thing about cycling, but it happens to be something I have thought about often recently. I also just like the FEELING of cycling.

When I'm on the bike I'm young again. It just feels so good! :D

I love the briskness of an early morning ride... the way your fingers are just a little bit numb for the first mile or so... I love the sound of my chain clicking form cog to cog as I accelerate... I love the looks of kids as I ride by them in cars... I love the feeling of riding hard and getting tired, making the final turn to my house, and then feeling like I could go back out and do it all over again.

I'm not sure I really have a favorite thing... there is so much to love

Jeff

I love the high it gives me. Whether it's the road or the trail, I come off the bike feeling great.

I love riding wheelies!!!!!!!!

L8R

:) When I pass the same group of white tail deer Only 10-20 feet off the road at 3am.They just look back at me and go on to what they were doing.It's like they expect me to be on time.I'm Glad they made it thur hunting seasons.It just seems like they know I will be coming along sooner or later.

Days like today, when I am able to push myself to do more or go a little faster than I could on my last ride. Cycling is sooooooo much more fun than running (atleast for me). Plus all the cool gear helps too.:D

Hills. Straining, pushing, cranking uphills with screaming, at speed descents.

Downhilling without brakes. Tuck in. Keep your mouth closed (so the bugs won't get in and the other cyclists can't hear you screaming).

Bugatti said it best..."brakes? I don't build my cars to stop. I build them to go".

Speedy downhills are better than (most) drugs.

Originally posted by bjlaw
When I'm on the bike I'm young again. It just feels so good! :D
I am with you on that one!!!:beer: :beer: :beer:

Originally posted by bjlaw
When I'm on the bike I'm young again. It just feels so good! :D
This is about as good an explanation as I can come up with. Explaining what I like most about cycling is like explaining what I like most about sex, or chocolate.

:D

all of the above. i know what i hate about cycling right now. . . that my desire to make tweaks/adjustments/repairs far exceeds my ability to do so. but i'm working on that. want to get to the point where i can stray as far from home as possible on a machine that i am totally comfortable working on, where my only concern is cracking the frame.

makes me happy.

man+bike=boy

I look hot on my bike in spandex

I find myself in a different world, with cares shedded and problems dissolving, at least for a while.

I guess it is sort of a meditation experience for me.

Well, it really depends on the type of riding I'm doing. If I'm touring I like the fact that every day is different, the scenery changes all the time and I'm going to finish each day in a different place. Commuting of course offers everything that touring doesn't - even though it's the same ride everyday I still get a kick out of it and love arriving at work refreshed, or riding home and hammering out the frustrations of the day into a spanky headwind.

It would also be remiss of me to omit my weekend rides. Mind you, it might just be because I've got the choice of flat rides along the beach or mountain climbs to world-heritage listed rainforests. Not to mention the huge feeling of satisfaction that comes from rattling off 220km on a spanky Sunday.

the "stuff".
I love the components.
(Not to say I don't like riding, I'm just
a gear head, ok? there I said it!).

Marty

i love the self-sufficiency of it all. i can take food/drink and have tools enough to repair minor things that can come up and have the freedom to go anywhere i want to for as long as i want to. aahh. the great outdoors.

i have to depend on so many people and things in everyday life that it is nice to venture out with nothing but your own energy.

For me, it's having to face a challenge, and overcome. When there is a strong headwind, I can turn around and go home, or I can I can fight it. When I have a bad crash, I could toss in the towel, or get up and keep going. Sometimes I start to feel like everything is a dog and pony show, but that goes away with a tough ride.

Originally posted by DnvrFox
I find myself in a different world, with cares shedded and problems dissolving, at least for a while.

I guess it is sort of a meditation experience for me.
i could`nt put it better than that Mr Fox, thats it for me too. :beer:

See my motto below.

For me its that transport into a world that only the cyclist knows. A private place where my subconscious mind can have a peek at the world. It is such a surreal experience that my normal sense of reality gives over to a dreamy state. I look at the world and I am safe from it. I am silent, invisible, there and then gone. A glimpse at my surroundings from a far and close up at once. Not a participant in the rat race but an observer. It is good for my health, my mind and my sole. It is a place that is alone and yet shared by many. The cyclist world. My bike, the transport-al.

The women.They fit into a tight jersey much better then me.

All of it. Moving under my own power, knowing I am a renewable (so far) source of energy, distaining the geeks in their cages, clearing my mind of worries and concerns from work & home, the sweat, the fatigue, the endorphins. For me, many rides turn into a form of meditation.

Whoa, a pattern emerges. Us greybeards seem to like the release (temporary) from the duties of life, while others like the freedom. I wonder when the switch takes place? Is it a gradual thing, or a sudden epithany?

Either way, I know I am better person, both body & soul, from riding. And I enjoy life.
:beer: