General Cycling Discussion - What does cycling mean to you?

Well, I haven't been here for a while but now that I am here, I figured I'd pose a question that hit me a while ago.... what does cycling mean to you? If this post gets enough replies, I'll sticky it.

It gets me over the feeling of being angry about work, the world in general.. It represents freedom, seeing the smells, scenery, sights that I need to see, that otherwise would go unseen......Connecting with like minded people..Enjoying the sun and wind, and water(ocean). Saving petroleum so someone else can waste it..Preserving miles on my car, so I might not have to buy a new one soon.
( I hate commuting by car, motorists are such jerks.. and I figure, since I have been commuting to work since 1999, I probably haved saved almost 10.000 miles on my car.) Proud of that..
Cycling..It does a body and mind good. Just love the sensation of hearing the chain smoothly move through the derailleurs and move under my own energy. Visiting new locations I would not explore if not for the bike..
Hoping to some year cross a continent. Not thinking of how many states I have visited, but how many states I have cycled across. People look in amazement when I make such a claim and that makes me proud.

I love Cycling, always have. Even though there have been years where I did not make time for it, I have always returned to the bike.

When I am at my lowest I can ride and I feel like a happy kid. I can go fast or slow if I choose and it does not bother me if I spend more time coasting than spinning.

Cycling gives me time to think and relax, something I don't get to do very often, anymore. Cycling keeps me believing I'm going to live forever, which is important to me as I do not have any children who are going to take care on me when I'm unable to care for myself.

Cycling brought me my wife and countless friendships, it cured my cancer and fixed my heart every time it was broken. Cycling has been my friend, and my gateway to a better life.

I never shared those thoughts with anyone. It's personal and difficult to admit, but suspect many of you understand.

ehenz

I just started biking around Jan 12 for my health. I went from 2 laps around a small pasture to 3miles on the road. Biking makes me feel better about myself and healthy. Im 5'6 205lbs pretty much out of shape. I plan to lose hopefully 30-40lbs this year. And keep increasing my distance and time. Just makes me feel Great. ;)

it means Bianchi, :D endurance, speed, freedom, stress relief, beauty,talent,stamina,fun,achievment,success,happiness,love,blood, sweat,tears,pain,glory,joy,thrill,excitement,money,bills,wants,needs,gotta haves,
I could go on, but I dont think this is what you were looking for..

It means that I am blessed. It gives me hope. Hope that some day I will ride with my son and daughter and develope a lasting friendship with them. Hope that I will have long deep conversations with them about life on some country road where only we exist. Of course my wife will come too. :)

In a word... LIFE!

After the shock of being dianosed with TYPE II Diabetes had worn off, I was searching to find an excercise/sport to get involved in. The doctor said, "You have to start excercising to curb or reverse the disease." So, I started searching for an activity that matched my personality.

We have 5 kids. All have bikes. When I told them about the diagnosis and having to excercise they came to me a couple days later as a group to say, "Hay Dad. You can always come ride with us!" The rest is history. My relationship with my kids has never been better! I have lost over 30lbs since June 03. The disease is in check.

I have discovered many of the things others have already stated as well. Simply the perks that one is unaware of until they try it.

I now look foward to daily commute to/from work. Saturday and Sunday rides for endurance. I am also looking forward to my first century this year!

Answering to no one.

The rush and the challenge. I have some personal fears that I am always fighting when I do these individual sports. Biking or boarding. I love the feeling of fear and try to embrace it often.

It also give me a cheap exercise. The gyms in this town seriously suck as they are not what I look for in a gym and are more fitness oriented. While I love working out, I just can't do it in a place where the way you look and act mean more than how you lift. This sport allows and offers me the ability to get most of the workout I need with one sport.

Friendship. It isn't a team sport, but you can ride like a team. Go out with friends and embrace each challenge together, forcing each other faster, further (this one doesn't mean much to me but it plays a small part) and higher.

Progression. If I didn't get better I would get off and retire. At this point everything I do in life requires me to progress in some way measureable. This sport offers me that as well.

cycling is my life style, enjoy health, freedom and nature.

Bicycling is art. Each ride is a landscape painting filled with vibrant colors. Every pedal stroke is a choreographed dance step. Each finished mile is a journal entry in the book that tells the story of who I really am. Every hill is a struggle to reach new expressive heights and the downhill to muse for what's ahead. A fast moving wheel is a potter's delight and a high cadence is the fiddler’s meter to bow through the many notes of an Irish jig. The pain felt after a long ride is the writer’s critique that expresses that the ride was truly a labor of love. Bicycling is my relationship with the deepest parts of my psyche that are otherwise hidden from the life duties that I must perform to survive.

Cycling is time for myself... time that can be spent freely without guilt. Time for myself spent at home ususally inspires guilt... TV is a waste of time, and so are computer games. Eating out of boredom is also another guilty pleasure.

That cycling is a healthful activity is just another added bonus!

freedom...stress relief....the challenge to ride farther...the opportunity to become a healthier person....to absorb nature.

Sanity. Life makes more sense and seems less trying after a nice long ride.

Living long enough to collect more retirement then i have payed into it,starting in 9 years.

I just started biking around Jan 12 for my health. I went from 2 laps around a small pasture to 3miles on the road. Biking makes me feel better about myself and healthy. Im 5'6 205lbs pretty much out of shape. I plan to lose hopefully 30-40lbs this year. And keep increasing my distance and time. Just makes me feel Great. ;)

You can definitely do it! I am also 5'6 and have dropped from 238 pounds to 166. Cycling did it for me!

pletcgm, that's outstanding! What a difference a few million pedal revolutions make! :)

For me, cycling means the profound satisfaction of knowing that, whatever distance you've gone, you've done it under your own power.

pletcgm: WOW.... you're like unrecognizably different... congrats!

it means Bianchi, :D endurance, speed, freedom, stress relief, beauty,talent,stamina,fun,achievment,success,happiness,love,blood, sweat,tears,pain,glory,joy,thrill,excitement,money,bills,wants,needs,gotta haves,
I could go on, but I dont think this is what you were looking for..

I would have never seen this one coming! :p

You can definitely do it! I am also 5'6 and have dropped from 238 pounds to 166. Cycling did it for me!


Congrats man! :D

pletcgm, that is awesome!! great job and keep on turning the pedals and enjoying the great sport that we love sooo dearly!!..

Benjamin

Thanks everyone!!! I am now sooo addicted to cycling, I now commute to work...and yes, I plan on continuing my riding. This year, in fact, I am going to do a triathlon.

Thanks again!

Bianchi_rider is to Bianchi as Anikuma is to Cannondale.
Both bitten by the fanboy bug.

Pletcgm, Rock on man! Train hard for the triatholon. I'm doing the same, already have a few comps planned for spring/summer.

Freedom, getting your body to do what you want it to do without complaint. An inner peaceful feeling. The smell of the landscape, the sounds of the birds, the feel of the air as it goes by you quickly or slowly. Being one with nature. Letting your mind wander withour having to solve a problem.
Then, back home just chuckling to yourself when your acquaintances say they wish they could figure out how to relieve stress and get into shape. And when you answer them, they say that's to much like work.

When I was a kid growing up in London, my parents saved up and bought me a 5 speed raleigh bicycle. I was the king of the road. It was cool, I was cool. The bike was freedom. I rode it to school every day rain or shine. I loved the speed, the rush, the independence it gave me. I can still remember the blue paint scheme and the dents I put in the rims by riding over the kerbs!!

Then I grew up. Went to University, got a job, got a car and forgot about bicycles. They were childish, they weren't cool.

Fast forward over a couple of decades, and after watching Lance battle against Jan in the tour last year I found myself in a bike shop (Helens in Westwood). I was always deeply suspicious of the lycra clad cyclists that seem to be on all my favourite roads during the weekends here in SoCal, but after test riding a couple of bicycles, and overcoming some serious reservations, I put my money down and bought a bike.

The simple joy of peddaling along and transporting myself was rediscovered in an instant. I met some really cool people while out riding, who encouraged me and helped me. I joined a club (Velo La Grange) and am consiedering racing this year. I treasure the time I spend on the bike, my week is defined by how soon I will be able to go on my big saturday morning ride. I am addicted, and as with many things I find it is the simple things in life - riding in a good group, feeling tired after a long ride, satisfaction in breaking a PB - that give life its real and enduring quality.

If only I could have those three "bike-less" decades back!!!

Peter

pletcgm, that is awesome!! great job and keep on turning the pedals and enjoying the great sport that we love sooo dearly!!..

Benjamin

I have to say that "it's in my blood!" I can't get enough of it!!!

I even commute to work!

Bianchi_rider is to Bianchi as Anikuma is to Cannondale.
Both bitten by the fanboy bug.


But nowhere near CANE and his Fondriest (thankfully).

BTW, for me, it means I'm alive.
marty

I have to say that "it's in my blood!" I can't get enough of it!!!

I even commute to work!

I've found that my best triathlon training time comes from riding to work. No temptation to grab a snack and watch the news or whatever. Your bike is right there and all it takes is a detour to turn your commute into a training ride.

Today is my one year anniversary of road cycling. I totally love it. Last year at Christmas as a runner weighing in at 202, I had to find a way to cross train. I built my bike from ebay and started riding. Initially, I did not expect cycling to stop the age 43 weight gain. Now, I only run when I can't cycle and my weight is 158 not 202 with a 28 inch waist rather than a 37 inch waist. Cycling makes me feel like I'm 10 again. I'm totally addicated to the mountains and climbing. I used to get winded running; now I just get bored after a time. The difference in my conditioning is shocking.

A refersal...What I am without it..I am a much angrier person, I feel cheated and deprived of a need. I think less clearly and edgy...Work pressures get to me...I am out on the bike, problems that I can't resolve get resolved.
I come back at peace and the frustrations and pounds fall away...When I do not feel somewhat in shape, I just do not want people to touch me.. The exercise I enjoy seems to make me feel more alert...
When life seems to complicated, depression soon results..Cycling makes life feel less complicated.. Entangling situations and bad news puts me all into knots...Cycling lossen those knots and I feel somewhat liberated of all the buzyness that annoys us all....
What is more important in life, bills and stuff falling apart or cycling over a valley ladden with the scent of orange blossoms...Almost that time of year...

A refersal...What I am without it..I am a much angrier person, I feel cheated and deprived of a need. I think less clearly and edgy...Work pressures get to me...I am out on the bike, problems that I can't resolve get resolved.

You just described my entire winter :D

For me biking is freedom, exploration and discovery.

I never thought I'd be into cycling, I never got how pedaling/cycling could be considered "fun" as some people were into it. But, one summer after I had to give up on skateboarding (getting too old) I wanted to stay in shape, I was working an office job and just didn't like the lack of physical activity so I bought a beater mtn. bike (40-50lbs no joke) and hit the wonderful America River Trail here, in Sacramento. I began by putting in about 3-5 miles a day, then worked myself up to 10 and so on until I was able to do 20-30 a day (which was impressive since I only had an hour or so of sunlight b/c of getting off work so late. Anyway, where I'm going with this is, it was such a nice release after work, to clear my head and get out frustrations so that's what cycling means to me, it's a nice release to have the calm breeze and the feeling afterwards (especially after a century) that you worked off all of that bad food you ate the day before :)

-Brad
aim: blacksabbathbrad

Anyway, where I'm going with this is, it was such a nice release after work

How true that is!!!

it's all about self-sufficiency

i can carry tools, water, food, extra clothes, some money, cell phone if needed and go as far or as fast as i can/want.

How true that is!!!
Are there a lot of places to ride in Nashville? I grew up in Memphis and never thought of that part of the country good for riding, not the roads at least. As a kid, it was a bmx dream with hills and dirt as far as the eye could see, but I visit there a couple times a year and can never find any decent roads let alone some that are not inhabited by the beer can wielding rednecks...

Are there a lot of places to ride in Nashville? I grew up in Memphis and never thought of that part of the country good for riding, not the roads at least. As a kid, it was a bmx dream with hills and dirt as far as the eye could see, but I visit there a couple times a year and can never find any decent roads let alone some that are not inhabited by the beer can wielding rednecks...

I usually ride within Nashville/Davidson county, unless I am on the Natchez Trace. The country is dangerous because of the stupid rednecks. It's funny, if you are in a car and are in distress, country people will pull off on and see if they can help you and are as nice as they can be. If you are on a bicycle and riding down the country road, they will throw things at you and call you all kinds of names.

But yes, I ride a lot within the city. It is so hilly, that even having to stop at the stop lights, that I still get a good ride in! Williamson County, which is south of Nashville is the only other place that I will ride out in the country.

100 per cent pure fun and enjoyment.

The time when you are not thinking about when you are going to get to go ride again.