Road Cycling - Why do you ride?

I searched and didn't find anything, and it surprises me that this thread hasn't been done already. I ride because the idea of being both the passenger and the engine fascinates me. I ride to see things and go places. I ride because it takes my mind off of everything. I ride to meet new people. I ride because climbing is fun, and that feeling you get when you crest a hill and look down at what you just did is really exhilarating. I ride because I'll never have a bad time on a bike.

Why do you ride?

My solo rides are what I call my "twelve speed" recovery group.

I ride my bike to ride my bike. [This is where you sit at my feet and say "I am your student."]

I ride so that I can fart every time somebody tries to draft me.

Really though, I ride because I was a huge fat arse. Now I'm only a regular sized fat arse. I also ride to meet new people. I ride because it's an incredibly fun way to pass the time. I ride because it's so fun to drop everybody on a tough hill and because it's so positively humbling when I'm the one getting dropped.

One of the biggest reasons I've been riding is because after I got laid off from my airline pilot job, riding my bike and getting in better shape was one of the only ways I could begin to feel good about myself again. Now I feel like I'm accomplishing something every day, even if I am working a part time job and living with my parents.

I ride my bike to ride my bike. [This is where you sit at my feet and say "I am your student."]

Ha, awesome. I love these philosophical threads.

Personally, I ride because I wanted to ride in undergrad when I saw people riding, but I never took the steps to get myself a bike (even though I purchased several musical instruments in the same amount of time). I promised myself that in grad school, I'd at least consider it. Now I'm here, and, to some extent, I'm making up for what I missed out on in undergrad, while moving on with life. That, and I'm saving about $12 a week on gas, which is nice. It's also faster by bike, as I don't have to travel to far off lots to find parking space (I park right beside the building). I also like the adrenaline rush, and getting to listen to music for fifteen minutes while making my way to class. In undergrad I had an 18-minute walk, which was great. Now, it's a little less listening time on the bike, but the thrill is still there, and amplified by the physical exertion.

It's been done ... some have exactly the same title:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=432116

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=418664

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=415525

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=281613

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=174020

I'm curious ... what steps did you go through to do your search?


Anyway, you can see my replies in those threads. :)

Mental health, physical health, testing my ability to do physically and mentally difficult things, finding friends, the pleasure of feeling alive and out in the world.

so I can shave my legs

and it's fun too (riding)

i ride so i can play on bikeforums

I ride because I'm training for a Century to benefit MS. My good friend's mother has MS and I wanted to help her some way. I did some research online and found out about the Irvine to San Diego MS Century and how much they raise awareness and money to fight MS. I thought about my friend's mother and how she struggles every day to have some normalcy and the idea of riding 100 miles seemed to pale in comparison. I know by riding I'm not directly helping her but every time I get on my bike it makes me appreciate being able to get on my bike. Any excuse I could come up with for not riding seems ridiculous. The one thing I didn't anticipate is how much riding has helped me. I've been training for 2 months now and I've exceeded my goals and I'm a lot fitter than I was when I started. Only 30 days till the ride and I'm up to 55 miles on a single ride. I'm proud of my progress but I know I have a lot to do before the Century. I'm a life long convert now and hope to be riding well into my old age.

Several reasons:

My mom has lung cancer and is really into the livestrong stuff, so i have some exposure from that

I am a naturally talented on two wheels :)

It is fun, and gets me into shape

I have a huge package. I ride only so I can wear spandex and get in free to local gay bars.

It's been done ... some have exactly the same title:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=432116

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=418664

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=415525

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=281613

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=174020

I'm curious ... what steps did you go through to do your search?


Anyway, you can see my replies in those threads. :)

Wow, haha. I searched "Why do you ride?" and "reasons why you ride" and other variations of those words. The closest I got was something like "Why should I ride a fixed gear?" or something like that. I just did the same exact search terms again, and got about 10 threads like this. I wonder what happened.

I ride because I love the sport. So, obviously, the question is....how did I get introduced to this sport:

I had an ingrown toenail (bad) and I couldn't run, so I took up cycling on my old Giant Cypress and found out I love to ride and I love to ride fast and far, so I took up road cycling. And my parent's thought I was nutz for buying a Trek 1500 that cost a whopping $950.

ride to ride

I like any sport where I can travel, somewhat zone out, and enjoy the scenery.

I also like any sport where its not really a test of talent but a test of how far you can push yourself.

Cycling does that for me; it can take you places no other sport can. I enjoy running to for some of the same reasons.

Why do you ride?

So that I can ride with my wife. I never thought that I would enjoy riding until we borrowed a friends bike when he bought a new one. I started riding and now I'm hooked.

1. To keep some modicum of health.
2. To get away from Mrs. Woo.
3. To spend her money on schwag.

1. It sure beats walking
2. Being 1.9lbs/inch, not a good swimmer and with bad knees, there's not much else I can do.
3. To gain entrance to the exclusive club known as BF

So I can wear my white thong and pasties--and that's it. Okay, sometimes I wear a helmet. I'm a minimalist:)

The real question is why wouldn't you? :D

I ride because I enjoy it. The climbs, the descents, the traffic rides, the alley cats, the excuse to drink recover shakes, the break from rock climbing for my arms.

No, but really, I find a lot of reasons I ride.

Cuz it's fun.

1. Enjoyment, freedom
2. Fat, cholesterol, muscle, joint, and blood pressure control
3. Physical Therapy (including psychotherapy)
4. Cost effective errand running
5. I like it

Cuz it's fun.

ditto

so i can shave my legs


ftw

Because it interested me. So I took it up.

It's my alternative to running. :D But now I do bricks. So it's still a good thing. haha

its fun. and happens to be good for me - a combination that is occasionally difficult to find. :)

So I can (honestly) hang out on BF.

Because I'd look stupid walking around wearing elf shoes, spandex and a styrofoam hat.

Because I needed a hobby.

I ride to get CUT UP and get my SIX PACK!! (always been a goal of mine =) And I also ride for the enjoyment of crushing my PRs. Sometimes I ride to enjoy the ride too :)

1. I'm interested in how cycling changes my body; blood pressure, muscle development, overall ability, etc.
2. I have trouble sleeping if I don't get enough physical activity throughout the day.
3. Endorphins are good for mental health, and biking keeps me happy.
4. Like almost everyone these days, there's a family history of diabetes, and cancer, (but not heart disease yet) and I'm hoping to avoid those by being preventative with nutrition and cycling.

After running for 23 yrs, it was time to find a replacement euforia (sp), so glad I did. Now I bike 3 times a week with a groupride saturdays, wanting to expand my knowledge and meeting new people. I love how I feel after 20-35 miles when I get home.

My legs do not miss the pounding of running.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/RBActionPcadscan181.jpg

This topic has been discussed before. No big deal, though.

I started riding to isolate myself from personal issues and to continue losing weight. I ride now because it's fun, different and beats driving (except for super long distances).

Because it is a part of triathlon.:)

I ride to crush souls ......



..... usually my own.

I ride because I'm a massochist. Hills? Wind? Traffic? Pedestrians?
Lets do this...

I ride because all the other kids are doing it.

PEER PRESSURE!

And it's hip. And it's fun. And it definitely saves gas.

i like wearing tight clothing.

I don't like to watch TV.

I enjoy playing with expensive toys... this way I have a great excuse to spend more money on more toys, "'cuz it'll make me FASTER!!"

1. The amazing technology that is bikes
2. I'm easily bored
3. I need to get in shape for sports (Ultimate) and I don't have the knees to run a lot, although cycling is quickly starting to take over from Ultimate. We shall see how this turns out.
4. It's fun.

I ride because if I don't my world begins to grow dark, and cold.

I ride, and run, because I must.

I ride, and run, because I must.

Nobody has to run.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/RBActionPcadscan181.jpg

You know, doping and cycling are not mutually exclusive.

I enjoy playing with expensive toys... this way I have a great excuse to spend more money on more toys, "'cuz it'll make me FASTER!!"

1. The amazing technology that is bikes
2. I'm easily bored
3. I need to get in shape for sports (Ultimate) and I don't have the knees to run a lot, although cycling is quickly starting to take over from Ultimate. We shall see how this turns out.
4. It's fun.

If you think bikes are an amazing technology, wait til you get ahold of an iPhone!

My health: management of T1 diabetes.
It is fun.
I love competition with myself and others.
Bike stuff.
Hanging out with other bike nerds.
Racing.
I love the pain a hard ride brings, the kind that lingers all the following day and while working I can remember why I work at all (see the fourth reason above).
Sitting down is boring.
Eating tons of food.
and finally, I ride for a good lead-out...

my health: management of t1 diabetes.
it is fun.
I love competition with myself and others.
Bike stuff.
Hanging out with other bike nerds.
racing.
i love the pain a hard ride brings, the kind that lingers all the following day and while working i can remember why i work at all (see the fourth reason above).
Sitting down is boring.
eating tons of food.
and finally, i ride for a good lead-out...

+1

I enjoy it.