Road Cycling - Any Thrill Seekers out there?

Just wondered if anyone ever enjoys pushing their luck when on a ride, just to say you did it and lived to tell about it. Personally I'm finding it to becoming an addiction. That rush and overwhelming fear right before the event. Even on a freeway car ride just looking down at downtown Cleveland and all those cars gives me flutters in my stomach. Makes me crave to be on my bike and right in the middle of it. Maybe I need to see a shrink before ending up dead? Don't think I'm nuts, besides it's a great work out! lol ...or do others out there find enjoyment in getting crazy on their bike? gonna keep doing it anyhow.........(you guys will probably fry me for this one).......oh well.

My satisfaction comes in accomplishing, not from fear. That's why on the trails I"ll do whatever I know I can do, and leave the difficult stuff to my friends (which is a hilarious sight).

I got my "thrills" all over with when I rode motorcycles. Now, I get a thrill if I can shave off a few minutes on a 50 mile ride over my last time.

Now, I get a thrill if I can shave off a few minutes on a 50 mile ride over my last time.

exactly
personal accomplishment is where my thrills lie as well
going over the top of a car pretty well snuffed any other bad bike habits

I like the thrill of finishing a ride better than the last time I did the same ride. Flying down a hill 11 miles long in 19 minutes that took me 3 hours to slog up with tight turns and some traffic is not thrilling, just crazy. I did two of those rides this past weekend.

I'm such a non-thrill seeker that I prefer the climbs to the descents. If I fall climbing I'm probably not gonna be moving too fast. The downhills scare the snot outta me. Maybe climbing is my thrill.

I have a pretty good time cutting through switchbacks at high speed ... I think it's the satisfaction of passing cars traveling the same route knowing they couldn't possible travel safely at the same speeds. Outside of biking I love cliff diving too, that rush is just addictive.

I like the thrill of finishing a ride better than the last time I did the same ride. Flying down a hill 11 miles long in 19 minutes that took me 3 hours to slog up with tight turns and some traffic is not thrilling, just crazy. I did two of those rides this past weekend.


3 hours! for 11 miles! is that a 22% grade? that's what 3.5 mph? im trying to imagine the cadence of that pace...........

Just wondered if anyone ever enjoys pushing their luck when on a ride, just to say you did it and lived to tell about it. Personally I'm finding it to becoming an addiction. That rush and overwhelming fear right before the event. Even on a freeway car ride just looking down at downtown Cleveland and all those cars gives me flutters in my stomach. Makes me crave to be on my bike and right in the middle of it. Maybe I need to see a shrink before ending up dead? Don't think I'm nuts, besides it's a great work out! lol ...or do others out there find enjoyment in getting crazy on their bike? gonna keep doing it anyhow.........(you guys will probably fry me for this one).......oh well.

Have you ever tried mountain biking? I love road biking, but mountain biking seems to do a better job satisfying the death wish I seem to have. I am probably more likely to get seriously injured on road, but I get more of an adrenaline rush from mountain biking.

Just wondered if anyone ever enjoys pushing their luck when on a ride, just to say you did it and lived to tell about it. Personally I'm finding it to becoming an addiction. That rush and overwhelming fear right before the event. Even on a freeway car ride just looking down at downtown Cleveland and all those cars gives me flutters in my stomach. Makes me crave to be on my bike and right in the middle of it. Maybe I need to see a shrink before ending up dead? Don't think I'm nuts, besides it's a great work out! lol ...or do others out there find enjoyment in getting crazy on their bike? gonna keep doing it anyhow.........(you guys will probably fry me for this one).......oh well.


Yes when i was a mt biker i would ride **** people could barly walk on, but what are you doing in traffic that is pushing your luck? it's probly not crazy but stupid, is it idiots like you that piss motorist off and set a bad example of all cyclist?

Yes when i was a mt biker i would ride **** people could barly walk on, but what are you doing in traffic that is pushing your luck? it's probly not crazy but stupid, is it idiots like you that piss motorist off and set a bad example of all cyclist?
your assuming way too much hot shot..

Have you ever tried mountain biking? I love road biking, but mountain biking seems to do a better job satisfying the death wish I seem to have. I am probably more likely to get seriously injured on road, but I get more of an adrenaline rush from mountain biking.
Hey you know that's not a bad idea. I've been to the mountain bike forum before and noticed there isnt such a snob attitude such as the one PACESETTER showed off just tonight. Think I might go there for some advice on it, but I live in the city, just have metro parks as far as I know. Ok its like this... my doctor says if I get the kind of extreem workouts I give myself on the bike,etc.. that I wouldn't have to take meds for a chemical imbalance I'm stuck with. :-( So I ride like hell I so don't have to take these frekin pills that make me feel half dead,(worked for 2yrs now!) and yes I have the most fun with it on the most crowded streets; bigger the thrill the beter I feel; winters happen in the gym (soo..boreing). Sorry PACESETTER, I guess not everyone was created in your perfect image.......

your assuming way too much hot shot..


Well you did leave alot for the imagination, be specific next time. i gather you ment you like to ride fast in city traffic and suck fumes.

[QUOTE=Moistfly]I have a pretty good time cutting through switchbacks at high speed ...

I with Moistfly on this as well. I find it exciting to come down a mountain road at high speeds and carve the corners...and I'm 50!! I use to race cars years ago as well and I still have that high speed fast cornering bug in me. Unfortunatly I no longer live where there's mountains as of this last January so those days are now gone.

I never tried cliff diving but I did try hang gliding; the only thing that kept me from making that my hobby was I already had a hobby racing cars at the time.

Hey you know that's not a bad idea. I've been to the mountain bike forum before and noticed there isnt such a snob attitude such as the one PACESETTER showed off just tonight. Think I might go there for some advice on it, but I live in the city, just have metro parks as far as I know. Ok its like this... my doctor says if I get the kind of extreem workouts I give myself on the bike,etc.. that I wouldn't have to take meds for a chemical imbalance I'm stuck with. :-( So I ride like hell I so don't have to take these frekin pills that make me feel half dead,(worked for 2yrs now!) and yes I have the most fun with it on the most crowded streets; bigger the thrill the beter I feel; winters happen in the gym (soo..boreing). Sorry PACESETTER, I guess not everyone was created in your perfect image.......

I live near the OSU campus in Columbus and there is some decent riding right around me. It is simple compared to a lot of the pictures I have seen, but fun none the less. I bet if you start looking you will find stuff. I think I have heard a lot of people talk about decent riding around the Cleveland area. Also, check out http://www.spokejunkies.com . These are the bigger more complex trails in Ohio. A lot of paved bike trails I have come across have small trails carved out through the woods behind them. They are usually simple, but good for learning and such.

Dude, if riding is keeping you off meds, then rock on. I'll only say, just don't make it harder for the rest of us by doing things to purposely piss off motorists. You didn't say that that is what you do... I'm just saying. I've had several close calls with overly agressive drivers lately to make me think that there's a reason they're so callous when it comes to bikers.
And with that said... There is a certain adrenaline rush that goes along with dodging and dealing with drivers who have no regard for bikers. The phrases I come up with to yell at them would make most blush...

I've had several close calls with overly agressive drivers lately to make me think that there's a reason they're so callous when it comes to bikers.

Odds are, if you ask me, which you didn't - the reason is probably that aggressive drivers tend to be jerks! ;) It's *possible* that they're acting aggressively in response to some action taken by some cyclist, but I think it's FAR more likely that they're acting aggressively because they're generally lousy, angry, aggressive people when they're behind the wheel. I for one know my overall mood was a LOT worse when I sat in traffic in a big metal box than it is nowadays...

-chris

3 hours! for 11 miles! is that a 22% grade? that's what 3.5 mph? im trying to imagine the cadence of that pace...........

Pacesetter, The cadence was practically non-existant. The grade was steep, probably closer to 20%. The better riders were doing about 5-6 mph. This child wasn't doing to well with the altitude I was at. It was almost a mile higher than what I'm used to riding in. But, that's the Cascades in God's country. Just another day in paradise.

On my mountain bike i will "try" just about anything but like many have said it is more for the sense of accomplishment. I tend not to have much fear b/c I ride with the belief that "if he can pull that line so can I"...arrogant....perhaps but if i don't pull off a nasty tecnical descent or a sick climb I don't often think..."what the F--- was I thinking" rather "why the F--- didn't I make that!" In all truth I don't like to be scared so if I came across a scenario which struck fear in my heart...i'd be walking!

Just wondered if anyone ever enjoys pushing their luck when on a ride, just to say you did it and lived to tell about it. Personally I'm finding it to becoming an addiction. That rush and overwhelming fear right before the event. Even on a freeway car ride just looking down at downtown Cleveland and all those cars gives me flutters in my stomach. Makes me crave to be on my bike and right in the middle of it. Maybe I need to see a shrink before ending up dead? Don't think I'm nuts, besides it's a great work out! lol ...or do others out there find enjoyment in getting crazy on their bike? gonna keep doing it anyhow.........(you guys will probably fry me for this one).......oh well.

Clevelandguy - I know exactly how you feel. I do a lot of mtn biking - 10'+ drops 30'+ gaps and I have to say I get an equal or better thrill on my commute. Don't listen to all the others here, I've been judged by them as well - just ride, and be safe (as possible), and try not to piss too many people off.