Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Contest with Prizes: SHORT Essay, "How Cycling Has Affected Your Life" in 100 Words

Well, good morning, and here's the contest. In this thread, give us a quick overview of how cycling has impacted your life. The catch is to do it in 100 words or less, in a single post, in this thread. The prizes for the best two are free iPhone Apps to be given out. This contest will run for a week here. Good luck, and have fun with this!

Bumping to bring it to your attention: This contest ends on June 6

If I am not out riding a bike... I shop...Riding keeps me debt free! Nuf said.

I've lost 80 lbs, gotton off my blood pressure medication, and finally found a sport that I am OK at. Not good, just OK. Last year at this time i was at 260, and at 5'7 that was bowling ball sized. This year, 180, no hip pain, no meds, sleep through the night every night. Down side, I've spent well over $1000 on two bikes. Not a lot by some peoples standards, but quite a bit for an unemployed old guy!

How Cycling Has Affected My Life

When I started riding my bicycle, my world became smaller. Places that seemed far away by car seemed closer on a bike; because I was no longer bored by the journey. My bicycle boosted my confidence and made me realize that anything is possible, even that 100 mile ride to another city. It has made me healthier and happier. But most of all, whether it’s screaming in agony as my muscles give out at the top of a climb, or shouting “wheeeeee” going down that same hill, cycling has made me feel alive again for the first time in years.

Gets me out of the house away from the wife.

Do I get my choice of apps?

A better question is “how has life affected my bicycling?” I always enjoyed cycling, and there were only brief periods when I didn’t own a bike. Just because I had one, didn’t mean I rode it. Between high school, and 2000, I averaged 100-200 miles per year. In 2000 I became what many call “that DUI guy”. Not really. Job loss and new mortgage forced a choice between insurance and registration, and a $250 bike. A heart attack while biking to work in ’08, bought a road bike and a really serious attitude. I have almost 2k miles this year.

Random thoughts of this Clydesdale biker.

I ride for myself.
I may be older, but I am still getting better.
I can now look forward to a Doctor's appointment.
My favorite comment "Whatever you are doing, keep doing it"
I once scoffed at cycling clothing, I am now one, Rock and Roll is my style.
I once scoffed at cycling gear, I now own a Madone.
Anyone can ride with me, anytime.
I am a Clyde, but that does not matter, now I am healthy.
Another notch on the belt brings a smile.
I have worn a path in that bike trail.
Recovery naps and recovery days are not so bad.
Old goals have been replace with new goals.
I am glad that I committed to biking.
I found a bike, I found myself.

Cycling is making me thinner and healthier.
It gives hubby and me more things we can do together.
It makes it feel good.
It's better than drugs.

3000miles per year. At 270lbs I have learned that I can destroy just about any set of wheels with 40 spokes or less.

In either February or March 2010 A Schwinn Broadway followed me home from Costco. This was about the same time that i was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. I figured that a bike could help me to lose weight and regain fitness. For the next year I peddled mostly really short rides and did not do a very good job of eating properly. In January 2011 at a 6 month Dr. appointment my Dr. was rather concerned that my stats were getting worse. My weight had reached 289 pounds. Come February I was back to riding the bike a few days a week when the weather was cooperative until late March when I became serious about tracking my miles. Soon I was commuting to work and taking a longer ride on the way home. It became fun to watch my progress. I was losing weight, getting fitter and generally feeling better. I set a goal to ride a metric century and accomplished that. I kept riding through the winter inside and out. Cycling has become my passion. Cycling has helped me to become what my Dr. considers a great example that he wishes he could share with all his patients. I'm still out there chasing life long fitness and good health!

Interesting submissions. Who won?

How has Cycling affected my life?

I bought a comfort bike for myself in 2009 as a reward for getting my left knee replaced. Since then, I have lost 84lbs, I have less stress, I now only see my heart DR yearly, all my blood work is better, and being active is now a daily part of my life. In late 2010 I switched to a recumbent trike, and I just finished my first tour~! Homestead, PA to Cumberland, MD (plus extra miles back from Myersdale, PA to Connellsville, PA). Roughly 200 miles - a dream/goal of mine for over 30yrs!

And, we're judging the entries now, and will have our final decision tomorrow. This one's gonna be a hard call, though, I can assure all of you.

The winners are:

Black wallnut
chaapa

look for a PM in your inbox shortly

Sorry, Peter, you submitted after the posted close date, but I wish I could award you one as well.

Due to a technical problem with the codes, I am adding a comped Titanium membership and will still issue the app codes just as soon as the issue is fixed.