After the very common middle-aged neglect due to career and family, rediscovering cycling gave me my health (heart and lungs) back. As I approach retirement now it has become truly a central life interest. There are a few other things I enjoy as much as riding (e.g. flyfishing) but I can't do them as often and they do not have near the same health benefits. My only regret is that I didn't find this ten years earlier!