Originally Posted by
Dominae
For me, fitness is a way of life, just like eating is a way of life. I cannot imagine living without some fitness activities in my life. Since I can no longer run due to knee problems, cycling has become my "go to" fitness activity. While I also enjoy cycling, have made a lot of friends through cycling and obsess over equipment, I still consider it an essential part of my life and not a hobby. I can live without a hobby. I cannot live without exercise.
I don't know of any condition that results in death from not exercising.
That said, I can see how referring to something your are so passionate about and spend so much money on as a hobby can be a little insulting. But on the other hand we aren't just cyclists. We don't just commute. We spend A LOT of time discussing every aspect of cycling. Looking for the next best thing to "improve" our ride. Learning everything there is about it. Joining clubs. All important aspects of what I consider to be a hobby.
I also mountaineer, canyoneer, rock climb, and swim. On no application, profile, etc would I list those things as a hobby. I also keep very expensive saltwater aquariums and am more obsessed with that than any "activity" and while I would be a little reluctant to call it a hobby it really is just that. I could call all these things by other names but I think how much attention I give them with no other reward or gain other than personal, they would all probably technically fall under the definition of hobby.
But none of them are just "hobbies". They are a lifestyle, a passion, an addiction.