Originally Posted by seenloitering

I can't believe I'm actually doing this.

What makes the article funny is that an activity like bicycle touring, whose primary aim is enjoyment, necessarily entails so much suffering. We call this "irony". Irony is a common feature of humour. There is nothing "bitter" or "negative" about this piece at all; rather, it is a satirical exaggeration of an irony inherent to bicycle touring. If one were actually bitter or negatively inclined toward touring, it would be impossible to even write this piece; you see, enjoyment is as necessary a support for the central irony of this piece as suffering is. The joke, literally, is the recommendation of suffering for the purpose of enjoyment.

Now I have to take a shower. Explaining humour is a dirty business.