I ride because you can "slow down" (somewhat ) to enjoy the scenery. I love scenic drives, but driving is just too fast to really slow down and savor the sights, sounds, and smells of a new place. It allows you to develop a greater sense of intimacy with the places you travel through and to. You also can "rediscover" old places that you've always lived around but never had a decent reason to go exploring. I also do it of course for the fact that I can exercise and have so much fun at the same time. Also plan on training for a triathlon someday, but these stupid injuries keep stopping me in my tracks.