I could be wrong, but I think one of Hermes' points is falling through the cracks. Part of what he is saying is that people tend to think you have to ride the way they ride in order to have fun, and that is just not the case. Most of the people who say that are those with the "take it slow and enjoy the scenery" approach. In fact, I've never seen a rider who really pushes it say that you need to push it to have fun. Hermes is having fun when he is pushing his limits training, and also when he is pushing them even further in a race. He isn't just enjoying the benefits of the training, he is enjoying the training itself. Look at pictures of him and his wife at the track. They are having a blast! You don't have to be a masochist to enjoy the "pain" of training hard. The entire process of improving your performance is fun, including both the hardships of training, and the affirmation you get from the accomplishments it enables. I think that is what Hermes is saying. That, of course doesn't mean that it's the same for you.

If I have it right, I wholeheartedly agree with him. Really hard rides are fun for me, especially if they are a race, or a competitive group ride. There have been rides I didn't enjoy. When I started commuting on a hibrid, and was still over 220#, I started breaking a spoke a week, and I had a lot of flats. I often wanted to throw my bike in the canal I commuted along. Then I got a new rear wheel, and life was good. Then I got a road bike. I found my passion, the weight melted off, and life became great.

Every ride is fun.