I've been on and off the bike for all my adult life. I think the longest break was 4 years when I was doing the single parent thing and didn't have the time or motivation to ride. When I turned 50 I seem to have gotten all the usual 50+ issues on schedule (blood sugar, blood pressure, both cholesterols going the wrong way, etc.). Decided I had to get back on the bike and stay on it if I don't want to die a slow death on the sofa. Follow up blood work early this year shows everything in normal range. I showed the results to my wife and she went over and kissed my bike. I am now doing the kind of rides again that I did in my 20's and I am over 2500 miles for the year. Looking at nailing 4000+.

For me the joy of riding is a few things. The feel of balancing on the edge of a knife blade. Getting out in the air and nature relieves stress. Easily pushing over a hill that kicked my butt last year.

I've also realized that a large part of my love of cycling is the same thing that interests me about photography, and can be summed up with one word: exploring.