Cycling has given me one helluva ride since I started in 1997. It's taken me around the world, literally, as well as to other countries for various bike events.

It's kept me alive and healthy, given me full-time employment in advocacy, and enabled me to go 12 years without owning a motor vehicle.

But most importantly, it found me a wonderful wife who shares many of my interests, including riding bicycles -- our bike tally is 15, plus two bike trailers, and the various acoutriments. We met 10 years ago on a bicycling event in France, and we've just celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.