speed.

pain.
rain.
climbing when it's cold outside.
breaking the mandatory sidepath law.
chasing down motorvehicles who threaten cyclists.
weaving in and around slower moving motorvehicle traffic.
irritating safety nannies and bike ambassadors in a safe manner.
chasing down motorvehicles or bikes who threaten or buzz pedestrians.
stopping or blocking motorist traffic to let pedestrians or cyclists cross.
jumping a line, skidding to a stop, and track standing in front of a large suv or truck.
occasionally taking the lane on the ross island (US 26), sellwood, or morrison bridges.
a drive train that allows me to rapidly and smoothly click through the entire range as i accelerate from a stop.
the exhilaration of splitting lanes at speeds that commuting forum posters believe are impossible (except for elite professionals who ride the TdF).


PS: the above may rile but it's entirely genuine.