Originally Posted by
Dave Cutter
Yeah... I didn't mean the 1 or 2 pounds... literally.
What I meant was the pleasure I derive from cycling (along with the health benefits) are immeasurably great. Whereas fifty years ago food may have been a major expense... not so much today. Any calorie/cost off-set could easily be made up in food selection... or maybe even by selecting off-brand foods.
But if I was to lose the joys in my life that cycling brings.... THAT would be devastating.
I don't disagree that cycling obviously brings other joys that can't really be measured. However, the calorie/cost difference that you mention which could be made up in food selection could just as easily be made by someone who doesn't cycle as well. There is no way around it: When you cycle, you have to eat more. It doesn't have to break the bank... and it isn't going to be more expensive than driving internal combustion engine cars when you factor in all the other costs of ownership... but the "fuel" cost of riding a bicycle is not as insignificant as people think.
Luckily, as cyclists when we use our fuel to "drive", our "drive" makes us healthier so that fuel is useful in more ways than just getting us from point A to point B.