I'm glad that a thread that is actually about bicycling and bicycles, and not subjects such as prairie ecology and cockroaches, has been revived.
For me bicycles are a useful form of transportation, perhaps within a radius of five miles. It is efficient and often quicker than dirving
I've toured, including a tour across N America, and a number of tours in Europe.
I enjoy rehabbing old bikes that I get from the dump or yard sales. This feeds my inner mechanic.
I guess if bicycles didn't exist, I'd ride a horse.