I did a ride this weekend that was pretty tough until the view opened up, then all notions of exertion and suffering disappeared. I did this in a lovely area that I know from hiking, and at peak tamarack display, so I posted a trip report on nwh. Got this reply:
Saw you on my drive out after a Pasayten backpack. I had picked up a PCT thru-hiker looking for a ride to Mazama; you made an impression, even on him
Harts Pass, where I took my bike, is the northernmost road crossing on the Crest Trail, so the thru-hiker would have just finished. The PCT runs 2,700 miles from Mexico to Canada.
This is how people did kudos before Strava, I guess.