I like cycling as much as the next person on these forums. I have 4 bikes, do my share of perusing bike sites and catalogs. I tinker and fuss with my bikes, they sleep in the house, not the garage. I look forward to my rides. I love the feeling of the wind and the sound of the derailleurs humming.

I am getting ready for a double century in May and my wife asked me a question to which I have no answer: WHY?

Why do you do these long distance, endurance rides? Why isn't 3 or 4 hours on a bike enough? That's what most sporting events run - football, baseball, golf, tennis. What is it about cycling that would compel otherwise reasonably sane people to want to spend 6 or 12 or 24 hours non-stop on a napkin-sized saddle? I honestly don't even know the answer to that question for myself.

Why do you do it?