I ride the bike because I love riding bikes ... but commuting gives me my exercise in an enforced form. I haven't done much recreational riding this year (study, laziness, study, weather).
Cycling - it's transport, it's lifestyle, it's recreation, it's just fun. I won't let the bike dictate to me though, which is why my bikes are set up so I can ride them in whatever I happen to be wearing, even though I do have a full kit of specialist cycling clobber for them serious rides.
Richard