When I first thought of this topic, I was going to address it to the older members of the forum - members who are rather C&V, themselves. After typing it, I realized the responses from younger people would also be interesting. If you are younger, I'd like to hear from you, too.

Why do you "still" ride a bicycle?

Why do you ride C&V bicycles as opposed to modern bikes? Do you also own and ride a modern bike?

After all, what, really, is the point of all of this, from your perspective?

wait... we're supposed to ride them?

Because its all so dang cool.

It started with bicycles, its likely to end with bicycles.

They told me there wouldn't be essay questions on this test.

I might think of something profaneound to say later, but instead I'll go for a ride tonight and think about it.

I like riding a bike, old and new. That's all, it ain't rocket science.

Let me try to give you an answer. I'm not really looking for a performance advantage. Vintage bikes are cheaper.......and easier to work on. They get the job done. The industry is actually heading in a different direction than I want it to go as far as frames and drivetrains. Rear spacing is getting so wide it's affecting Q factor. The frames tubes/stays are getting so wide/thick in certain areas that it might cause some clearance issues for me. I'll just stay with the vintage stuff.

We were promised jetpacks.

They lied.

I'm seventy years old. My first 50 mile ride was on a three speed reclaimed from the town dump in 1965. I still ride because the inertia built up over all these years is so great. I ride modern bikes 80 percent of the time.
Brent

I’m not allowed to have more than one unless I ride them.

Because the memory.
You know the memory, the first time you were doing it all alone, no one helping. Freedom. The very first taste.
That's why I ride.

Bikes started out as my first escape vehicle from daily existence, which was pretty bleak at times. After meeting the gal who would become my wife and moving to a location that allowed for much more opportunity, I quit riding for a long time to concentrate on family. I had only started to dabble in cycling again when the diabetes issue crept into the picture. The exercise component of cycling helps deal with a bit of that damage. I have not been a terribly active cyclist the last two years, but my health is dictating I change that.
iIt's still impossible not to feel that sense of escape and freedom when i throw my leg over a bike for a ride. Memories of riding around NW New York state and SW Montana as a youth/teenager coming flowing back into focus.

It's because of all the beautiful women it attracts.

Because I still can?

Yeah, that's it

DD

I ride because I feel like I'm 10 years old when I ride. I also ride because it's good for me and everyone else.

I also ride for many of the reasons given. As well, being a Clydesdale it is easier on the knees. The main reason, other than loving the feeling of riding, is that I my career has been in geriatrics and I have seen so many times that "use it or lose it" is a reality. I want to keep my ability to keep going as long as possible.

While the oldest bike I have right now is a 2009 or so CAAD9 (some consider it vintage), I also ride Single Speed or Fixed Gear most of the time.

The question really should be "why don't you still ride a bicycle?".

41 years old

5 reasons why I ride-

- Rode BMX freestyle growing up and liked the mechanical side of the activity. Getting back into cycling as an adult, the restoration and modernization of c&v frames hits that interest.

- I was a multi-sport athlete growing up, continued into adulthood playing competitive team sports, and cycling has filled the void left by leaving all but one of the team sports. I can't dunk anymore or keep up with younger players on the cpurt6, but I could ride faster and longer than any of those guys!
Typical story- individual transitions to solo endurance activities as they age.

- It was a way to connect with my oldest daughter when she was young and that has continued to this day 15 years later for both kids- we periodically ride to get breakfast or lunch or ice cream. Fun activities.

- Keeps me in a good mood. Call it mental health as a catch all, I guess. Exercise helps people have a better perspective and cycling for 1.5-4 hours does that for me. adter 4 hours of hard solo riding, I go to a dark place for a handful of miles, but then come out of it and it's great again.

- I help run a teen nonprofit mentorship program. that works with kids to handle life's challenges. We use cycling as a way to meet, address challenges, and gain confidence. We meet a few times a week from March thru July and prepare the kids to ride across the state on RAGBRAI. It's a given that I kinda sorta have to ride!




One more reason I ride that's sorta related to a point above- I ride because the other aerobic activity would be running and running is for the devil. I guess I could swim, but that is close to just as miserable.

Sometimes I ride for cross training when I’m focusing on swimming. Sometimes I ride because I’m preparing for a triathlon. Sometimes I ride as my main exercise.

I guess I ride because I like riding. The focus changes based upon my short term goals, but I love riding so it’s always part of my life. Vintage bikes just makes it more fun.

I ride so I have something to post on BF. 😉

It feels good when I stop?

Amen, brother

DD

My answer is similar to what these guys said.
I've talked about it Before in the "where did you ride today" thread.