jppe

It’s taken me some time but I’m pretty much over with the metrics associated with rides anymore. I just don’t feel the need to chase speeds, PR’s, climbing and distance. I don’t even care how many miles I ride in a year.

Anymore it’s about the experience. A good ride these days has some “aha” moments, maybe an adventure on new roads and hopefully some food! Riding can be solo or with others. And I also really enjoy riding to a destination whether a single day or multiple days.

I still really enjoy riding but for completely different reasons, and I love it!!!

Anyone else???

John E

I am with you. Being devoid of athletic talent, I never rode competitively. I continue to ride for the same reasons as when I was a teenager in the 1960s: exercise, pleasure, transportation, tinkering, socializing, environmentalism. Bicycling remains the only sport I have truly deeply loved.

delbiker1 

I plain just love riding bikes. I no longer pay as much attention to avg. speed, time and distance. I have been keeping track of my miles for the past few years, but not as a metric. I do occasionally see the YTD for mileage and step it up a bit for a ride or two. Going into this year, I just wanted to hit 4,000 miles to get me to 40,000 in the last 8 years. I have reached that and am looking at 5,000 for the 5th consecutive year. Those things were not really goals, they just happened. Last year I was motivated by miles. I wanted to average 20 miles per day for the year. I hit 8000 miles, just under 22 mpd for the year.

ofajen

I’ve been tweaking the cockpit on what passes for my road bike and was just thinking the other day that I might just as well take the cycle computer off.

I’ve moved it to the stem because I use the bar all the way close to the clamp when climbing, so it’s already not really in view, which is fine.

At this point I pretty much know distances for the places I ride and I pretty much know how fast I’m going. And neither is really the reason I ride.

Since it’s a Sigma that is just attached with two O-rings, it’s easy enough to put back on in case I find I miss having it.

Otto

10 Wheels

Type Two Diabetic. Riding helps control my Blood Sugar.

Carbonfiberboy 

Sheer terror of what would happen to my ability to keep on keeping on.

I totally monitor everything like I was training for the Tour or something. That way I can catch little drop-offs in all the various parameters and try to get them back on track. I experiment endlessly, trying to find ways to resolve issues. Mostly, it's just consistency, which gets tougher to keep on track, what with slow recovery and little things, not injuries, but things which could become injuries if not taken care of. Prehab, as the thread title says. I should be stumbling around with a cane by now, not doing event rides.

flangehead

Beats the daylights out of driving.

1xGuy

Because I can think clearly on the long climbs, and not at all on the descents. Hearing nothing but the sound of my tires on dirt is bliss. I try to stay fit to keep up with my sons, but I believe I have lost that battle.

Wildwood

Classic rides


Today’s ride


This one for tomorrow’s ride - in need of a triple.


Always on standby with 48/34 rings for old legs.

…..and others.
….and they make me smile which motivates.



clear your handlebars and your mind will follow!

SpedFast

My wife won't let me on the hog anymore, so it's pedal time now. Is that like a second childhood thing?

Gravel Rider

Beer.

Helderberg

I started back on a bike about four years ago after being off one for decades. I was told not to ride after back surgery to reverse a paralysis of my left leg and herniated disc on my right. Once I began to get some miles under my belt I started to try to keep up with my mileage, averages, etc. About the same time, I got involved with the VA here in Raleigh and, after a lot of prodding from my family, I started to talk with a phycologist concerning my experiences in Southeast Asia during the war. As I have made some progress with my PTSD I have found cycling to be as much of a relief to me as any meds I have tried and failed to tolerate. The further down this road I have progressed the less the mileage and averages have meant to me and the sheer enjoyment of being out on my bike, alone, and free of the news or other triggers have become far more important. Riding my bike is my relief and therapy that has the best side effects I could imagine.
Frank.

CAT7RDR

I enjoy, the right hook turns cutting me off, getting the middle finger and honked at for no discernable reason, being mocked at by overweight slobs in pickup trucks for wearing Lycra, close intentional passes when there is a wide lane, getting side swiped by a texting motorist, "I never saw you," running over road debris and double flatting; pinch flatting, crashing into the asphalt and rehabbing a rotator cuff injury for months, being cussed at for using a front blinking light, . . .

Maybe I'm just plain crazy.

A younger slim gf also helps.

Bici Veloce

Because beer

I like beer...and can drink a few without guilt.

I do enjoy the time alone while riding to clear my head and ponder.

OldRailfan

For me it's the perfect way to keep fit for half the year when there is no snow and for the other half I XC ski. and XC ski some more. This Winter my bike computer will be doing double duty and record all the grades and speeds I tackle on our trails.
The other "little item": do all the thinking while riding.

andrewclaus

Mr Money Mustache says it well. "A bicycle is a money-printing fountain of youth." He also says, the risks of not cycling far outweigh the risks of cycling. Cycling through my working years led directly to early retirement, and cycling through 25 years of retirement has kept me healthy for everything else. After a lifetime of cycling, I can't imagine not cycling.

rsbob 

Cycling is my time machine. When riding, I am transported back to my 30s when first into cycling. I lose my age, my worries and just concentrate on the road ahead. Still love the excitement of fast technical downhills as well as getting into the groove of a solid tempo and cranking away the miles. One of my greatest pleasures, and I know this will sound strange, is to climb strongly and almost effortlessly. I hate to struggle and slog at up-hills and when I can power up and over, it just makes me smile - but then I am surrounded by hills so climbing is not optional.

I really appreciate jppe and being able to get to a point where he rides for pure enjoyment of it. I would like to get there some day. And thank you for creating this thread.

OldRailfan

Same here, it's the hills that make one tough. Cycling, XC skiing or running. One day on a climb when I passed a group of ladies skating uphill and me on my classic skis.
The comment I heard: "Hey, did you see that? What's wrong with this picture?"
Sure put a big smile on this geezer's face.

PS still looking for the perfect T-shirt that says "Old guys rule".

bjjoondo 

For us it's "two parts", part one, "WE HAVE NO CHOICE" as surviving barely on our meager SS retirement income we can't even dream of affording a car payment, Ins. and maintenance for a AUTO!! Part two, well we just LOVE riding bicycles, it's just what we'd rather be doing with our time!! Yes, LOL, we do use STRAVA for stats for biking and walking but that's mainly just to show the doctor's and specialist's (wife has heart problems and is a type 2 diabetic, I have wicked arthritis and bowel system problems!), that we are exercising to keep them happy and help us keep "moving".

big john

I started riding dirt bikes (motorcycles) around 1980. After a while was riding with guys who were in shape from running and training and I would find myself winded and off the back. I started riding bicycles to get in better shape for motorcycling and eventually switched to bicycling whenever I could and sold my last dirt bike around 1991.

I joined a road club in 1989 and discovered women rode bicycles, too. The only women on our moto rides were wives of the other guys. Women on road bikes help keep the massive male egos in check.

I still love a club ride with the right group but I will ride solo these days more than ever before. Had a great ride yesterday of about 45 miles. 3 men, 2 women, perfect weather and a great route. I hope to have many more days like that.

big john

I'm also barely breaking even on SS. I'm a retired car mechanic and still have the beater I bought 7+ years ago for $2750. I get a pretty good deal on car Insurance from AAA and haven't spent any money on the car in 2.5 years. It's going to need tires soon and the transmission is getting a bit wonky, so there's that.

Mtl01

For me, it's about getting some exercise doing something I really enjoy. it's been a big part of my commitment to a better and healthier lifestyle (exercise, weight reduction, eating healthier, less alcohol, etc.).

There's also the mental health aspect. I find riding helps lower stress and has a calming effect on me (once you get away from traffic, lol).

I really don't worry much about metrics. I try to get out at least 5 days a week and ride at whatever speed is comfortable that day.

I'm over a year into retirement and I have to say, being able to ride whenever I want has been the best part so far.

pdlamb

She Who Must Be Obeyed tells me I need a bike ride if I slack off too long.

Kabuki12

Days like this!!!

Wildwood

My wife has been known quite often to tell me —- YOU need a bike ride!

so I try to oblige regularly.

Even … if only shorties, when she says it on a rainy day