Perhaps "Social" should have been a choice. I don't think I would have stayed as involved and dedicated had it not been for the people in my club. Before rides, during warm up and cool down, and after rides there is a lot of socialization going on. When I first started riding with the club I was a bit surprised by that. And that is the part that my wife likes best.

For me it's the only form of intense exercise that I enjoy. I also enjoy seeing how much I can improve. At my age, I can't expect too much. But considering that during chemo 8 years ago I couldn't walk across the street, I'm very happy with my progress thus far. I enjoy long group rides in the "B" 18 - 22 range, for fun or for charity. I also enjoy shorter "A" hammerfests, 22 - 26. I avoid pulling in these if I can, cause it uses too much up.

My wife and I do 20 mi Urban rides around So Fla on a pretty regular basis. These are fun rides, very social, a few sprint zones to blow out the carbon, but mostly riding together and chatting.

I started at 61. I wish it had been 31.

My solo work seldom exceeds 35 - 40 mi. After I while I just can't stand the a-hole I'm riding with. lol.

Funny, but every time I see the title of this thread I think of this song by Tommy Tutone.

WAY too slow..........Knees are very, very slowly getting better but the ankles and feet are swelling severely and are most painful/unwalkable by days end. Another couple months off the bike????

Rec -- Fitness -- did some touring years ago but nothing recently

wpt

Well said; cycling for me is an encompassing and multidimensional activity. I describe my cycling lifestyle as a year round commuter and occasional centurian, and a previous tourist. I would diagram it as:

Year round commuting ---> Fitness<--X--Touring
.......^................................^
.......:.................................:
.......:.................................:
.......v................................:
Century training <-------> Recreational

I'm not a "real" cyclist.

According to this "Are You a Real Cyclist?" test by Rob Ainsley, neither am I! Guess I'm unreal : )

https://www.bikereader.com/contributo...alcyclist.html

I'm a surreal cyclist.

I, too, missed the "Mental Health" category.
Nothing gets me back on "Square One" like a good 1 hour bike ride along the ocean.
Beyond that, chalk me up as another "Recreational/Fitness" rider. I got the point in life where it was do something or die.
For, me, unquestionably, that "something" was and is the bike. I am never happier than when I'm pushing the pedals.
Ahhhh, the freedom and, yes, as others have said, recapturing some not-so-small part of being a kid again.

It's even more fun than gigging.

Great little test!! According to Mr. Ainsley I'm Real Good (but only by one point)! The memories that this exercise brought back were precious and brought a huge smile to my face. Ahh...memories!!!

Huge Load: 8 points for the time I towed my buddy and his bike the twelve miles to home with my old Coaster Brake Cruiser when his rear hub froze up on him. Lucky thing we were Boy Scouts and we never traveled without some rope. (It was the absolute only time I ever used rope while cycling)

Bike Accross Britain: 7 points for the 120 mile solo ride I did in 2009

Bike Frozen to work: 10 points as I have and will ride to about -10F if the conditions are right...minimal wind and excellent visibility.

Failed Repair: 6 points for the bent chainring after sliding through the snow and into the telephone pole and actually imbedding the chainring part way into the pole. Bent the ring beyond ridability and had to walk the bike homeward. (The next day we started packing some rope on our rides, including the commutes to and from school) We stopped at my buddies house and used his dads ballpeen hammer to pound the ring straight again. He held the bike horizontally with the chainring resting on the top concrete step of his stoop while I pummeled the chainring with the trusty old hammer. I then rode the remaining half-block to my house....so technically I was able to ride home!

Breaking Speed Limit: 5 points, though I just barely qualified.

Dripped all Day: 5 points Too many planned rides in all day rains.

Recumbent: 4 points as I've not yet gone 'round and 'round when dumping a recumbent bike.

What kind of cyclist?? These days one who isn't ridding enough. Of course "enough" is hard to define. Then there is the problem with speed. But then what is fast enough? I guess I am always wanting to improve and that isn't so bad I guess. I'm just glad to be living in a area that lets me ride both summer and winter.

"Inconsistent" would define me as a cyclist, but I selected Fitness, Recreational, Commuting, and Other --- 'Other' being half-centuries and metrics.

Never accept advice about what is real from someone that still believes in Kings and Queens.

I'm a recreational rider that does it for fitness and hopes to build up to a century. You can throw in
something about mental health, as well. Before I retired I commuted occasionally, and once a year we
go on a week long bike tour (lite touring, no tents!)

not kind cyclist

Touring is the cat's meow for me. I do at least one week every year. Now that I'm retired, that will increase no doubt.

I am an avid recreational with an eye on racing and randoneering. I had been training to qualify for the 2011 PBP but now require Achillies surgery in April so that will have to wait. I am planning on Masters to racing as well having left it 20 years ago when career and family obligations took hold.

I am hoping to get a fun 70 k cross race in in April before the Doc has his way with me. Until then, train, train, train and a lot of fun rides with friends and riding groups.

Your entire post could have been plagiarized by me, but I settled for only the last comment. I couldn't say it better myself.