a77impala

I can't list all the reasons I ride and can't think of any reason not to.

jackb

Not only is cycling great exercise, but it gets me outside. I love to be outside. Cycling gets me out and gives me the needed exercise to stay healthy. Besides, I like pedaling.

cheeseflavor

Well, since you asked ...

All of my life I have been struggling with weight and the whole fitness issue. When I was younger, I was fairly active. Then came job responsiblities, other interersts, booze, etc. Still, I would occasionally try to get back into some sort of shape. To say I was on a roller coaster would be putting it mildly. In February 2004, I weighed 285 lbs, and was really out of shape. I was coming off a 2 and half year battle with prostatitis, I suffered from depression, felt tired all the time. In short, I was coming up on 50 and starting to really feel my age.

Linda and I both went on diets that year and vowed to start taking care of ourselves. Part of the plan was exercise and we began walking nightly. In May of that year, during a camping trip, we rented an old tandem bicycle (single speed, weighed a ton) just for the heck of it. I was still concerned about biking as exercise because of the prostatitis issues I mentioned. We liked it so much that we rented the bike again the next day. In June of that year, we purchased our first bikes.

It was my first bike in probably 25 years.

I now weigh 205-210 (it fluctuates), which isn't too bad for my height of 6'4". My energy level has skyrocketed. Overall I feel great (except for my current back problems which are non-bike related). I don't look or feel 51 years old. In fact, I feel better than I have for proabably 20 years.

So, that's how and why I *started* biking, but to answer the question of why I keep riding is because 1) it feels good, and I like feeling good. 2) I want to stay fit and young. 3) It beats taking drugs for depression, high blood pressure and whatever else. 4) I like the sense of freedom that biking provides. 5) I think I'm addicted to it. 6) It's something that Linda and I enjoy doing together.

I really can't see NOT biking.

Take care,

Steve

BJ Ondo

Why I'm I riding: My main passion in life is "Motorcycling", been doing it for 30 years now and love it! Still in the fall and winter months, it's kind boring doing the "same local roads". I was really beginning to HATE the place where I live and motorcycling has gotten "insanely expensive" over the last 10 years.

I needed a change, I thought back on the good times I had bicycling with my son in the early 80's, we did Novice NORBA Mtn. Bike racing and had a ball! LOL, I knew this old flabby, moto-touring rider couldn't do Mnt. Bike racing so I sold one of the motorcycles and bought a Fuji Monterey Comfort bicycle for myself and the wife.

It started as just something else to do but it's really gotten under my skin, I've found a new love of Colorado Springs, it's got some great bike trails and it was FUN to be back in the dirt again. Ya, it's nice that the bicycling has slimed me a couple of pant sizes and I do feel a bit more healthy but it's the "Mental" aspect, more than the physcial aspects of bicycling that make me RIDE!

I've got Reiter's Syndrome, LBS, painful reaccuring hemoraids and when I'm done with a 37 mile trails ride like yesterday, I'm stiff and tried but somehow also, rejuninated mentally and spritullay. The PAIN never goes away but as I'm gliding down the drit path, listening to my wheel's rustling thru the fallen leaves, challenging at 500ft. long 6 in. deep sand pile and not falling over or stopping, I let out a "WOO HOO" and even though I'm tired for a few minutes, I "Don't FEEL OLD"!

I'll never be a true hardcore bicyclist like Denver Fox or many others but I'm really glad, I decided to RIDE again!

will dehne

Why?
Food!
I love good food and good wine. Without exercise I have to starve to keep my weight steady. With centuries and high speed biking, NO PROBLEM.
Keeping this in mind is a big motivation to love biking. There is no other sustained (Activity which I can do) using up that many calories.
Except I hear about this couple walking across the USA. My wife told me Noooo!

roscoe50

Why? It's my fix

DnvrFox

Oh really?

Read your message one more time.

Sounds to me like you are already there!

BTW, I am going for a long walk today, instead of bicycling.

Have fun, my friend!

cheeseflavor

Oh yeah... one other thing I forgot...

It's fun passing guys that are 30 years younger

Steve

BJ Ondo

LOL, ok, your right, as I was coming down the Pikes Peak Greenway trail, I saw a young rider, with a official looking race jersey on a FS MTB, I cranked up to the big gear, got up to about 20mph. and rang my trail bell and cherryly shouted: "On your Left" and blew him into the weeds on my lowly comfort bike! ;D

I thought for sure that he'd gear up and pass me by down the trail before I had to turn off to hook up with the bike lane on Tejon St. but he never did. Seems he's bit more "adult", than that crazy old gray haired nut on the comfort bike!

BJ Ondo

LOL, no way, "YOU DA MAN", Denver, I'll probably expire and you'll be like my friend "Bob'', he's 80 years old and rides his bike everyday! I decided to not continue riding a Thrusday Club Ride cause there doing nothing but "road" and trying to find every massive hill lately, it's labled as a "FUN Ride", more like a let's see how much pain ole BJ can stand ride!! You'd probably do this ride and just smile afterwards, while I'm slowly dying!

I really do ride for the FUN of it, if I start to think of it as "training", I lose my edge, mentally and physcially, I can see where you can "ENJOY" training and you ride way longer distance than I could or really want too. I decide a place I want to ride to and don't really look at the mileage till it's over. Sometimes I do well, most of the time I come home dragging my buns and praying for a lower gear, LOL!

Your are the Master, I'll always be the under study!

Skipper

Why?

Because that well earned piece of pie and cup of coffee at Erma's on Saturday mornings is SOOOO good.

I could list a number of other reasons but there is a cat on my lap at the moment who is making typing a tad difficult.

cheeseflavor

Ooooh... that reminds me. Tomorrow.. stop at Retro's in Loretto for a Caramel Latte and a treat.

Mmmm....

Steve

cheeseflavor

Holy cow, Will... as many miles as you ride, you must have to enough eat for a small army to sustain your weight

How many miles a day are you doing now? Are you still training for that Tour Across America in 2006?

Steve

RonH

I'm still just a kid (almost 61) and love bike commuting and weekend rides!

michaelnel

A desire to lose some weight
A desire to get a little more fit
Gotta get to work (no car).
Last but not least, I enjoy it!

jppe

Meeting other riders
Riding new roads and seeing day to day roads from the saddle
The solitude of solo rides
Learning the technologies of cycling
Going faster and longer while still getting older
Surpassing targets for miles ridden per month/year
Climbing hills I didn't know if I could climb
Keeping physically fit
Competing against others my age in time trials

capejohn

A couple of years ago I went to a bike race in Colorado. It was a 50 mile single track race in Breckenridge on July 4th weekend. I saw quite a few riders my age and thought about trying riding again. Nagging injuries prevented my from running and soccer any longer.

I got my old 15 speed Ross back in shape. (put air in the tires) and went for a 5 mile ride. Soon I was up to 15, but the hills were killing me.

The next obvious step was buying a road bike. Thats when the bug bit. A nice bike that took me up the hills easily, was comfortable and fun. As winter approached I decided to commute to work. To do that I got a Gary Fisher hybrid with wider tires more upright.

will dehne

Yes, still training. A Century Today. It is supposed to be over 60 degrees here. Going to my favored trail in Wisconsin, close to home, Sugar River. It is wonderful out there.
My weight scale is stuck at 190 to 195 lb. I eat anything and everything.
Last night had a home made Rum cake and a bottle of Sebastiani Cabernet, after Dinner. My wife is a good cook.

stapfam

This thread originally posted in November 04, and resurrected recently. Just proves the old uns are the best.

Now onto the addition to this thread. This Forum has been a great aid to me in my cycling. There are times when you ( I ) feel like slackening off a bit, or even not riding quite as much. Then you read the postings on the forum, and I realise why I still ride. It is no longer a fitness thing with me, although I still class myself as one of the fit riders up on our hills. The real reason is that I enjoy Riding.

That reminds me- ride tomorrow so better get the bike ready.

slide

Why? Simply because I enjoy this and gym work. It has some strange side effects. I'm single and looking. A bit back, a fem said that she thought I was a bit spooky. By the time a man reached my age and station, she told me, he should have a pot belly and a bit of a spare tire. My having a muscular build spooked her some. On to the next.

One fellow from the first wave said it all for me. What else is there to do with your time - watch TV? I'd rather be out there. So for me it's choice.

berts

for excercise and fun
for wind and sun
for challenge of heights
and some pretty amazing sights
when machine and I converge to a single entity
it is then I experience complete serenity

cheeseflavor

LOL! A whole rum cake?? That's funny. My hat is off to you my friend. You are truly living the good life!

Take care,

Steve

will dehne

I had a little help.

Red Baron

WHY?

cause when I tried to take the bike back the guy kept saying " Refund? Refund? " had a heart attack. So I decided to keep at it.




(10 points to the first person who can figure this connection)

Dchiefransom

When you're closer to death, you have less to lose.