Great thread, great responses. Around town and on day rides, I ride simply because I love it. I can afford the gas and the car, I just don't like them. I've always ridden enough that health and weight have never been an issue.

The other day, a motorist smiled at me at a red light, and said something about all the gas money I was saving. I replied to her that I cancel all those savings with the amount of food I eat. That's another reason I love cycling.

I also love touring, and besides exploring, a big motivation there is meeting people. The bicycle is a passport of sorts. It labels you as a traveler, not a tourist, and many people respect that.

Always had an interest in bikes, something about the simplicity of operation and watching the road go by under the tires. Very spotty riding through the years because of job and family etc. Started with some seriousness about 3 years ago and rediscovered the fun of riding with added health benefits most BF's are aware of.

Ride fairly regularly now with Seenoweevil and enjoy just cruising the backroads around north Alabama. Usually get dropped on club rides but that does not bother me any more, mainly because I am "out there" and not at home on the couch. We were able to ride in the Harpeth River Ride this year and one week later rode North Alabama MS charity ride and that was great fun meeting riders from all over the area most with common of goal of "just riding".

To me riding clears your mind and gives some peace and quiet (until dogs attack or someone throws beer bottle) in hectic times.

Wait! why am I sitting here writing about riding, I am going riding, SEE YOU ON THE ROAD!

I too ride mainly for fun and fitness. The fun part dictates that I do not get caught up in the "proper" kit to ride. I take advantages of riding a bent by riding with just T-shirts and rugby shorts. I do club rides, but the majority of my miles are alone going at what ever speed and direction that fulfils my whim on that ride. Getting caught up in cults and kits seem silly to me.

I tend to avoid group rides for the most part. I'm not fast, and I'm not striving to be fast. I ride because I enjoy it, because I can wander at will quite economically. I've seen things I wouldn't have seen if I'd driven, because if I'd driven I'd have taken a different route. I've wandered through historic neighborhoods and traveled to museums and various events, and haven't had to pay for parking.

I rode a lot in my teens, but then took nearly 35 years off. My wife wanted to try riding and got a donor bike to start on, so I picked up a used bike on CL just to keep her company on weekends. That was about a year ago. Now I'm riding for the sheer fun of it, whether my wife feels like riding or not. I never imagined I would enjoy it as much as I do.

You bet! When I used to run I imagined I was Abebe Bikila (famous for an olympic barefoot marathon) with an effortless stride that could go forever. I do the same on a bike -effortless, machine-like cadence (requires some imagination).

Mostly I do workouts alone, and try to make every hill "my b*tch" (sorry). But group trips are also lots of fun. All day long rolling party with occasional break-aways that make you think about whether to chase or not. Love it. Want more!

I enjoy the simple fun of screwing the system. The marginal cost of riding my bike to work is zero. No parking fees, no fuel (other than what I'd be eating anyway). No tolls. Institutional transportation tries to find a way to "collect rents" from everybody, from gasoline/carbon taxes to parking fees to congestion fees. On a bicycle, you are invisible. You slip past "the Man" with his hand outstretched, shaking you down for some coin! You don't have to pay into the institutionalized transportation establishment.

Or at the very least, you are getting your money's worth from the hidden taxes you pay to subsidize those who still insist on driving their cars everywhere. If drivers (and only drivers) actually paid what it truly cost to build roadways and bridges, they would not be able to afford to drive. It's funny that in the same way that the internet was an outgrowth of the ARPAnet, a defense initiative to link scientists working on national defense, the whole US Interstate System was initially a defense initiative to ensure tanks & troops got to where they needed to be back in the late 40's. Otherwise, we'd never have been able to afford all those lanes of asphalt, paid for by everybody, not just drivers.

Anyway, I try not to worry about stuff like that. I just like the feel of a nice, springy, steel frame vibrating underneath as the road winds on. Riding over toll bridges and not having to pay. A real pleasure for a true cheapskate such as me!

Luis

I got back into cycling 25+ yrs ago after moving to NJ. I just pasted 4200 miles for the yr. It may be my best yr ever. I hope to do more miles on my bike than my car. People think I am a health nut. That is far from the truth. I just love riding my bikes. Getting fit is just an added benefit.

Cycling is the only thing I've found that is fun and good for you. I've only been riding for two years and hope to achieve mediocrity in another two years.

Got on a borrowed mtb 7 years ago to get in shape for a hunting trip in CO. Second best thing I've done in my 71 years. For reasons unknown, cycling just took. Thousands of miles later, touring and local, still going strong.

For me, it's mental therapy. Something about exercise induced endorphins and the zen of repetitive motion. Like others, a day or two off the bike increases my stress level. I get antsy. And yeah, I too like the feeling of accomplishment.

For us all, it's physical therapy. Any regular exercise helps control lipids, burns unneeded cals, builds endurance, induces the heart to develop collateral circulation, etc, etc. If there is any down side to cycling, I've not heard about it.

For 7 years, there's been another tour in the works. The people, the scenery, the friendships, the camping. The good, the bad, the ugly. Lord, it's all good. I'm addicted.

+1

Have you ever seen so many sports bras drying on top of the rear racks? -- My wife and our two daughters:) They are three of the reasons that I've always loved riding.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/y...IMG_8662-1.jpg

Its fun, it gets me outside, has improved my health and the people are great. Now my daughter and her husband are riding and we have something that gets us together.

I also ride with my p/s camera in my bag....I try to take a couple of pics every ride to document my entry back into cycling....today it was a family of deer having lunch in someone's front garden....:)

Same here, but my definition of "fun" has changed over the years. When I was a teenager and in my 20's, my idea of "fun" was what many of the 50+ riders do - just riding around, looking at everything from a new perspective, and hardly raising a sweat.

After buying a new mtn. bike to ride with my daughter's swim team excursions in my early 50's, I quickly progressed to a better mountain bike, a road bike, a better road bike, a better road bike, etc. I found out that what was "fun" to me was constantly improving my strength on a bike.

I'll always remember the day I saw a couple of riders pass me and just fly up a hill. I thought - they look like gazelles. Totally effortless movement and beauty of form. After that day, all of my efforts were to be the gazelle.

After a number of intervening incidents, both good and bad, over the last couple of years, I'm still riding a little, but now I'm trying to be a gazelle when hiking the mountain trails of northern New Mexico. It's working pretty good so far. I still have fun on every ride and every hike.

Good point. What makes this activity "fun" isn't going to be the same for everyone, and it often isn't really simple either. I actually like cycling in part because it isn't simple... it's kind of nuanced, even complex, actually. YMMV

I stopped riding almost 3 years ago after having spine surgery. Got back in to it in late June/early July.
In order to mollify my wife I bought a used comfort bike wherein I swapped out the fat, knobby tires for 1.5" slicks, thus making it more of a hybrid. As I will be retiring, totally, in a few months, as a retirement gift I plan to buy myself a new performance hybrid, aka flat bar road bike.

I ride for the pure pleasure of it, and for additional fitness. Since my aforementioned surgery I have been exercise walking and working out with light, for me, weights. The biking adds a measure of cross training, although it is slowly becoming the dominant aerobic exercise for me. Incredible how enjoyable it is!

Best regards

Today I had fun vicariously and wistfully through another. While on my way to work, I saw a man, about 40 yrs. old, pulling a full-tilt wheelie all the way down the street-the highest I've ever seen! As we approached an intersection, he passed me back on two wheels and I gave him a thumbs up. Past the intection, he went back into his wheelie and rode downhill in it for at least a city block! I was duly impressed!

I can't stop riding because I have always ridden or almost--it feels so good when I stop, but I have to do it again within 2 days or 3 at most!

It is a drug, love fresh air and I don't want to get old!

It keeps the doctor away I hope!

It is also part of my life, like eating, breathing, sleeping etc.

Where is that trail?

I ride around Cannon Beach in the costal hills (Onion Peaks) on my mountain bike but there no trails there that I know of!

For me its so much the machine itself.I came back to the USA after living abroad for 20 years flat broke and in need of cheap transportation.I bought a Walmart bike and that got me around for 4 years adequately.I rode a few day trips huffing and puffing thinking 20 miles was a huge distance but the biking certainly didn't grab me.God blessed me one day and the bike was stolen!I had heard that the old steel bikes were special and could be found for cheap on e-bay and bid and won a Trek 330 for about $250 delivered.I was lucky.It was in like new condition and after my LBS put it together and tuned it I got on and it was like bells started to ring and the ground shook!!The stability!Smoothness feel quickness!!Like I never had been on a bike before.That was 2 and a half years ago and haven't looked back.Now I ride a Pinarello (vintage steel) and as I posted did a century for my birthday.I build wheels and fix my bikes and even support myself partially giving guided bike tours in NYC!I love to be on my bike!!

Idaho!

"The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes bike path follows the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Mullan, a mountain mining town near the Montana border, to Plummer, a town on the prairie near the Washington border. More than 71 miles of paved path takes you from high mountain splendor, through the historic Silver Valley, into the chain lakes region, along the shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, over the Chatcolet Bridge to Heyburn State Park, and finally climbs to the Palouse prairie: an adventure for the entire family" http://friendsofcdatrails.org/CdA_Trail/index.html

This trail connects to the the Trail of the Hiawatha which is also amazing. There is plenty of opportunity for doing a multi-day ride.

hope to achieve mediocrity in another two years.

That's my goal as well!

Thank you.

That would be a great vacation destination--riding over 70 miles in such a beautiful country would be superb and without cars!

I wish Northen Oregon had such a trail system, the country there is also very impressive!