When I started cycling around two years ago I had not been on a bike since my early teens. The thrill of bikes was lost when I got a car. Now I'd rather be on my bike. How things change!

Being on one now makes me feel like a kid all over again. It makes me think of all the fun things I did when I was younger, like building street ramps and dirt jumps in my backyard, or playing chicken in the street. Some of the stuff I did I don't know how I survived.

Wondering what kind of stories other's have from their childhood.

I started riding bikes about fifty years ago. Much of the time I feel like an "old man"...especially in the morning when the 'ol joints aren't working so well. But, out on a bike, it feels as if Ike is back in the White House and I'm off on an adventure.

Last night, I saw a brother and sister riding down the road. About ages ten and eight. Baseball gloves over the handlebars. And, seeing them gave me a vivid recollection of how great it was to be that age, and your world and your freedom had suddenly expanded because your bike could whisk to where you wanted to go.

I don't think it is possible to feel both old AND cranky while riding a bike...

Depends on the hills. Still get a buzz of beating the fit youngsters up the hills, or throwing in an extra 10 miles at the end of the ride though.

I was desperate for a change of pace. The way my wife and I were living our lives was exhausting.
Both worked full time and just had a kid. It was constant go go go go. Drop the kid off at daycare. Go to work. Pick kid up from daycare. Run errands. Go home and perform chores. We both were going a mile a minute and exhausted trying to obtain the perfect american lifestyle. Eventually after she was diagnosed with a mental disorder my wife found a part time job working at night and on the weekends. We cut back and took our son out of daycare. That helped quite a bit. Then my car was totaled and I took up cycling to work. Now I am much more relaxed, weigh quite a bit less, and actually have time to ponder life (usually while cycling).
I usually take my son on recreational bike rides on the weekend instead of running to this and from that.
All in all cycling and some drastic life changes probably just added a few years onto my life span.

Glad things worked out for you. Sometimes things get alot worse before they get better. And I know what you mean, my bikes are my escape.

Biking helped to aliviate some pains I have for a long time, and also saved me 1500$ on gas on the Katrina nonesense. I love bycicles; they are synonimous of freedom.