NeelsGap86

It is not a stupid question (referring to Botto).

Seriously though, what makes you ride your bike or what is your philosophy when it comes to riding your bike? Do you have a favorite quote or saying that maybe conveys on why you like doing what it is that may be?

I guess some people may answer in just saying, "pedal harder" or "ride longer".

I'm not asking for a thesis here.

umd

"It doesn't get easier, you just get faster"

patentcad

Speak for yourself.

Surferbruce

there's lots of fun sports but cycling is different. it has a rich history and is a noble pursuit. it crosses all boundaries and barriers (learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for children around the world) and is steeped in romance and suffering. it is a group thing, a team thing, and an individual thing. it takes you places you might never otherwise see and teaches you things you might never otherwise know.

NeelsGap86

Wow, very well summed up!

rizz

"If you're not first, you're last!"

Race on, brother.

mattm

"at least i'm not one of those a&&holes in those cars..."

"while they're getting fatter [in a car], i'm out here sweating, dammit!"

"this ride will make a good blog post."

those are the terms that fly through my head on most of my rides.

daoswald

Not all philosophies can be summarized in a catchy phrase. I ride because I enjoy it, it's healthy, I like the challenge, I like seeing the city that way, it makes me feel good, relieves stress, and because I can eat almost anything I want as a result, though knowing that I'll be facing a lot of elevation gain tomorrow is a good deterrent from consuming copious amounts of fatburgers and snickers in the first place.

I love thinking, "I bet I could ride to xxxxxxx and back tomorrow.", and then discovering I am right. I love looking at a hill and thinking, "I can do this.", and again finding that I'm right.

CharlieWoo

Ride hard, rest hard.

"Cry in the Dojo; laugh on the battlefield" - Ancient Samurai saying

umd

So its getting easier for you?

caloso

Every mile counts.

dmb2786

hahaha

Hammertoe

"No crowds cheer us lesser mortals up the big climbs, but the mountains are open and mountains are rarely if ever finished with you. No matter how often you climb them, you never beat them: each time you start at the bottom, from scratch. Reputation will not take you up a climb. The physical battle has always to be repeated. Through every repeat, mental strength accumulates." Graeme Fife

This sums up why I ride, why I love to climb, and why I enjoy suffering....

Harun

Ride.

NeelsGap86

I'm a former soccer player that played the game for quite a long time. Played one year in college and got burnt out. I had no desire to continue playing at the highest levels and lost my "passion".

Then I seriously got into cycling. I sometimes get burnt out from training overloads and ask myself, 'why do I ride, especially in a crappy place?'

This is only my second season racing thus far and this past winter was my most humble 'training' experience I have had. Since then, I have had trouble finding a "philosophy" of why I ride.

This is the reason for this thread basically.

So with that in mind, I want to ask the more experienced, older riders of what you do to make yourself get on that bike and ride?

Danolink

+100

NeelsGap86

"When you stare into the abyss the abyss stares back at you."
-Nietzsche

Maybe it is Mankind's tendency to "explore" what that abyss it. We are still trying to unlock the laws, the secrets, the "everything" about that abyss. In a way, I am referring to Mankind's exploration about the cosmos.

Lately, I have been reading a bit of Quantum Mechanics.

Yay...lol

patentcad

Any ride you can walk away from is a good ride.

NeelsGap86

Pcad, would you say that in a way a bicycle is kind of like a "time machine"? Not in the literal sense of the word though....figuratively.

Isn't no wonder that Einstein discovered the Theory of Relativity while riding his bike? Well maybe not but it helped him formulate his theory somehow, someway.

patentcad

If you were here I'd smack you, but all I can do is tell you to STFU and ride your bike.

DocM

I like pain. Really, though, I like being able to push myself so hard that I can transcend the pain and ride that monster to someplace new.

mr handy

I ride therefore I am.

noteon 

I'm nicer to my family when I get my ride.

I will suck less on hills.

Vélo ergo sum.

noteon 

Jinx!

NeelsGap86

Haha...sounds like you ARE familiar with classical philosophy.