I checked the official definition of addiction and substituted "cycling" as the activity/behavior:

The Medical Definition of Addiction
The medical definition of addiction has seven criteria. This definition is based on the criteria of American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV) and the World Health Organization (ICD-10).

An addiction is any behavior that meets at least three of the seven criteria during the same 12-month period.

1. Tolerance. Has your use of cycling increased over time?
2. Withdrawal. When you stop using, do you experience at least one of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, or vomiting?
3. Difficulty controlling your use. Do you sometimes use more or for a longer time than you'd like?
4. Negative consequences. Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job, or family?
5. Significant time or emotional energy spent. Do you spend a significant amount of time or thought obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from your use?
6. Put off or neglected activities. Have you given up or reduced social, recreational, work, or household activities because of your use?
7. Desire to cut down. Have you repeatedly thought about cutting down or controlling your use, or have you made unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control your use?


I took this test, and answered "yes" to all of them. My wife agrees that I have a bicycling problem, but I am not so sure. Is there a "cyclists anonymous" I should be looking into?

There are massive endorphine releases during and after riding. These are similar in chemical nature to those that are activated by heroin. They are just in smaller amounts.

Thus that zen felling ya can't get enough of ?

More or less... Just don't do heroin youll like it too much!

^of course you would know...i just stopped smoking the herb after about 10 years (still in college), yesterday was my third day off and was definitely feeling "withdrawal" symptoms (shaky, irritable, never felt satisfied after eating) but my ride yesterday made me feel incredible.

ill take the cycling addiction over any other.

-Exercise leads to a flood of endorphins.

-Endorphins are natural opioids.

-Heroin is a semi-synthetic opiod (while morphine and codeine are natural).

-Do the math.

Bicycling Mag recently had an article on this very subject.

7. Why would I want to cut down?

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, NO

yes to all but 2 and 7

2: i get tired constantly

You are talking about addiciton as if it is a bad thing.

I answered "yes" to the last one, purely based on spouse's nagging (see numbers 4, 5, and 6).

Yes to all but 7, so not an addiction. I want more.

Another yes to all but 7.

I can quit when I want to I just don't want to quit...

Definition says you only need 3 out of 7.

So you are an addict.

1. Tolerance. Has your use of cycling increased over time? -- You bet!

2. Withdrawal. When you stop using, do you experience at least one of the following symptoms: irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea, or vomiting? -- Nope.

3. Difficulty controlling your use. Do you sometimes use more or for a longer time than you'd like? -- Do I ride for longer than I'd like? Never!

4. Negative consequences. Have you continued to use even though there have been negative consequences to your mood, self-esteem, health, job, or family? -- Nope. It's all been positive, very positive.

5. Significant time or emotional energy spent. Do you spend a significant amount of time or thought obtaining, using, concealing, planning, or recovering from your use? -- All but concealing. I definitely don't conceal the fact that I cycle.

6. Put off or neglected activities. Have you given up or reduced social, recreational, work, or household activities because of your use? -- My cycling time is my social and recreational time. And I've done as much as I can to reduce the amount of necessary household activities. Work/education however, takes up a lot of time.

7. Desire to cut down. Have you repeatedly thought about cutting down or controlling your use, or have you made unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control your use? -- Desire to cut down??? Absolutely NOT!! Cut down?? That would be insanity! I'm planning to significantly increase the amount of cycling I do.

Physical addiction? Fail.

I'm an addict.. currently in withdrawl.

why fight it? endorphins are there for a reason.

What's the problem?

The bf syndrome.

I'm sure any local club would do.

Here's my positive spin on cycling addiction. I once had a memorable lunch-time discussion with two doctors that turned to the vicissitudes of life, e.g. sudden death, or trivial symptoms that are harbingers of a serious disease. The best conclusion we could come up with was the old chestnut to live each day to the fullest. As we were leaving, the surgeon, a Marathon runner, said, “Well any day that has a run in it is a good day for me.” That clicked for me that any day with a bike ride in it is a good day.

Maybe it’s just the endorphins talking, but IMO, cycling embraces a philosophy as well as technology and physiology.

Not to be a kill-joy, as I assume that the OP was probably only semi-serious regarding the first post, but there is major factor that was not considered when using the DSM-IV -- the first chapter. More specifically, the first chapter basically states that its not simply the symptoms and, instead, its whether or not these symptoms cause a disturbance in your life that positions oneself outside of "normal functioning".

Oh, speaking as a "professional", the DSM-IV is basically drivel. Even using this operational definition is filled with flaws and contradictions. Basically, unless your so-called addiction might compromise an otherwise healthy marriage, keep the endorphins flowing.