How do you feel when cycling?

[Pat "5mph"]

I had to go back to click like on @Ming the Merciless' for forum etiquette because ... I don't feel any of that stuff when I'm riding my bike
I'm not prone to introspection, as you can see lol
I ride my bike because I want or need to go places. I love riding my bike because it gives me freedom to go places.
Freedom makes me feel great!
The only time ever I had similar thoughts to Ming's was once on tour, on a particularly hard bit.
I did speak (in my mind) to some folks in my past that kept telling me I didn't amount to much, saying to them "Ha! Look what I can do, I can ride a bike to the top of hills! You would have never even let me try this!"
Apart from that occasion, I normally think about what I'm going to eat next

I used to do a long commute, 23 miles each way, much to the amazement of many of my colleagues.
On more than a few commutes, I must have gone into some kind of "auto pilot". I would get to a certain point on the route and wouldn't have any recollection of the earlier part of the route.

Normal, I think.
I'm the same on a familiar route, typically the commute to work.

This is true in that I never cycle with any useful purpose to fulfil. I'm not trying to get somewhere for a reason. So what am I doing? I must be exercising.

Or maybe looking for adventure?

I remember cycle touring in Scotland, grinding up a hill against a howling gale and pissing rain, chanting a mantra of 'you will NOT beat me'... and laughing at the silliness of it all. I was SO alive!

Oh, yes, I had my worse on a very steep hill coming out of the ferry on Isla.
What I was thinking was "Oh sugar, I cannae see a thing in front of me for this rain, hopefully I won't get squashed!"

I don’t think there’s been a Safeways for a very long time.

Here it has morphed into Morrissons for at least 20 years.

 

[Ianonabike]

Freedom makes me feel great!

This! Though I've had my ups and downs, it's been mostly ups. Ultimately there's nothing like it.

 

[yello]

Here it has morphed into Morrissons for at least 20 years.

Just shows you how long ago it was that I was in Safeways. Today, it's more likely to be Carrefour. Other supermarkets are available.

 

[mustang1]

I don't think to much before getting on the bike. I rush to get on and get out just in casey brain asks why I'm going out; I just don't give it the opportunity!

 

[presta]

I used to feel like that fellwalking at times, but not cycling.

Cycling, I never really escaped the feeling that I wasn't seeing anything I couldn't see by car, which I think is probably why my main motivation/satisfaction came from the feeling that I was getting from A to B under my own steam, that being the main difference between car and bike. It's also the reason why an EAPC would have been completely self-defeating.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Exercise only cyclist here.

Can't say I get any thoughts worth filing under 'Waxing Lyrical'.

Main thoughts; wrapped up in worrying about potholes & slippery lanes, car-borne idiots and how hard the hills are.

And... how much further to go?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I forgot to say, apart from the feeling of freedom on my bike, there's the feeling of being proud.
Proud on cycling home with a large chicken in my panniers, or a big plant reduced to half price, or transporting my home baked Christmas log on a box attached on top of my bike rack.
Tomorrow I'm riding to work at just before 7am with 8 home baked muffins in my panniers: you can bet I'll do it even if it's raining!
I do get free buses, but I'd rather ride my bike.
I do have a driving license, but I'd rather spend the money saved in not running a car on other stuff
For me, it's a lifestyle choice too: I only apply for job locations I can cycle to (well, I'm on my last job now, won't be long till retirement) and I picked my home to be within a few miles radius to hospitals, dentist, town centre, food shops, and a good vet for my cats.

 

[tyred]

I remember cycle touring in Scotland, grinding up a hill against a howling gale and pissing rain, chanting a mantra of 'you will NOT beat me'... and laughing at the silliness of it all. I was SO alive!

To be honest, it's those sort of rides are often the ones I remember with fondness. I feel I achieved something and overcome the elements!

I remember being blown of my bike on the top of the Connor pass as it was so stormy. I remember arriving at a hostel on Achill island so wet that there was a pool of water around my feet at the reception desk by the time I'd checked in, paid, etc, and I found myself apologising and offering to mop up!

 

[slowmotion]

I don't think that I've ever come home after any bike ride feeling angry or grumpy. That's worth quite a bit.