One of the many pleasures....

[captain nemo1701]

Cycling past the line of cars, hopping onto the off-road cyclepath and still moving;not having to deal with the frustration of gridlock, listening to nature, seeing things that car commuting doesn't get you like some of the vistas Bristol and environs have to offer. Spectacular views that you miss in a car, and if you wanted to stop, you have to find a parking space, maybe pay for it etc. On my bike, I just stop...

 

[mjr]

Gentle hills going down from both directions, warm sunny day, so ANY cyclist with even the weeniest sense of adventure / silliness is going to go at the ford full tilt aren't they - ?

Nope. Too many fords here have big rocks in the bottom - Sculthorpe Mill, South Acre and West Acre are all tractor/big-4x4-only fords I think, while Walsingham can get too deep for cars. That said, it's slightly amusing when a small car follows you towards a ford, ignoring the "Unsuitable for motors" signs, then you all cycle over a small bridge bypassing the ford while they reverse back to the previous junction...

 

[speccy1]

.... when commuting by bike is coming across a backed up queue of cars etc. - the longer the better - and thinking ' Ah, a queue ' and just carry on pedalling past the lot of them - !

Love doing that!! They always look so miserable when they are stuck there too, priceless!!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

The whole notion of being part of the world not cocooned away from it by metal and glass.

Sensible filtering queues, having so many more & different options to my journey with a bike than a car = being able to get away from the rat race almost at will.

 

[simongt]

The whole notion of being part of the world not cocooned away from it by metal and glass.

Sensible filtering queues, having so many more & different options to my journey with a bike than a car = being able to get away from the rat race almost at will.

That is SOOOO true - !

 

[RedRider]

The ability to morph from pedestrian to cyclist to pedestrian pretty much wherever and whenever I want.
Just having great legs.

 

[Seevio]

The satisfaction of chasing down another cycle commuter and thinking I'm not too old for this.

 

[Salty seadog]

Early morning rides to the beach, no one else is around and all you can hear is the waves.

View attachment 130394 View attachment 130395

kingsdown?

 

[Hill Wimp]

kingsdown?

Yep, just by the Zetland Arms.

 

[Salty seadog]

Yep, just by the Zetland Arms.

I like heading north out of Dover, once you've done a mile uphill everywhere else is down,....

love the Dover - Deal - Sandwich - Ramstage route.....

 

[Salty seadog]

kingsdown?

you never know, I could be on that ferry on the horizon....

 

[freewheelwilly]

There is the innocent sense of freedom you have when you get up at the crack of dawn for a Sunday morning ride in the countryside to the smug feeling i get as i ride home from work past all the mugs stuck in a jam on the Jamaica Road in SE London.

 

[skudupnorth]

Being able to stop and look at something without the worry of trying to find a parking space

 

[jonny jeez]

For me, one of the small but enjoyable pleasures is the freedom to stop.

Seeing the pub in Dulwich has some spare tables outside in the sun(although right now its closed for refurb), just stop .

Want to take a photo, just stop

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When I ride the motorbike or drive, I can never just stop, I miss loads of opportunities to "Smell the roses" just because I literally cant stop.

 

[simongt]

As mentioned by others; another pleasure is the ability to simply stop almost wherever the mood takes you to - admire a view from the small bridge over an abandoned railway line which nature is fast claiming back / picking blackberries from that bush which motorists can't stop to take advantage / watching hares 'boxing' in a field - shall I go on - ?