What drives you ?

[gbb]

Taking myself as an example, what is it that drives me to physically punish myself on the bike
I'm very near 50, and i've just found i can up my speed considerably by adopting an aero position, espacially when against the wind. It's really fired me up again. I always hover around the 15 - 17 mph average over say 40miles, depending on conditions.
Just did a 33 at a shade under 17 mph average this weekend...and thats early in the year for me to be going so fast...when it gets hot, i really loosen up.

Then i think...'what on earth am i doing '. nearly 50, and still pushing myself. I could go even harder, but i still want to enjoy the rest of the day

If i go out for a steady ride....i still end up doing exactly the same..it's like a drug. A steady ride is a complete waste of time to me.

'hello, my name's Colin... i am a cycloholic '


Does anyone else find the same

 

[domtyler]

I can't bear to ride slowly, just doesn't feel right.

 

[dan_bo]

Same here Col. I find that, when I have a computer on the bike, I tie my lungs to the handlebars as well. Love it. Take the computer off though, and I turn into Father Dan_bo the pedalling vicar.

 

[beanzontoast]

I took my computer off because I found I enjoyed the ride more when I wasn't looking to see what my average speed had been, how long the trip was taking etc etc.

 

[4F]

Commuter racing . There I am cycling along content with myself until in the distance I spot someone ahead. I cannot resist the urge until I have chased them down and blown them away. At 42 years old I really am old enough to know better

 

[walker]

Knowing That I'm better than your average Joe, but when out racing I come accross more average Joes that are faster than me so I have to then be better than them

 

[summerdays]

I think I am both ... I'm often a happy pootler ambling along at probably 6 or 8 mph ... then there is the other mode when I push it and can manage to ride faster - but I don't seem to have that middle ground.

 

[Fnaar]

Health and fitness, competition with myself (I like getting better at something I enjoy), compensation for my other vices (used to smoke a fair amount, been known to like a pint or three), gets me out of the house and keeps me sane, I love the countryside and always have done.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Can't go slow.

It is irritating to overtake others at a fair old lick and leave them for dust... only for them to catch up at the next set of lights. Like a Boy Racer on a well, errrr, racer I guess!

I must look rather silly to them setting off so fast and leaving them only for them to pootle along and be next to me again further down the road... but I simply can't go on the bike without going at a reasonable pace.. my argument is that as I know I'm going to sweat (I'm exceedingly efficient at removing heat from my body!) I might as well have a good reason for it.

 

[HLaB]

I find that if I don't do it I spend all day wishing that I had and don't like it and I like to avoid that feeling plus I enjoy cycling getting out in the fresh air and enjoing it with a certain sense of satifaction when its done.

 

[spandex]

I cant go slow ive got to over take all things in front of me even cars and it grate fun over taking cars the look on there faces

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

It is good for my mind

 

[alecstilleyedye]

unless dressed in civvies and with flat pedals, it's hard to pootle. and someone in front is always someone to (try to) catch. been my undoing on many a club run, getting caught between the two groups and taking a wrong turn (or failing to take a right one).

 

[Dayvo]

I'm 48 and like to go as fast as the terrain, conditions, environment and traffic allow. I use my hybrid mostly (the other's an MTB) but don't worry about etiquette when overtaking 'all-the-gear' (old) boy racers!

 

[mondobongo]

I come out of the house going take it easy dont set off like a loony this normally lasts until I get to the top of the road. Its then downhill to the prom which sees me hitting 30mph and all intentions of a steady ride are forgotten.