For me cycling is a cheapest way to get somewhere.
And the freedom to pass wherever.
Though just like happened to cars it also began to detoriate, here especially since 2020, signs that forbid bicycles appeared, and some stayed. Also the crap to constantly have to go to an other side of the road to just procees in same direction, while before one could ride from one place to another all the way without a single side change. And if you have to cross, you have to look behind you, an annoyant thing especially in bad weather.
In a past, I rode to work with a car. In case queues there were alternative local roads, 24 instead of 20 km but much shorter in time. But they started to block those, forcing to join and make queues longer. A bicycle in all weather with no backup, no.
After some years (7), among reasons being fed up with the queues, I decided to change work to closer, a much more acceptable 8 km, to be able to dump car and a bicycle instead. The drawback of suffering bad weather was outweighted by no car cost, annual inspection, insurance etc anymore, and the re-ability to ride wherever just like car before. Later I changed work again, making it 11 km, with as plus earlier hours, so after work I had some hours to get elsewhere before shops closing hours.
So, for me, bicycle was a way to retake previous freedom.
My bicycle-specific choices (now fixed gear) had pretty much the same motivation.
In this subject, I'm now where I wanted to be: a minimalized dependency on others, that is, freedom. No months waiting for repair, no botched jobs and crap parts to discover, I choosed the bikes parts so that sprockets and chain, the typical wear parts, I can do myself without any special tools / knowledge / experience.
As soon I had found parts and tested, I bought a stock of them, same reason: not dependent on others anymore, which already proved needed since single supplier Velosolo ceased business, and also cost saver due to prices rising significantly since the lockdowns and later on the economic boycots/sanctions.
For a same reason I never considered joining a cyclist group, while it's more fun / interesting / help avail if needed, it soon becomes an obligation and thus gives in freedom. I ceased to ride longer distances than 20/25 km (from home), as to in case problem, walking/limping back is not extreme, and also roads with some traffic, so in case a no fixable along the road, car drivers might decide to give me (and the bike) a lift, which happened once.
Of course, another plus of cycling was fysical condition improvement. In the beginning back home was a pfhew. Now I can still do whatever including repeating the ride (in case things I couldn't get home in one ride).
And, it's a daily coming out of the house, although bad weather started to make me stay or limit it to absolutely needed.
I have had a home trainer, but it's sooooo boring, even outside the house.
