What is cycling to you?

[Oldhippy]

As the title suggests, it is different for everyone. A blast on a racing bike early mornings to keep fit and 'all the gear', a lover of bicycles and bicycle culture with large collections of bikes across the years, a method of daily transport, an adventure machine waiting to whisk you away to new things and probably many more variations. For me, it is transport, a carrier of shopping and an adventure machine in one gorgeous green tourer.

 

[Drago]

Its riding my bike for either pleasure or utility. Any fripperies above and beyond that simple premise dont reckon with me.

 

[biggs682]

For me these days it's a way of getting some gentle exercise be it a 2 mile ride to the post office or a 50 mile loop on a sunny Sunday morning.

 

[All uphill]

Enjoyment of the outdoors, enjoyment of working my body, the pleasure of chatting with strangers, freedom from using a car.

 

[ianrauk]

For me, it's everything. Commuting. Leisure. Utility and Touring. I would honestly be lost without cycling.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Personally I go out alone and just go
I often use the same route - but there are several possibilities

All have one thing in common - they get off the roads for some peace at times on the ride

Basically I get some exercise which stimulates my body and mind
and get away from everything for an hour or two

alone

 

[sevenfourate]

Fresh air, exercise (Although I’m happier walking with my dog these days) solitude - and a way to access some spots [To see and photograph] I’d have struggled to get to otherwise……..

 

[oxoman]

For me its a way of keeping fit ish, unwind after work and keep clear of the inevitable roadworks / traffic. I can have peace and quiet for a mental reset or enjoy the adventure / challenge either with others or by myself. Recently started riding with my young grandson's which is fun and also my 2 sons occasionally come bikepacking with me. I've never been one for all the gear and no idea thing, I ride on what works for me and wear what also fits / works for me.

 

[raleighnut]

I'v owned no other vehicles since 1985, several different bikes all targeted at different purposes from an old Time Trial bike to a converted MTB used to pull a trailer

 

[Paulus]

These days it is very much utilitarian, shopping and transport. My days of touring, racing and audax riding are possibly behind me. It'll go out for a 10-20 mile pootles though.
I still get the same buzz from getting on the bike and going to the shops as I did from doing a 100 miler though.

 

[Sharky]

For me, it was always about racing (time trials mostly). From 1967, thru to just a couple of years ago, rode time trials almost every year and during this time, completed over 500 time trials.

Never a top rider, but a reasonable club rider and to be fit enough to ride the TT's, all the other disciplines of cycling were fully undertaken. Club runs, solo riding, commuting, indoor trainers all were enjoyed.

But take away the motivation of the TT's, then the other disciplines decline very quickly.

 

[Jenkins]

It's a means of shopping, exercise, sightseeing, general transport, relaxation, etc.

The only thing it isn't is something to be taken seriously.

 

[Drago]

I can have peace and quiet for a mental reset

When I used to commute I enjoyed the benefits of avoiding traffic snarl ups, easy parking,etc, but the biggest and mort enjoyable benefit was indeed the way it cleanses the mind after a day at work.

The adventure was good too. The unfit car commuters would be "ooh, its raining, snowing, the rapture has started," to which I would think to myself, "bring it on!"

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When I used to commute I enjoyed the benefits of avoiding traffic snarl ups, easy parking,etc, but the biggest and mort enjoyable benefit was indeed the way it cleanses the mind after a day at work.

The adventure was good too. The unfit car commuters would be "ooh, its raining, snowing, the rapture has started," to which I would think to myself, "bring it on!"

I used to love riding to work
I used to get up and check the weather - I couldn;t ride if it was wet at all as I had no real way of changing at work

and a teacher walking around the school with muddy trousers was a bad look!

But I was always disappointed if that happened

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Slight extension to the topic

but do people ride "the right bike for the ride"
or just jump on their favourite ( or only ) bike - and use that for everything?

Mine (as said before!) is a Raleigh Motus ebike (UK legal and not fiddled with

and I just jumped on it when I got it and rode it

I ride it everywhere and on tyres that "are not ideal" for the tracks and tow-paths I ride on
but stuff it


I grew up with a Peugeot bike with drops and flat pedals and rode all over the Wirral and Nottingham on whatever track/path turned up
rough or not


I never even changed the saddle - although it is getting a bit knackered now

what do otehrs ride?