What is it about riding a bike that feels so good?

[Dogtrousers]

For me the true satisfaction and pleasure comes after my ride has auto-uploaded to Strava and I see not only a string of PBs (I expect nothing less) but a coveted KoM. It's only then that the pure suffering out on the road, and the expense of maintaining a state of the art road bike become worthwhile. I sip my espresso and watch the kudos roll in, knowing that my hours on the turbo were not wasted.

Will that do @Blue Hills ?

Although I would add that - although I'm taking the mickey - if someone does derive motivation from online competition and satisfaction from riding expensive kit that's absolutely fine by me. All power to them. It takes all sorts.

 

[Blue Hills]

Ride on dogtrousers.

Enjoy your rides but I do hope you chill/smell the roses/cowmuck sometimes.

I share your enthusiasm for espresso (a confirmed coffeehead and will probably die from a caffeine OD) but my main interface between cycling and espresso is making one on a compact stove behind a handy church.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I was kidding. I have a Strava a/c but hardly ever use it and I doubt I've ever got into the top 10000 on a KoM.

I do like espresso tho.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

There is something about the simplicity of a machine you can maintain and fix yourself and ride silently along the lanes isn't there? The only bit I don't like is punctures at side of road, but they are not that often, and I fit more robust tyres this time of year.

 

[Gunk]

There is something about the simplicity of a machine you can maintain and fix yourself and ride silently along the lanes isn't there? The only bit I don't like is punctures at side of road, but they are not that often, and I fit more robust tyres this time of year.

I agree, I love the elegance of the mechanics on a bike, and love working on them. Probably more than motorcycles which are my other love.

 

[Blue Hills]

I was kidding. I have a Strava a/c but hardly ever use it and I doubt I've ever got into the top 10000 on a KoM.

I do like espresso tho.

Must admit I have no idea at all what KoM means - and being lazy and kinda old fashioned won't google it.

 

[ColinJ]

Must admit I have no idea at all what KoM means - and being lazy and kinda old fashioned won't google it.

It is a QoM for men, if that helps?

 

[Aravis]

Can I try a different tack? Everything that's been said is true of course.

When we sit on our bikes and start to ride, a miracle happens. We balance, apparently effortlessly, on two wheels, for hours on end if we want to. From what I can understand of the science, the gyroscopic action of the rotating wheels is insufficient by itself to maintain balance against the competing weight of the rider; what we are doing is making continual small adjustments, although we have no conscious awareness of this. We're perfectly tuned into a complex process which feels the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps that's part of the reason it feels so good.

That said, walking involves a more complex balancing process that is often realised, and that feels good too. Swimming also. I've always enjoyed being in the water but I've never mastered the art of making efficient forward progress. For those who can do so, I imagine that feels fantastic as well.

But with a bike you can traverse continents if that's what you want to do. Walking and swimming score in other ways.

 

[Toshiba Boy]

So much of the above, and, for me...... it "just" does, always has, and, I believe, always will.

Long live the bicycle.

 

[SuperHans123]

Having my own mode of transport has fascinated me since I had a Tomahawk bike as a kid.
I still feel the same about my bike and I am 51.
I don't feel the same about my car.

 

[iandg]

Don't know but when I get on a bike I feel 13 years old again.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When you are leaning through the corners on a descent, it is like you are flying, piloting a fighter jet. You are in the flow.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

When you are leaning through the corners on a descent, it is like you are flying, piloting a fighter jet. You are in the flow.

I once did a descent just for a few seconds alongside a buzzard doing likewise. Magical.