Cycling UK Forum

Because I enjoy it.

It's that overwhelming sense of freedom that I get from cycling along with the wind in my hair. I become far more involved with everything around me than when sat in a car. I can hear and feel everything around me which is great. Although smelling taxi exhausts isn't always pleasant, it still makes me realise how much rubbish comes out the back of them.

Added to that a saving of about £1000/ year on tube travel, a few hundred on gym membership and I've got myself a free holiday and a workout all thrown in together. It's also a s good as a cup of coffee in the morning, if not better.

And there is a kind of satisfaction that I'm doing a tiny little bit of good to the environment. all in all, it just makes me feel brilliant and every time I get on my bike it feels the same.

My motivation has changed over the years. In the 1980s I used to cycle to work in the centre of Birmingham and diced with death twice a day on the Birmingham ring road. When I got into the office I genuinely felt I could handle anything thrown at me as I had already diced with death several times before I got to my desk.
In other words, it gave me a high: a bit like rock climbing without a safety rope. I felt alive because I had survived.
Now I find the actual cycling process of spinning the pedals enjoyable. Also as others have said you are propelling yourself through space at a speed which enables you to cover considerable distances but at the same time interact with the environment. When you are driving a car you are divorced from the outside environment; you have to keep your eyes on the road and your mirrors all the time. A train is even worse. You can flash past a station without even having time to establish its name. But when cycling you can look at buildings and views and see all manner of wild life, as well as having a chat with cycling colleagues. You can even say "good morning" to people who are out walking, cycling or riding a horse, which is quite difficult in a car or a train. Also you can cycle for a long time and cover long distances. Not many sports offer the opportunity to engage in the activity for several hours - in my case 3 - which means that it's fantastic endurance training.
jonty

Because I love it

Not medically allowed to drive to have always cycled. Sometimes it a pain not having the option but for the most I think it is fantastic. A great way to keep fit.

Because I like to dress up in funny clothes

I was thinking about this last night as my wife and I made our way home from the train station. It was windy and raining and we were tired, encumbered with bags, not dressed for a soaking and not in the mood for it.

We waited under the bike shelter, hoping the squall would blow itself out. I wound up my new radio until my arm burned and we listened for a bit. She then suggested I ride with my umbrella, like we saw people in Amsterdam doing when we visited, so I gave her an exhibition in the parking lot. She said I looked good and I believed her.

Finally we decided the weather wasn't going to improve anytime soon, so she got out her umbrella and started pushing her bike up the low hill out of the village. I opted to slowly keep riding.

After a half mile or so it was all becoming too much. Her balancing act wasn't working well in the slippery dark and her bike fell over with a clatter and a curse, our tableau of discontent spotlighted in the headlamps of an SUV eating up most of the narrow country lane. She'd pretty much had it at this point.

We scrambled to the side and let the monster pass. I took control of both bikes, launching myself on her ship of state while grasping the handlebar of my little folder like a child, saying I'd go on ahead. It took a minute to realize she was jogging alongside me, holding the umbrella over my head.

We carried on like this for a short stretch before giving in, making an offering of ourselves to the rain. She climbed onto her bike and we rode the rest of the way home to smile and drip in the comfort of our kitchen.

Sometimes I'm not sure why we cycle, but I'm glad we do.

Makes me feel good, wakes me up in the morning and gives me a way to let off steam in the evening
Is faster way to commute than driving (Glasgow)
Gets and keeps me fit, both in general and for Mountain Biking
Saves money
Gives me a simple bit of machinery to mess about with and buy shiny new bits for
Means I meet new people
Lets me see my surrooundings and countryside directly, rather than through a sheet of glass.

EDIT - oh yeah and make outrageous statements, on subjects about which I only have a passing knowledge, in forums.

I started cycling to lose weight and to help with my high blood pressure. Also to meet new people. Being a club member is good for this and you have company.

Cycling is not just about fitness. If you work in the creative sector such as an artist, designer, writer etc the things you see on your bike can give you a lot of inspiration. Where I live you see wonderful reflections, shapes of mountains, clouuds, trees, animals which inspire you and lift your spirits.

Because I love it.The joy of being out among nature,and taking a long way round if I feel like it....coming home via a riverside path in the country (and calling at a pub for a pint on the way) ...I can stop to look around and take photo's if anything catches my eye.

I'm retired,so have no need to commute,but I cycle whenever I can,in almost any weather,but high winds are a bit off putting...the bike's my only means of transport,and I wouldn't want it any other way.

The joy of going along the cycle track alongside a half mile long jam of cars with stressed out drivers looking so fed up,and even going through town among the traffic has it's own pleasure.

It keeps me fit, makes me feel young again...what other reasons do I need?

In my yoof (in excess of 45 years ago) I used to race & an odd spot of touring, 1 or 2 hill climbs etc. Stopped when I got more interested in wimmin' & drink an stuff & moved down south. Now coming up for retirement & while there have been the odd rides over the years, nothing that significant.
So I got an old MTB fixed up, and fitted "road" tyres (the sort with little tread in the middle & knobbly bits on the side so if you wanted to do a bit of riding down a track, you can) & most importantly joined the CTC. Have been out 5 times since Christmas & getting slightly better & go a little further each time.
Apart from enjoying cycling, I've got the western diseases of high blood pressure, diabetes & gout & I hope to try & offset the effects of some of these. The BP is better & so is the gout & the diabetes is under control & I hope to improve that condition too.
I too am considering getting rid of the car as I only do about 5K pa in it, in fact while tapping this in maybe a new goal should be once I exceed the car mileage on the bike - that would be the time to get rid!
Am also considering that if I get to that sort of stage I might be able to treat myself to one of those Thorn Rohloff machines. They look really good.
When I get fitter I'll make contact with my local CTC group & get socialising via the local runs round here in North Hampshire.
But I think the real reason I ride, is so I can get good interesting exercise for free, feel better & best of all speak with fellow cyclists on the road, in the pub, & in forums like this.

For that feeling of utter freedom and self-sufficiency you get when you're off on a few days cycle-camping. You have your shelter, bed, food and drink with you and the unwinding road before you. Other than that, the sheer pleasure of being able to travel long distances with minimal effort.

Cycling is not just about fitness. If you work in the creative sector such as an artist, designer, writer etc the things you see on your bike can give you a lot of inspiration. Where I live you see wonderful reflections, shapes of mountains, clouuds, trees, animals which inspire you and lift your spirits

Absolutely, but you don't even have to be creative (sure I'm not!) to enjoy these things.

I went out this morning under blue skies, but having climbed a hill up to the edge of the North Downs encountered a microclimate with lowered cloud and the most incredible silver-grey light. As it was at the top of the climb, and at the point where I turn round, I just sat for a moment, had some water and enjoyed the scene.

Wouldn't have given it a second glance in a car - just a pity I don't carry a camera when I go out cycling.

Jan

because I like it