Forum menu
Does it make me smile?
Do I want to go back and repeat it again?
Am I glad that I did it?
If the answer is yes to these questions, then it's "fun" in my book... Invariably that means it's probably type 1 or maybe type 2 fun, but not type 3 (though type 3 always gives the best stories to tell afterwards!)...
As to where, what bike etc...? A very complex equation that is going to be uniquely different for every person I would suggest, though hopefully there will be overlaps that allow people to enjoy riding together at times.
To actually answer the question, fun riding is the only type of riding I aim to do. For me, that's mostly hand-built enduro stuff, where the enjoyment comes from trying to ride challenging trails faster and smoother than I managed last time (or "at all" in some instances). Enjoy the little spikes of adrenaline and the elation of challenging myself and coming up trumps. I mostly ride alone (riding buddies having largely aged out of the game and/or into other disciplines), so it's always a bit of a balancing act, between pushing myself vs. risk-taking.
The physical side of it is a fun aspect for me too. I enjoy the sensation of exertion and knowing that my body can handle it.
A deep appreciation of the outdoors is also a big part of it.
I'll never be anyone's idea of fast-fast, but I just ****ing love it.
I have no idea what type 1, 2 or 3 fun is, but it seems a bit anti fun to give it categories!!
Bore off, just go and ride.
Edit: that sounds harsh and it was only meant to be piss taking. Have a wink 😉 to soften it a bit.
Yep, if I had to categorise it (yeah some of it's tongue in cheek), that's instantly not fun
I enjoy solo rides and group rides in equal measure.
Mellow rides, intense rides, singletrack, steeps (to a certain amount of scare myself at least), tech, flow, open moorland, being in the woods (especially being in the woods), bike parks, canal paths, riding half a mile, a mile, or more to the pub, taking the ebike when it doesn't warrant an ebike, but sod it, I'm doing it in turbo, mid ride pub stops, end of ride pub stops, summer dust, autumn colours, winter slop and hopefully some crunchy days, grinning to only myself, laughing with mates, cleaning sections with ease, being on the edge of my abilities, tweaking bikes and doing that ride where you realise that change made a positive difference. Oh, being in the woods, did I mention being in the woods?
I bloody love bikes
the hills near Prestatyn heading inland, especially the ~6.9 mile ~1200 foot Road To Hell.
Intrigued. Where is that?
Not near Southampton!!
EDIT: Gadlys Lane up from Bagillt on NCR5?
I think the only rides I’ve had that weren’t fun are one where I bailed because I was ill and it was one of those wet night rides where every tree root tries to take you out and one where I only got a few hundred yards from my house and broke my ankle really badly (this ride was organised on this forum, Xmas 2010!)
I don’t count commutes but most of mine are fun now I have an almost entirely off-road way, and I’ve never been into road-riding (possibly because I know how teenage me drove down country roads…)
I like nice weather but I also enjoy bad weather in its various forms (although sometimes not at the time, other than in a “am I / are we mad to be out in this?!”) I like going up, along, and down, fast, slow, dust to slop, natural or manmade, jumpy (within my ability) or not, rocks or not, whatever.
I’d probably be more choosy if I had more time and money but I don’t so I shall continue in my cheerful delight at getting to play on my bike whenever I can.