Inspired by the ‘When did you become’ thread, why do you ride?
Talking with various folk on internet forums, it is evident that there are numerous reasons why we all ride. One chap I follow on another forum appears to ride primarily for fitness and chases climbs, whereas climbs for me are a means to an end.

Thinking about it, I love big days out. Proper hard scenic mountainous rides with a good dose of fun chucked in for good measure, followed up with a beer and a disection of the ride with friends.

There are other reasons but I could go to the gym for that.

So why do you ride?

because I hate people and riding takes me away from the herd

Can’t really remember ‘not riding’ – so many reasons, so many good memories 😀

ride on……….

Fun, fitness, excitement, the great outdoors, escapism, exhilaration.
All of the above but fun is the main driver.

because it makes me feel like a kid 🙂

Lots of stuff.

Love jumping. Shit at it, but love it.
Love the rush of managing a descent/drop/gap that I couldn’t do before.
Love being out on the trails with mates, the banter.
Love the scenery, the air, the travelling about.
Love the exercise, the bit of fitness.
Love bikes, fiddling with then, building them, helping mates with theirs.

Love it all, really. Except **** climbing.

i started riding as it allowed me to shut off from some things.

I now continue to ride as i just enjoy it.. I enjoy emptying my mind as you ride through some awesome scenery.

because it makes me feel like a kid

yeah, that’s it in a nutshell 😀

days like today’s ride are why

the tour de Alps by rOcKeTdOgUk, on Flickr

http://a-pic-a-ride.blogspot.com/2011/11/tour-de-alps-photo-by-rocketdoguk-on.html

Like mountains and walking takes too long.

anto164 – Member
i started riding as it allowed me to shut off from some things.

Forgot that – probably love that most of all. You don’t think about anything other than riding while you’re riding. Or if you do, a tree in the face tends to snap you out of it. Clears the head totally.

Can’t play golf…..

social, fun, fitness, outdoors, pints

every ride is a little adventure, a story you don’t know the ending of yet

cos its a cheaper hobby than drinking these days…….

The voices tell me to.

Oh ,and wrongers on the interweb say it will make me a better person. 😈

I’ve boiled it down to – riding a bicycle downhill is good fun…

Actually, I love being outdoors in general, any weather. I even like the climbing – freak I know.

…plus all that stuff honourablegeorge said……..

why the hell do you ask?? freedom, escape, challenge, laugh, fun, see stuff…

I have a massive inferiority complex… but riding often makes me feel like a force of nature.. 8)

and for that moment i’m alone on a bike, the suns shining the singletrack is ahead of me and inside i smile 🙂

Because its a component in making my life as good as it gets.

Sounds a bit hippy but here goes.

I ride for the feeling you get when you are so totally focussed on something, your mind is quiet and you body is just reacting to what is happening.
The only thing I can really call it is active meditation. It feels amazing and keeps me properly on this planet, without which I would be in a nut house probably.

(The adrenaline does help too)

why the hell do you ask?? freedom, escape, challenge, laugh, fun, see stuff…

Because I am genuinely interested in the answer.
Ask the same question on other forums and you will have a wider variety of answers.

For me, I ride for what the riding gives me back. I know others that ride for other reasons.

I have, and always will, ride a bike. I loves it.

grahamt1980 – Member

The only thing I can really call it is active meditation.

Like how you put that.

You know the speeder bike chase in Return of the Jedi? That feeling

Would love to be able to claim that as a phrase, however I think I read it somewhere (could be entirely wrong though)

makes me 😀

also get to see stuff; people seem amazed when i tell them i’ve seen badgers etc. also last night saw ‘road sign cleaning team’ van. who knew they existed!

acupuncture for the soul

grahamt1980 – Member

The only thing I can really call it is active meditation.

Yes, this. When it all comes together, that section of perfect track when everything is perfect and you just float through. All the time smiling inside.

All of the above. Plus for some reason when I don’t ride I become a right stroppy barsteward.

on a serious note, it’s one of the only things that helps to keep my depression under control

fenred – Member

All of the above. Plus for some reason when I don’t ride I become a right stroppy barsteward.

Agreed, most obvious for me is the speed I drive to get to and from a riding session. (not lucky enough to have amazing riding ridable from the door). Got to be a good 10-15mph difference between before and after.
Always slower and chilled out after.

aye, everything mentioned I think! sure the will be one or 2 other reason too! 🙂

I ride for the whole “internet-dreamy ethereal-ness” of it all.

Sometimes.

It’s more fun than the gym

oh defo Cynic al this place can be an escape load of bollucks just like riding a bike can be.

48 but going on 12 when riding 🙂

Because it fulfils my love if being active, being outdoors, in the mountains or beside the sea, soaking up the scenery, going fast or pootling alone, hanging out with friends or being alone, watching the sun set, the buzzards fly, and hearing the call of a fox in the night …

Get the same from climbing, hiking, bouldering and road riding … just need more time to fit it all in!

Edit – plus it means I get to eat lots of lovely food without ever putting on weight 🙂

It’s slightly less uncomfortable than experimental pile surgery?

😯