Does anyone JUST ride for fun (and some exercise)?

[MyLitespeed]

I'm not competitive and don't want to be (I'm to old). I just enjoy getting on my bike and riding 25 - 30 miles around where I live.

About once a week I will get together with some friends and we will cycle somewhere (about the same mileage).

Sometimes I'm really hard on myself because I'm not competitive and can't (even if I wanted to), keep up with most riders. I find I'm in sort of a "no man's land" when it comes to cycling.

I can out climb some people but certainly can't keep up a fast pace with most people. I don't want to ride with people who are REALLY slow 8 - 9 mph and only ride for 5 miles. That leaves me with very few options when it comes to riding partners.

The ladies I do ride with are very tolerant of my slowness and will wait up for me at certain points in the ride. My average speed is usually around 11 mph. I find myself riding alone more and more, which most of the time I don't mind.

I try and remember that I should just tell myself "are you having a good time?"

[Karma007]

I ride quite a bit, just for fun. While I'm not overly competitive, I do enjoy pushing the limits sometimes of what I think I can do, if I'm feeling up to it. Other times I put on my cutoffs and converse sneakers,and cruise downtown for lunch, or something like that. I feel each kind of ride fits a need. I enjoy group riding, but haven't done much of it lately, it can be tricky to coordinate some times.

[Biciclista]

me, me, me.
I was talking to a coworker who also commutes to work and he was telling me how when he rides he always keeps his heart above a certain rate. Boy, that didn't sound fun to me at all!

There are lots of older people who ARE really competitive, but i'm not one of them. I like to ride and I do it for exercise. and you know, after you start bike commuting, it starts feeling like a hassle to get into your car instead of riding your bike!

[Kalidurga]

This was my problem last year. I read too many articles, and too many posts here ;), about training, speed, cadence, you name it. I began getting way too serious about my riding and didn't enjoy it enough. I haven't been on the bike since October, but I'm getting ready to do my annual Spring Cleaning of the bike in preparation for warm weather. One thing I'm going to do in order to get back into the right mind set--- remove my computer. It might drive me crazy to not know my speed and distance, but I'm gonna give it a try.

This is what inspired me:

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/assorted_crap/12b-1.jpg

[ny biker]

I ride for fun.

I average 13-16 mph depending on the hilliness of the route. I am ridiculously slow going up hills. If I'm riding with a group, I'm still usually riding alone for the most part, with the faster riders dropping me and hopefully at least one person back behind me somewhere. I stopped worrying about getting dropped a long time ago.

I do keep track of things like how far I've gone, average speed, cadence, etc., but that's mostly because I'm a geek and I like to keep track of things. I set certain goals, like finishing a ride with a certain average speed or within a certain time, but they're based on my own abilities, not anyone else's.

[redrhodie]

I've been working towards the goal of riding for life, too! Thanks so much for posting that article! I'm already doing almost everything on it. I got similar advice from a book I read a few months ago, I think it was called "Cycling Bliss".

My riding buddy is getting too fast for me. I told her today she's going to have to make our rides together her easy rides. They'll still be my hard rides, I'm sure!

So, you're not alone. Keep having a good time!

[Fredwina]

I'm usally on that side. Actually more so since my accident.

[Red Rock]

I ride for fun all of the time. There are a variety of cycling groups here in town, but I never get around to "meeting up" with them for one reason or another. So when I ride it is for my enjoyment only. I am also putting my toes in the water for bike communting around my town here too.

I have always been competive, so there are some hangovers for me on that one. I like to go fast (for me that is 10+ mph) on flat ground and whatever I can muster on the hills/mountains around here. I have a computer that gave me speed and distance and that was all I was intrested in. I did not know they even exisited until four or five years ago when my younger brother was talkling about them. All other rides as a child/teenager/college student, I had none of that technology. Everything else took away the fun for me. The scientist in me would like to know my cadence, but I have not figured that one out yet.

I like to see the view, the people sitting in their cars talking on the phone in traffic waiting for lights to change, all the time while I am happily spinning on my bike going to wherever I need at the time. Its like I am in my own world of happiness and no stress.

Learn what you can from all of the knowledgable folks here on the site but always go out and have a great ride. Remember there is never a bad time to ride.

Red Rock

[Miranda]

One thing I'm going to do in order to get back into the right mind set--- remove my computer.


My bike computer wasn't working exactly right at the same time I started riding post some surgery recovery. Quite out of shape. It was so depressing thinking about where I was before, and what I could do upon return. So, I just ditched all of my tech toys. Computer, Polar HRM... went 'back to basics' as they say. I suddenly was no longer depressed. I just knew that if was sweating, pedaling out my best effort, and still got a fly by view of the cute baby goats on my favorite route... bike life was good:cool:. Being clean bar can be a really liberating thing:).

[gingerale]

F&F rider...that's me! Fun and fitness, that is. I have participated in a few organized rides that I enjoyed and look forward to doing some more. But I'm not a member of any cycling group. I go out on my own...or when my parents come to visit (or I go there) then my dad and I ride together. My mom joins us, too, when they're here and my boys are in school. I enjoy riding at my own pace, pushing myself where I want or need to, and just enjoy being outdoors and getting in some exercise.

[wackyjacky1]

+1 for Fitness and Fun! :)

I am slow on a bike. I always have been (even when I was young and in good shape) and I suspect I always will be. My goals are to gain fitness and to increase distance. I'll never break any speed records. :cool:

[Over50Newbie]

My Litespeed,

Where do you live? You sound like you are just my type of rider!!!:)

I live in Connecticut. If you are nearby, I would love to ride with you sometime. Even your speed and average riding distances are about the same as mine.

I only ride for fun. My philosophy is that if it is not fun, why do it?

Luckily, I have a very good friend who feels the same way I do. We ride together all the time and have an absolute ball. We stop to smell the roses, look at all of the scenery, and just appreciate being outdoors and being healthy enough to exercise. My wish for you is that you find someone with the same mindset as you to ride with.

So have fun, and keep on doing what you are doing.

Lynette

[celerystalksme]

i ride to crush souls

j/k!

usually, i just ride for fun...just to get out and be on the bike. i'll go at a very leisurely 10-15mph. and maybe start mashing to go fast just for a sec to feel the air rush past me.

but i do enjoy 'training' too...so sometimes i'll make myself a workout schedule and do intervals every day or every other day or whatever.

i just like bikes...

[tulip]

I ride for fun. I don't care how fast I go. At the end of a ride, my computer usually reads between 13 and 14 mph, sometimes slower if there are hills. I used to ride to work, and then I had a timeline and would average 15 or so even with stoplights. But now I work from home and my rides are more relaxed. I like the scenery.

[tzvia]

Yep for fun and fitness! When nothing else worked, all those fitness DVD's and funky hardware (had that big ball thingie, the waist twisty thingie and all kinds of 'slim in 6' DVDs) and nothing takes weight and inches off faster than my bikes! And I get to be outside and take them on vacations too. Lost about 30lbs since last July without 'dieting' (evil word it is). Twenty more to go and I will weigh what I weighed 25 years ago! I now weigh what I weighed 10 years ago and smile while I do it! It's like a way-back machine (weigh-back?). :D. In Novenber I turn 50, and I look better than I did when I turned 40 (feel better too)!

[shootingstar]

I wouldn't even know what my heart rate is supposed to be within my training level. :confused: Though, I've read about this from other people's experiences. I'm still alive aren't I? :p

I've never used a heart monitor. And I've been cycling regularily since 1992.
Unless I am diagnosed with a heart problem, I don't think I will be using any heart monitor to improve myself.

I took off my cyclometer around..hmm...1998 or before. First few years, I kept a cycling journal that tracked my mileage. didn't make notes of my average speed. So this motivational technique did stoke my cycling passion when the mileage piled up annually.

But later, I just kept forgetting to look at the cyclometer after finishing a ride. Then forgetting to remove it regularily. That's when I decided to remove it...period.

I just ride...because it always feel better to ride..no matter what distance and regardless of my pace.

[luv'nAustin]

I ride for fun! Ok, I'll admit it, fitness too!! But I like to ride my pace and with people that ride my pace as well. Too slow and it's boring and tedious. Too fast and I lose confidence.

[tctrek]

I ride for fun... at my age it better be fun or I'll just quit ;) I am also riding for fitness and to spend more time with my DH. I used to be a bike widow because he was gone all the time on his bike. Now I go with him. He's very patient with my slowness and coaches me up these nasty, nasty hills in Georgia. My kingdom for a flat road to ride on!

Here's a tip - if you ride with a friend who likes to go fast and you can't keep up, ask them to ride in a bigger gear and that will slow them down. They'll still get a workout, but you'll be able to keep up with them! That's what I do with my DH.

[melissam]

I admit it, I'm a Type A person when it comes to riding. Nothing motivates me to ride like having a cycling goal and a structured training program to reach my goal. And yes, I love my heart rate monitor! I also love my cycle-computer, cadence, and altimeter! :)

Nevertheless, I'm having a great time while I ride. I love the scenery, the challenge of getting up whatever hill it is I'm climbing, the funky conversations that come up with my riding partners, seeing someone else's confidence or ability improve on the bike.

Having the structure gets me out there so I can enjoy the ride. I'm the first to admit that the kind of structure I like would drive a lot of people crazy. But I do know that when I'm riding "just because it's fun," I tend to find other things that are fun and stay off the bike.

I guess the bottom line is that you need to figure out what works for you to keep cycling a fun hobby. Please, please, please don't read about the exploits of us Type A's and think that it's what you need to do to be a "real" cyclist.

[limewave]

I ride for fun and exercise. I used to do group rides, which I really enjoyed. Until so many new people started coming that didn't know how to do a group ride and didn't really want to learn. It got to be to the point where I felt it was too dangerous. I have to trust the person whose back tire is an inch from my front tire going 25+ mph.

Now I cruise around the neighborhood on my Suede, pulling the kid in the burley. Or take the TCR2 for a 30 miler down to the lake early in the morning, chase a few deer. And if I get a free afternoon, I like to take my Trek Fuel on an "urban" mountain bike ride.

[OakLeaf]

I ride for fun.

I won't worry about you being "too slow for me" if you don't worry about me being "too fast for you." I'm way too slow for other people.

[ASammy1]

Ooh, Ooh! Me too. I just ride for fun and fitness. No racing for me!

[Jolt]

Another slow, non-racing cyclist here! I use my bike for errands and do some fun rides too. I occasionally go on "easy" group rides with the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) but those are really the only group rides I am comfortable going on because I can't keep up with most groups. Kind of pathetic considering I am only 25...but then part of it is probably because I am riding a hybrid and not a road bike. In any case, I usually just do my own thing and find it very satisfying to ride around town getting things done without having to get in the car for the shorter trips (well, at least when the weather is good).

[Pink Diva]

Another non-racer here! I mainly wanted to start biking to get out into nature...I was becoming too much of an indoor gal, and I hated it! I wanted to get out and enjoy the outdoors since you just can't do that effectively when you're driving everywhere. Of course, the other reason was to improve my fitness since I have ADD when it comes to exercise...I do it all: running, kickboxing, spinning, stepping, weights, yoga, etc, etc...cycling was the next in line for me :D

I'm not fast, but I'm not slow either, I'm just a happy medium! I am trying to work on my hill climbs since I currently suck at them which surprised me, but I'll get there. My MTB and my commuter are just for fun though, period. No racing, no HR worries, just me and the outdoors :p

[PamNY]

Fun and exercise are my only reasons for cycling. It's good for my mental health, too. I'd like to develop enough skill for group rides, and perhaps for touring.

I am learning to maintain my bike and do simple repairs. Don't ask me why I enjoyed learning to true a wheel and fiddle around with bearings, but I did.

Pam

[smilingcat]

trying to reset my mindset to more of a leisurly ride. Trying to be not so competitive about my riding. Fun ride is healthier. Leisurly ride is still a good exercise.

It's a mindset I'm trying to grow into. I'm getting older and just don't have the speed, power, and reflex anymore. I just need to throttle back.

smilingcat

[Crankin]

I am one of those in-between people. I gained a lot of fitness and speed the first couple of years I rode. In the last year I have slowed down, for various reasons. I have pretty much stopped going on group rides, except for the ones I lead, or with my Wednesday Wheeler group, where the average age is older than me (55). I can even keep up with the guys there, except for a couple of them and then, only on long climbs. I don't do charity rides, except for one local one. I mostly ride alone, with my DH, or with a couple of friends. I am way too fast for the slow group in my club, but I can't hang with the fast ones, either. I can climb just about anything, mostly because I have to on every ride from my house. I live on a 10-15% grade hill. But, I don't like long climbs. Give me steep and short.
I ditched my HRM a few years ago. I was obsessing on it instead of enjoying my ride. I won't ditch my computer, though. I like knowing my distance, speed, cadence. But, I am about to drag my Bike Journal icon into the trash... I found myself wanting to lie about my average speed and that's not good. I will keep a journal on my own.
Like Limewave, I enjoy riding my Jamis Coda for errands, going to the Farmer's Market, or riding with my less fit friends a lot more sometime. It makes me feel like a kid. Sure, I have a light carbon road bike and I appreciate it. But, I don't want to ride it 7 days a week.
At this point, after almost 9 years of riding, it's an established part of my life. But, I have made it a point to do other sports, especially in the winter. I also just started running. I don't want to burn out like I did with aerobics.
Ah, just don't go hiking with Jolt. She just about ran me and Deb W. into the ground on a little local hike last year!

[Jo-n-NY]

Fun, exercise and mental health are the reasons I ride.

Once the warmer weather kicks in I ride with the bike club on Saturdays. I ride with the B group speed ranging from 14-16mph and since we do not drop anyone at times a little slower. I am usually in front of the group, but behind the leader. Many have told me that I could probably ride with the A's, but that would mean pushing myself beyond what I find to be enjoyable. So I am staying in my comfort zone and enjoying it.

Other than that catch a ride with my girlfriend if our schedules are in zink, same with my dh other wise I am pretty much a solo rider.

I ride the trainer in the winter, but mainly for the exercise and so I don't have to break myself in for outdoor riding in the spring.

~ JoAnn

[twin]

I ride for fun and fitnesse. I ride at my on pace and sometimes I ride with my sister and most often by myself. I enjoy doing my own thing and stopping to eat or anything that might be of interest.

[Kalidurga]

I won't ditch my computer, though. I like knowing my distance, speed, cadence. But, I am about to drag my Bike Journal icon into the trash... I found myself wanting to lie about my average speed and that's not good.

If I find I can't live without the computer, that's what I'm going to do. Watching the stats as I ride is one thing, but logging them is what makes me feel obsessive. So either way, it's bye-bye bikejournal.

[7rider]

Maybe I'm alone here, but I find having all those nerdly metrics from my Garmin (HR, speed, distance, the whole she-bang) part of my fun. BikeJournal (primarily by signing up for different "groups" like the Commuter Century) gives me the incentive to do more, to improve, to challenge myself.
Fast rides with the club are a hoot.
Slow rides with friends for sight-seeing and lunch are fun, too.
It's all good. Why on earth would I be a regular bike rider if it weren't fun?? It's not like I get paid to do this. ;)

[limewave]

Maybe I'm alone here, but I find having all those nerdly metrics from my Garmin (HR, speed, distance, the whole she-bang) part of my fun. BikeJournal (primarily by signing up for different "groups" like the Commuter Century) gives me the incentive to do more, to improve, to challenge myself.
Fast rides with the club are a hoot.
Slow rides with friends for sight-seeing and lunch are fun, too.
It's all good. Why on earth would I be a regular bike rider if it weren't fun?? It's not like I get paid to do this. ;)

I agree. I enjoy all aspects of riding. I like challenging myself to ride faster and better. I enjoy the feeling I get of being a part of a team on group rides. But I also love just taking a little cruise around the neighborhood.

[OakLeaf]

Maybe I'm alone here, but I find having all those nerdly metrics from my Garmin (HR, speed, distance, the whole she-bang) part of my fun. BikeJournal (primarily by signing up for different "groups" like the Commuter Century) gives me the incentive to do more, to improve, to challenge myself.
Fast rides with the club are a hoot.
Slow rides with friends for sight-seeing and lunch are fun, too.
It's all good. Why on earth would I be a regular bike rider if it weren't fun?? It's not like I get paid to do this. ;)

:D:D You're not alone!!

[Aint Doody]

And---I like to stop, get off, look at something, have something to eat. With me a 60 mile ride can take all day, and that's when it's the most fun.

[malkin]

Another rider for fun.

And for mental health, which is quite a bit more fun than mental illness.

And for physical health which is also more fun than all the chronic not-feeling-good stuff that seems to show up more if I don't ride.

[sgtiger]

+1 on riding for fun. I probably wouldn't do it if it wasn't.:o The fact that I'm getting exercise, calming my inner maniac, and driving less (I detest driving!) are side benefits.

[sundial]

I like sharing my bike ride with my girls. They make it fun as we swing by to see the horsey neighbors, watch the deer in the field, and pass by the crane wading into the pond. We might ride 45-50 minutes daily and it's just right for all of us.

[breezer]

Why would anyone ride if it wasn't fun?

[MyLitespeed]

My husband is VERY competitive but before we got the tandem he would ride with me (but not like it very much). I think he feels everyone should keep their heart rate up to make sure they are getting enough exercise.

After we got the tandem, it took about 2 months to figure out that we ride at my pace or he rides it alone. He admits that at first he figured we could "race" on the tandem (not my idea of a good time). It has taken me years to actually feel comfortable enough on the tandem to get up a little more speed. Our rides on the tandem now are "fun rides", to go out to lunch or just cruise around.

When I was working, I would take my single bike to work and keep it in the warehouse during the week so I could ride on my lunch hour. To many people at work always "needed" something from me and would interrupt my lunch. I figured if I was out on my bike, they couldn't find me to bother me. It felt like a mini vacation and I really enjoyed it.

I think I have seen more of San Diego since I have been riding my bike then the entire time I have lived here (all my life).

My bike can be my "escape" from the realities of life that get to be to much sometimes. My bike is my friend and therapist.

I still keep a journal of all my rides, but that lets me see how much my confidence has improved over the years.

Being able to just have fun on my bike is probably what I enjoy the most.

[uforgot]

And---I like to stop, get off, look at something, have something to eat. With me a 60 mile ride can take all day, and that's when it's the most fun.

Oh, me too! I love the organized rides that have a start window of a couple of hours. No one to keep up with, stop and take pictures when I want. I'm not in a hurry and I want to SEE new places, not rush through them.

[ClockworkOrange]

My bike can be my "escape" from the realities of life that get to be to much sometimes. My bike is my friend and therapist.

I still keep a journal of all my rides, but that lets me see how much my confidence has improved over the years.

Being able to just have fun on my bike is probably what I enjoy the most.

That just about sums it up for me too.

I have been riding 8 years and the fun is still there. I have made a part it of my daily life, so long as I can do a minimum of 5 miles per day before work, or better still 10 then I am a very happy bunny. BTW I don't start work until 12.30 lunch time but I still have to try and cram in all the boring housework, shopping etc before I go out.

I enjoy riding alone, deep down it brings out that 'being a child again'..........as I love riding through puddles! :rolleyes:

I keep my daily riding log, very basic but I also have fun doing this, the excitement sometimes when I have not been well and then manage to do a good time for me.

I only make a note of how many miles, time taken, conditions and where I went.

So, one simple answer to Does anyone JUST ride for fun (and some exercise)? Yes.

Clock

[beccaB]

I ride for fun too, but due to the perseverance of my Husband, I found out after doing 2 century rides last year, that I can challenge myself. Because of my speed(or lack there-of) we have always finished last, but it wasn't a race, just a ride. I just wanted to get to the end sooner to eat lots of food!

[surgtech1956]

+1 riding for fun & fitness ++++mental health. I'm slow, usually 11-15 mph, but I don't care. Depends on how I feel, who I'm with, the weather, the wind, it doesn't matter. I would like to get a heart rate monitor.

[pfunk12]

I ride for fun but I think because I am a former college basketball player and a former competitive distance runner, I am always challenging myself on the bike. Although I haven't yet raced on the bike (and I may never race), I am always pushing myself and I guess you could say I compete against myself. I usually average about 18 mph during most rides and I've done some sprints getting up to 25 mph. When I commute to work, I "fly" in the morning trying to get to work on time and I "fly" home in the evening so I can get home to my kids to make them dinner. I should probably back off some day so I can enjoy the scenery!:)

[sundial]

I'm not in a hurry and I want to SEE new places, not rush through them.

And really, isn't that what life's all about? :)