Why I ride

[PAP103]

I am in training for the Pan Mass Challenge. I have a beautiful new bike and proper cycling clothes. I ride with wonderful people and a great club. I ride regularly building up my speed and miles. Faster, faster! more miles, more miles! I started training in February at the gym and finally got outside for rides in April. Its all great!!

So, why do I hate it? Not long ago, I couldn't wait to get out on my bike. Why is it that now I have to drag myself out the door with little motivation?

Last night I went out for a ride by myself in my own town. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country - New England. My ride follows the coastline along sandy beaches and rocky shores. I stopped at the lighthouse for a short break and enjoyed the sight of the harbor sparkling in the sunshine and the cool breeze on my face. I could smell the salt air and hear the gulls screeching on the beach. Then I got back on my bike and headed around the back shore where the waves crash over the rocks and the ocean goes on forever. I rode slow to take in the scenery and found myself smiling at joggers and walkers with their dogs. Everything seemed to have a new perspective. I rode on up the hill and around to stop again at Good Harbor Beach. I sat by the bridge and watched kids swimming in the creek, dogs frollicking along the sand and couples walking hand in hand at the edge of the water. The sun was starting to set so I headed back along the backshore enjoying that famous ocean view from the opposite direction. The wind was in my face and I was loving it. I stopped again (yes 3 times!) at Niles Beach and enjoyed a long cool drink and a small snack. I spoke to the mothers and their children as the walked past me toward the water. I watched at the sun slowly turned to orange and lowered itself toward the horizon - this was my cue to head home. I rode only 15 miles and enjoyed every one of them. Now I remember why I ride.

I had been so caught up in training that cycling became more miles, faster and faster. The only scenery I saw was the rider in front of me and my only thrill was being able to keep up.

So, slow down a bit and enjoy your ride. Its OK to stop 3 times on a 15 mile ride. Its OK to ride slow and take in the scenery!

God grant me the serenity to accept the gifts that you have given me and the presence of mind to enjoy them.

Happy riding to you all,
Patty

[mimitabby]

Nice post.

[bouncybouncy]

Thank You

[Grog]

Thanks for this charming reminder...

[pooks]

This is actually why I want to ride!

The idea of races and long distances doesn't do anything for me. But the idea of touring on vacation, of taking beautiful rides, does.

I guess it's the story of my life, though. I hate "walking for exercise" since I get antsy about seeing the same scenery all the time, get hot and tired and just want to take a shortcut home. But get me on a hiking trail and I can go for hours!

Thanks for the great post. You're lucky to live in such a place.

[Veronica]

Great post! I was reading it to Thom and he replied, "Remember this on your tour."

I'm always trying to limit my time at rest stops. I need to be out of that mindset for the next three weeks.

V.

[Trek420]

Thanks for the reminder, well put, well said. I needed that

I was just thinking about this on the walk (yeah, I walked) to work with all the different motivations, spiritual, physical, goals, feeling better, getting stronger...are most of us tree-huggy people?

Concern for the enviornment is part of why I ride but mostly just a happy accident, there's all this other stuff: meeting people, feeling better and the great cycling community (including TE).

Gotta get to work so don't have time to phrase the question more articulately than that but good thread...why do we ride?

[Veronica]

...why do we ride?

Mostly because it's fun. I just like the feeling of being on a bike. That's why I commute to work - now that I have a trailer, I can even haul some of my big stuff to work. Fewer driving days. Yippeee!!!

I like that I can eat what I want and still stay a healthy weight. I can see, feel, smell so much more on the bike. Most of it good.

Fast is fun!

I like the challenge of training for longer, harder rides. It suits my goal oriented, competitive nature, without turning me into too much of a nut. Although I keep bringing up PBP.

But really... because it's fun.

V.

[Trek420]

did we mention it's fun?

[jobob]

Although I keep bringing up PBP

Excellent !!! I'll stand by the side of the road and hand you a crossaint as you whiz by.

jo looking for an excuse to go to France, this is good as any and better than most bob

[Denise223]

Hi Patty!

It is beautiful out here in New England... I agree .

Thank you for your post.

Pooks, I agree with you too -- regarding the "breeze"... During our rides last week (when it was hot & muggy), it was lovely feeling the wind. It was soooooo much cooler than if we had been walking, that's for sure !!

It IS fun

Denise

[Bike Goddess]

I started riding 3 years ago and did most of my longer rides with my local bike club. I wasn't confident that I could be alone and fix a flat, etc. Most of the riders were faster than I was, and I always felt I needed to pick up the pace. Sometimes that was fine, other times it wasn't.

This past fall (2005) I decided that I really enjoyed doing metric centuries for my twice weekly long rides. Turned out no one else in my club wanted to do that distance with me. They just wanted to do the regular ride of the day. Now, if I don't see them on the route, it's no problem. I always travel on roads where other cyclists are likely to be so that if something does happen, help is close by. I can go at my own pace, stop anywhere I wish, and enjoy the scenery. This has made my cycling experience much richer for me. I still enjoy being with a group on a ride, however at times it's hard to change my modus operandi in those situations.

I think all of us at some point find a way to make cycling enjoyable. I know that it helps for me to have long term goals as there are days when my mind isn't interested in doing anything ("thank you for sharing- we are going out anyway"!). It also helps to have forums like this one as it keeps me engaged in the conversation as well as affords a place for me to meet and ride with other like minded souls.

[DrBee]

Great post Patty! You summed it up perfectly! Sometimes we need a reminder that it's not just about going faster and training training training. I'll try to think about your post on my next ride.

I ride because I love the feeling of the breeze, the speed, feeling like I'm doing something for myself, and so that I can eat what I want. I love the comraderie that we have here on TE. And - little benefits like when I was in a gas station restroom yesterday (we're travelling) and walked past a full length mirror and saw more muscles than jiggle in my legs

[pyxichick]

I love riding with other people because it feels powerful to be in a group working toward the same goal. (And I can go faster.)

I love riding by myself because I can explore areas of my city that I've never seen before. On my last ride I found a little cafe about two miles from my house, hidden in a residential pocket on a street that I would've never gone down in a car.

[Lise]

I ride because I've never felt so strong, powerful, and free as I do on a bike. It's the closest I can come to that childhood dream of flight.

I also like the power of not depending on my car. Of zipping in and out, getting there before the cars do, "parking" right in front of wherever I'm going, and never worrying about feeding the meter or parking tickets.