Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
Experiencing my surroundings at that unique pace: slow enough to see and hear a lot that I might miss on a motorcycle, fast enough to cover more miles and see more places than I'd be able to walk or run. Smelling the smells (flowers, pine, cedar, ocean, loam, and yes the less pleasant smells too), feeling the sun and wind on my skin.

Having a machine that lets me go out and not challenge myself when I don't feel like it, unlike running where I always have to dig deep.
These 2 points summarize it for me.

I'll add that I've been cycling semi-seriously for about 15 years. I started because my BF (now DH) rode a mtn bike and commuted to work so I started. then I injured my hip running and cycling became my alternative after healing a bit. Then I got hooked on triathlon and have been riding hard since.

The other thing I love about cycling is the way it makes my legs look and the strength it gives me to be abel to do other things, including running, without injury.

It's freedom.