Hmm - my major passion has always been rock climbing and mountain hiking. Biking has been one of the ways to keep reasonably fit to be able to go hiking, but I used to find aerobics classes much more fun. Mostly I'd just bike if it was the most convenient way to get around and the weather was nice. For the past 8 years or so I've commuted regularly by bike, a few days a week to begin with, for the past 3 years all year round.

A year and a half ago my brother died very suddenly from a heart attack. Going through the grieving process I rapidly found out that the days I didn't bike I felt terrible, the days I did bike were passable, even a lot better. And it took away the feeling that I'd be next. So I started biking as medication, every day no matter what. Whomping through the woods at high speed is a great form of "grief management"

Once I got used to biking every day it got hard to stop. I'm probably heavily addicted to the endorphins. I love the speed. I'm also addicted to doing something I feel I'm good at. All that commuting has turned me into a "real biker" without my really noticing... So I've been upping my mileage, bought a road bike last summer and am trying road riding proper this year.

I'm 38. Biking a lot has maybe taken off a few pounds. I have trouble eating enough in high-mileage weeks.