What got you into biking?

[Aggie_Ama]

My neurologist wanted me to be on Topamax forever, it suppresses migraines. But it made me into an idiot (uh, dopamax). It curbs appetite, so I never ate. It kept my heart rate at 155 max, so exercising became a go till I passed out process. UGH. I finally decided that I would stay on the aspirin, lose the Topamax...I would rather risk it.

Cycling became my out. I would pedal, stop, pedal, stop. Thank goodness for it!

Topamax is evil. I felt tingly when they put me on it for my tremors and go paranoid that maybe I was actually having tremors because I had MS. Then my neurologist assured me when I got off the Topamx I would feel alright.

[Grits]

7 years ago a friend invited me to go on a Woman Tours ride of the NC Outer Banks. I did a lot of riding to prepare for that (on a WAY too big mountain bike, LOL). I bought the Terry Classic I rode on the tour, but still didn't ride much at home except to train for the other tour I went on a couple of years later.

Last summer I joined a group of friends who have started riding, got a new road bike after about a month, and have been riding ever since. I rode a little over 1500 miles in my first year. We have added more riders to the group now, including a few guys, and we ride 4 times a week and are preparing for various charity rides and tours between us. I love it, although I am still on my quest for the perfect saddle.

[nolemom]

Lakerider, I kept thinking that my mileage was too high. Figured it out this morning when I let a friend borrow my older bike this morning. The computer was set on kilometers. So......my revised total is 7781. My DH kept telling me something wasn't adding up right with my numbers. I'm still very happy with the mileage, but at least now it is honest.

[pfunk12]

I was a serious competitive runner for years. I developed back issues that got worse over time. I had an MRI last July that scared me enough to make the sad (smart) decision to stop running. I started cycling full-time last summer. It keeps me healthy, happy and sane.

[sfa]

I'm on my third go-around with cycling. First was when I was a kid and pretty much rode my bike everywhere. Second was when I was right out of college and spent a year touring Europe by bike. That decision was made almost on a whim--I was applying for grant funding to pursue an individual project. My project was recreating the travels of a 15th century female pilgrim who, at the age of 40, up and left her husband and 15 kids and spent a large portion of the rest of her life on pilgrimage. She did it mostly on donkey/horse, so I figured a bicycle was the 20th century equivalent, so I threw that into the grant proposal. Once I was awarded the grant I then had to figure out exactly what was involved in touring by bike! This was long before the wonders of the internet made research like that easy--I pretty much figured most things out on my own as I went along. I came back from that year and kept cycling a bit, but not in any serious way, and then I fell into the adult black hole of job/kids/house responsibilities and stopped cycling altogether for years. Last year I pulled my old touring bike out of storage and got it in working order again so that I could commute to work and ride just for fun, which is still mostly what I do, although I was talked into signing up for a triathlon, so I'm doing that too. I'm not much enjoying the training though, so I doubt I'll sign up for another one after this one is over. I don't like being on my bike and thinking "gotta push harder" when I'm passing beautiful scenery! I'm still a tourist at heart.

Sarah

[lo123]

I got into cycling almost exactly 4 months ago. So, I'm a major newbie.

I've had psoriatic arthrits (similar to rheumatoid) for about 10 years now, and I let my activity level go way down from being a high school and college athlete to doing nothing. Between 2004 and 2008, I was massively flared up and could hardly get around. I needed a cane pretty frequently to be able to walk more than a very short distance. I started doing water aerobics in 2007, and my instructor persuaded my to try her spin class. By September 2008, I didn't need my cane any more and my range of motion in my worst joints was significantly better. I was able to decrease my prednisone (HUGE win), and I felt the best I had in years.
I really liked spin and what was going on with my body and got my hubby into the class and he loved it as well. We decided if we liked spin that much, how much better would it be outside on a real bike? So, in March we both got Specialized TriCross bikes so we could ride on the road and on trails near our house. On June 6, I did a 75 mile charity ride and averaged 17 mph over the ride time. I'm riding between 60 and 90 miles a week now and itching to get a real road bike. I'm officially hooked.

[Norse]

I spent a lot of time on my bike as a kid but then kind of let it go and did more running. In my early 20's I had knee surgery and the doc told me "No more running." He suggested walking/hiking, swimming or biking instead. I did a fair amount of walking and hiking but not anything with biking until I was studing for the bar exam and needed more exercise and a better stress outlet. Went and bought a Trek mountain bike and rode that thing all over (anything to avoid studying ).

Met DP and her dad was into charity rides. We did our first MS-150 with him. I, on my mountain bike. The pain! After that, bought a hybrid which I got much use out of for a few years and then of course, I wanted to go faster and I was more involved in biking so, I bought my 1st road bike. I still have the hybrid plus a third bike (mountain bike was sold to my brother) and I ride all the time now. I just love it!

[MM_QFC!]

Like others who've already posted, I rode my bike all over as a kid, but only did some infrequent and very recreational riding - went with friends on the local trail out to the brewpub, then asked how we were getting the bikes home!
AIDS took my brother's life in 1995 and in 1997, I heard about, then volunteered to help on a fundraising ride for AIDS community service organizations in the Northwest. It was about 4 months before the ride: a 4-day, 50 miles a day ride from Vancouver, B.C. back to Seattle (those of you in the area may guess that it was NOT a straight, flat route!) and I rolled my heavy hybrid out of my garage and pedaled around my neighborhood. I surprised myself by even entertaining thoughts of riding it, but kept thinking about it and made the decision as a way to honor my brother's life and legacy in a unique and significant way.
Cut to 2009 and I've been riding for the same reason ever since:to end AIDS in our world. Over 25k miles and more importantly, $110k raised so that someday soon, we can end this pandemic.
Last year, for the first time I was grounded (injured by a car) and, while I couldn't ride, I could still help out, so I drove a support vehicle across NY state all week.
This year, I'm back in the saddle again, training to ride from NYC - DC in September.
Tailwinds!
Mary

[anabanana]

Well, I've always loved bike riding!

As a child growing up in a small town in Florida, I used to ride to school, the beach and to my friends' house. It was how I got around. I always loved it and was never afraid of traffic. Once I got married, my husband and I got bikes and would ride around first alone and then with the kids. When we moved to Georgia, we started mountain biking. I didn't do it all the time though. In the meantime, my husband began mountain biking with some friends and did a few races. He was seriously into it now. He always wanted me to do it with him. I finally got into cycling (seriously) last year. I got my first road bike for my birthday in 2007 but rode maybe once a week. Then last November I started Weight Watchers because I had gained a lot of weight. So I decided what a great way to exercise than to do something I really love and I can do it with my husband! I got a new mountain bike this April... it's absolutely beautiful. And for mother's day my husband upgraded my road bike... it's also beautiful. Yes... he spoils me when it comes to anything having to do with cycling. I ride 4 to 5 times a week. I'm in great shape now and have lost over 40 lbs.

I did my first group ride yesterday (the Hospitality Highway Century in Atlanta, GA). I've always been scared to ride with a bunch of people. I loved it! I did 61 miles and felt great.

I know I'll be 70 years old and riding along side my husband.
It's a great way to spend quality time together. It also keeps me in shape and healthy.

[skhill]

My one year anniversary of starting to ride again was this last weekend, too! I pulled out my old piece o'crap bike from a big-box store, and started down the road. At the time, I had been doing as much of my life on foot as I could, for exercise and to save on gas, and I saw the bike as a way to speed up my trips and extend the car-free range. Then I realized how fun it is....

Now I have 2 bikes, I routinely ride more miles in a week than I drive, and I've dropped almost 20 more pounds and I'm in the best shape of my life... And on top of that, it's absolutely liberating to get around town under my own power. I've also gotten to know (and love) my neighborhood and city and the surrounding rural areas better than ever.

On the downside, now I'm known at church as the crazy bike lady. Just because I turned up at a MLK event with panniers full of home-baked desserts on a morning with a negative wind chill.... Why not?

[kenyonchris]

Topamax is evil. I felt tingly when they put me on it for my tremors and go paranoid that maybe I was actually having tremors because I had MS. Then my neurologist assured me when I got off the Topamx I would feel alright.

It IS evil. It made me, literally, stupid. Apparently it affects the language part of the brain. Suddenly, I couldn't write or spell...and I am a creative writing major! And yes, I was very tingly too until I got used to it...I was on 50 mg a day. I was scared to stop it because of the stroke (it seemed like the lesser of two evils) but finally decided I would rather live one good day than five Topamax ones. And I wanted back on the bike.