[Closed] Would you cycle no matter what?

Yes

If I couldn't do mountain biking, I'd stop entirely I think. I ride for transport too but really only for the bike fitness. But I could change how I mountain bike, if I had to give up the downhill and other harder stuff I could be happy enough rambling around the hills. I'd be back on the motorbike I expect.

Mind you I already shouldn't be doing this sort of riding so apparently I'd need some convincing to stop

Nope, I enjoy bike riding but it's not my 'life' if it became too painful to ride I'd stop

Riding bikes is everything to me ,road ,mtb ,track, touring .I am happy doing any of it

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/mike-trimble-goes-for-a-ride

Watch.

Never competed and never plan to. Whether it's a trial centre, a XC loop either solo or with mates or even play riding with my daughters in the street I'd still ride....If cycling was carcinogenic, I'd still ride...different strokes for different folks I guess 😕

Even if couldn't mtb i'd still ride to work, it wakes me up in the morning and blasts away the stresses on the way home. I've always ridden bikes, never compativley.

I just like riding bikes.

Shattered both my wrists last year. 7 operations, 32 screws, 6 plates, fused right wrist, need wonky bars on all my bikes to hold on properly now. Wrists ache most of the time. Stopping never crossed my mind.

When I stopped racing roadies I stopped riding, I'd had my fill of pulling on the front for the glory queens. It took 14 years to get back on a bike and it took an old team mate visiting for the weekend to bring down one of his spare bikes for me to ride out with him to convince me I could ride without a) competing b) killing myself for others c) dieing 7 deaths on the bike.
I quite enjoyed it 😉

I started riding mountain bikes, then I rode BMX, then I had knee reconstruction, then I rode road bikes and then I rode XC, then I rode Downhill and now I ride "enduro". 😉

if I couldn't do one type of cycling I would have to do another, no matter what.
I would even unicycle.
but not recumbents, but that's not really cycling is it?

I just like riding bikes.

Not really sure. As much as I love riding, it's the 'being out in the woods/hills' that does it for me. So I guess that if I did stop riding, I'd like to think I could/would continue running and walking to continue getting my fix of the outdoors.

Can't imagine life without riding. Racing or fast techy trails excite me, touring or 'just rolling along' chills me out. Busting a gut on my road bike makes me feel good about my fitness.
There are other things in my life that are important too but stopping riding would be very hard to do.

[quote=spacemonkey ]Not really sure. As much as I love riding, it's the 'being out in the woods/hills' that does it for me. So I guess that if I did stop riding, I'd like to think I could/would continue running and walking to continue getting my fix of the outdoors.
Sort of that. Cycling is just one way I enjoy being outdoors. Walking and paddling are just as good. In fact, I still think of myself as a walker first and foremost. It's only really health issues that got me so deeply into cycling. If fitness didn't permit I'd invest in motorcycling again.

Yep. I want to be the old duffer in his 80s who rides to the newsagents and the pub every day to keep him going. I have a feeling I will always want to ride as fast as I can, but as that isn't very fast now, I think I'll adjust alright to the aging process.

I can see an end to my off-road riding but I sincerely hope I'll always be able to swing a leg over/through a bike/trike/recumbent for a gentle pootle along country lanes

As long as I can ride some sort of bike i'll keep at it.

To be honest, I've kinda given up xc riding anyway, and that has been replaced by trail running. Now, my mtbing is pretty exclusively DH, because I enjoy it. If I couldn't do that any more, I'd struggle to find something to fill it's place as nothing else I do gives me the same feeling. I do road ride as well, and would probably do it more, but it is a totally different feeling..

Ultimately, I'd cope. I have other interests I'd probably persue more: I might actually become good at playing the guitar, or photography.

Edit: I would still have to do something outdoorsy, though. Not sure what.

Only ride Mtb no interest in fighting with traffic so would go back to other hill / climbing type stuff and do more,windsurfing.

@ton quite a few sportsmen stop when they stop competing, I've spoken to a few who've explained their reasoning.

Personally I'd think that I'd keep riding offload as long as I can. When I injured my knee it was one of the main activities I told the doctor I wanted to be able to do. My neighbour was still riding his bike into late 80's (we all thought he should stop as he wasn't exactly speedy and we were convinced he'd get knocked off but he never did.

"no matter what" is quite broad though.

Personally I struggle to derive any enjoyment by simply being on a bike I cant ride towpaths or fire roads or round fields or ride miles and miles and miles just for the sake of it I have to have a steady stream of challenges to keep my mind occupied.

On the occasions when I've had to ride something dull the thought always creeps into my mind that I would pack it in if it was all like that.

Hobbies come and go. Biking is always around. Its more a lifestyle than a hobby.

To be fair, it sounds as though the majority of replies are from folk that don't have health issues.

I've had rubbish health for four years, there's been a few times where I've stopped riding for a couple of months. Many a time I've bawled my eyes out on the bike due to not being able to do what I used to do.

Thing is, the landscape feeds my soul but I need a bike to reach it!

How's it going with you ton?

I'd say I would but then I said the same about kayaking as I used to own several boats, paddle for fun and compete in all disciplines. Haven't paddled properly in years. Occasionally dabble on holiday. So yes I could see me stopping although at the minute I'm not sure what would.

cinnamon_girl - Member
...Thing is, the landscape feeds my soul but I need a bike to reach it!...

Brilliant description of why I ride, but I could never put it as well.

(I can now, though 🙂 )

I'll ride anything, but don't have a bike at the moment.
Until one of the pseudo-socialists on here will lend me a bike, I'll be a pedestrian.
Footflaps, I'm looking to you...

the landscape feeds my soul

😀

cinnamon_girl - Member
The landscape feeds my soul but I need a bike to reach it!

Quote of the year {decade}

if I couldn't do one type of cycling I would have to do another, no matter what.
I would even unicycle.

You stole my line - and a potential solution for mattbibbings right there. For those who need a challenge then there's always a challenge on a uni.

I used to ride to race - the only reason I ever got a mountain bike in the first place was because I needed one for a race I wanted to do. Riding a unicycle has eased my transition into being a more recreational rider (though ironically my attempts to get more sociable have led to me joining a very race oriented club!)

I've been at the cutting edge of every cycling fad, & long may this continue.

To bike is to live.

I would ride whatever and whenever, health notwithstanding. Sport, recreation, fitness, transport, fun. I would have no compunction in using a trike, electric assistance, handcycle, anything really. WWSD?#

[url= http://sheldonbrown.com/org//ms.html ]What would Sheldon do[/url]?

I am 40 and ride OK..some stuff I ride great but some ....
I have older friends that ride. One in particular comes to mind. He is super fit for his age and great at techie riding but also loves bikes be it road or xc or all Mountain. If I'm him 30 years from now then wow! But.... The biggest thing that keeps him going? Bike? Hills? Fresh air? Or friends? I'd ride with G even if it took all day to go to the end of the street and back. If others will do the same for me then I'd ride until I drop.

trail_rat - Member
Hobbies come and go. Biking is always around. Its more a lifestyle than a hobby.

This...

I've rode BMX, jump bikes, downhill bikes, freeride bikes, I currently ride mainly XC trails and the odd bit of dirt jumping and downhill. I don't drive and I ride to work on my road bike 6 days a week. On my day off I go out for a ride... I probably ride at least 360 days of the year.

I quite frequently have different cravings for different kinds of riding, but as long as it has 2 wheels, it just feels natural to me.

Personally, walking almost doesn't seem natural anymore!

Not riding at the moment - haven't ridden for a month after rupturing my bicep tendon.

Had found my mojo too - missed riding for a couple of weeks, then it starts to fade a bit. Still itching to get out there a bit, but I can cope. If I couldn't ride mtb, I doubt I'd bother at all.

maybe, I used to think of climbing as something I would always do just fell out of love with it or drifted away.

I have always cycled and (hopefully) always will. I was stricken down with an illness earlier this year and my wife said afterwards she dreaded to think what I would have been like if they had told me I could never cycle again!

I've been riding since the early 90s.
Raced xc and dh but was shit at both.
3 years ago I suffered a major breakdown.
I got diagnosed with ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder.
I haven't been on a bike since as a switch in my head turned onto no bikes. I would do anything in the world to be able to just jump on a bike snd go for a spin.
the medication I take has made me gain weight and since I was diagnosed I have gained 4 stone.
It's a vicious circle that I'm currently trying to sort out with therapy.

Yes, I would/do. Surgeon warned me 'not to fall off' though 🙂
I have pain in my knee (last dog broke my kneecap) hurts when I ride but I just ignore it.
Cycling is fundamental to my mental and physical health - financial health too, I ride or part-ride to work.
Brilliant quote C_G, hope things are not too bad with you x

Yes. I love all riding. Two wheels good.

A few years ago, I was bikeless for a few months. It drove me insane and a friend lent me thier roadbike and it was great. Mountain bikes will always be my passion but honestly, anything with two wheels and pedals is wonderful. I frequently enjoy my commute as much as a mediocre off road jaunt.

I'm also ridiculously competitive, be it an unofficial race with another commuter, out-accelerating cars before the next lights or with mates on singletrack. I'd ride without racing, but life is about competition 🙂

Live to ride.
Ride to live.
Do or die.
Aces high.

How's it going with you ton?

CG, i am fantastic at present love, although waiting for another date for hospital.
regarding my riding, i have been doing the kind of riding that i 1st started doing, which is day/weekend tours, and i am doing this with my wife, who has taken to it like a duck to water.

i reckon some of us are just born to ride, no matter what.....oh, and i think i might get a t shirt printed with your quote. 8)

I'd always want to ride. I started after years off to lose weight again. After doing that (10 stone off) I wanted to do a bit of competition for motivation.

I'll always want to ride.

'This is my Church, this is how i heal my hurts...'
To paraphrase Maxi Jazz.

Have been on an enforced break since July due to injury.

Quickly realised I had to get a turbo trainer or I'd go mental.

Able to ride on road again now, and I can see that the riding is the main thing - road, xc, dh etc is secondary.

I do events of various sorts but they are just an excuse to get out on the bike, to different areas I wouldn't ordinarily visit. It really is just about being out there on the bike, MTB ,road, whatever. If I was really desperate I would ride SS.
My wife just doesn't understand, she keeps telling me I ought to get a hobby! That I waste my time messing about with bikes! More particularly she resents every penny I spend on bikes .
Like most of us, if I couldn't get out on a bike I would be completely lost and I don' t care to think about the time rapidly approaching when it will become physically v. difficult to ride anything. My heart goes out to those of us who have the sorts of problems we have heard about in these posts which prevent them from riding. We riders should all be very grateful for what we have.

back in the day, i was a Junior/senior/Master Dh racer, i was crap, but raced anyway, I even managed to finish not-last once or twice.

now, i'm still crap, but i've become a coward, and i'm skint, so i don't/can't race anymore.

I pootled along the Monsal trail last weekend, it was bloody great! (did a wheelie)

Yes in some form or another although life seems to be getting in the way at the moment! Guess that's just because riding isn't as high a priority to me at the moment as it was 12-18 months ago.

Do I ever see a time when I never own and use a bike? No 🙂

Absolutely keep biking. The nature of it will change but it preserves what's left of my hips and knees after years of fell running. Couldn't do without it and its also something the whole family enjoys doing.

Already done similar with canoeing. Got too injured to keep at slalom years ago so just sea touring now.

jwt - Member
'This is my Church, this is how i heal my hurts...'
To paraphrase Maxi Jazz.

Amen 😛

I think I will ride until I can't ride .why would you ever not, and you're a good example of overcoming whatever obstacles life throws at you , adapt and survive.If I'm doddering along a tow-patch in my dotage I don't care , its all good

I'd always try and ride no matter what.

When I first started Mtbing I used to love the old Orange adverts with that old chap that resembled a slim Santa. I used to think when I'm old I want to be like that. Still do.

I dunno, I could probably see it being reduced to a combination of commuting/fitness and occasional trips rather than a sport/hobby once family comitments take over. I quite fancy getting back into Sailing, mainly becuse 2nd hand boats are cheaper and longer lasting than bikes!

Gem18 - £3k with a trailer, even if you were racing and spaffed £1k on new sails each year, £500 on storage and launching, etc. That's probably still less than I spend on bikes, and the boat's had the same (appreciating with inflation) value since the 70's so is an asset, not a liability!

For me riding bikes is an itch I can never properly scratch - I want to be riding MTB for as long as I possibly can and bikes in general til I die 🙂

Love riding my bikes, but it's not the main thing I do. Would get bored of it if my life completely revolved around the bikes. Lots of other stuff I like doing too.

I guess there will come a day when I'll be in a bathchair and not riding but hope its a long way off. I moved to london three/four years ago and the mountains around here arent exactly handy so now i still ride and get my fix as transport and cross to mix it up with the odd treat of a day trip to hills. Nope not going to stop anytime soon.

I have considered having to give up riding recently due to my ankle injury. Not knowing what I would replace it with is one of the things that stopped me giving up. I love being out on the MTB, I prefer DHs even tho I'm not particularly fast they just make me feel good. My ankle hurting has seriously impacted on how I feel during/after a DH section and how I ride my bike.

I have considered Enduro Motorcycling but I very much doubt that will have any less of an impact on my ankle. It is something I definitely want to try in the next 10 years, I need my license first tho.

As age takes it's tool on my auld body the day will come when I just have to stop. Had to finally concede that squash was no good for my knees, back etc recently and for the same reasons biking looks like it may be on borrowed time 🙄

Work to Live.
Live to ride.
Ride to Work.

I've been cycling on and off for the last 30 yrs, chiefly commuting on cheap BSO's etc. Took up MTB'ing around 1998 and thought that would be all i would ever be interested in. 3yrs ago bought a Boardman Hybrid ostensibly for commuting but started using it for general road riding with friends.
Fast forward 3yrs and i've got a singlespeed road bike for commuting, the Boardman has been demoted to winter bike/pootling bike and i've recently bought a carbon proper road bike. Not ridden either of my full suss MTB's for around six weeks as i'm too busy enjoying the new road bike, but i'm sure i'll be reaching for one of them before too long.
Over the last 15yrs cycling has grown from being something i did to get to work and occasionally did at weekends, to being the main activity/hobby in my life. I ride to work every day, try to get out two evenings midweek and weekends. I'll give up an offer of drinks so that i can ride in the morning.
It's kept me sane and kept my SAD at bay, i'll ride as long as i'm physically capable. Might not be MTB'ing, might not be lycra-clad 100-milers etc but somehow i'll ride.