Why do you ride?

[EmptyB]

I ride to get away from the Hub!!

Thats why I went riding this arvie......

[BrandonF_]

I ride in anticipation of a free W2W entry (5years now) hint hint wink wink...

[SimpleDom]

Another 94.7 challenge here. We did it as a company and I just can't stop! I used to ride everywhere as a kid, but stopped after going to boarding school for high school. What a dumbass for stopping!

[Wyatt Earp]

That is quite cheesy tbh. 

But is it an issue ?

[Trance Dance]

I ride so that I have something to do on my rest days. I can't jog on the mountain every day as it's too hard on my legs. Mtbing allows me to visit the mountain every day!

[popcorn_skollie]

That is quite cheesy tbh.

we could all do with a little cheese sometimes

[TrackGuy]

I did the whole BMX thing for quite some time, couple of years then I moved on to dirt jumping and through relation to the more "extreme" nature of the sport I started getting into downhill, never had the money for a downhill bike but I loved it, had a friend who did downhill so I was always surrounded by the sport.

Then as time started advancing I stopped with the jumping and started focusing more on drums and advancing myself at what I do today and study, graphic, web and UI/UX design and development which was a big part of my life ever since grade 7, my number one passion.

My liking in bicycles did not fade away, after years of not getting on a bike I decided that I wanted to start the whole working out thing, not working out as in building muscles and stuff, being fit and strong in more of a endurance way. So I got myself a mountain bike and one of my friends ride and he has been at it for a good time so it just worked out quite nicely.

Started riding, just getting on the bike and pushing my limits as far as fatigue goes. Kept on doing this and I like always enjoyed getting on a bicycle. After a couple of months I started noticing a difference in myself, I started getting definition in my nonexistent legs, nothing major us blokes that have the blessing of skinny legs we see you guys with your nice legs and we think to ourselves... That could have been us legs, but no...

Anyway back to the story, I noticed this difference and I liked it, I would like to say got addicted to my personal progression. As time moved on I started to really get into the idea of having a fit body, not a body that says "That guy hits the gym." more like "That guy looks good, he is in shape." and so I took up some casual running and some push-ups, sit-ups, planks etc.

For me, cycling has brought a dimension of discipline into my routine. I am not one of those people who can plan their daily activities based on my studies, I had a hard time with that, but cycling is what enabled me to do so. I know after my ride I relax and get into this zone of pure focus. My body is exhausted now it's time for my brain, that type of thing? And it worked wonders for me, really. My quality of work and time that I invest in my studies, has gone up ever since, amazing who would have thought?

I love cycling, it's a huge all in one kind of deal for me. I love camping, the outdoors and adventuring, mountain biking is close to that and can be accommodated by that. When I speak with people my age (23) and I tell that I cycle here and there (just you know to go and do general stuff, not go on a real "ride") and their reaction is like "that is crazy man", "I would never do that", "wow good stuff man", "I would rather drive" and then it's like a 15km ride, nothing major then I feel good about myself, I think a lot of people can relate to that, not as in ego feel good about yourself, I am sure someone understands what I mean.

I like everything about it, riding on the bike and working on the bike. It's a very big deal for me now, like most people here.

At the end of the day, cycling has helped me with routine and being more physically active which I think is only positive.

TLDR : I like cycling.

A long post I know, excuse The Great Wall of China text.



 

[Guest notmyname]

Definitely not for the eating of oats at sparrows far. Gross, just gross. But as I say that some of the first mouthfuls are going down.

[bullet77]

Going riding now, loving it.

[Lurch the stalker]

I ride because subconsciously I probably have a thing for nurses and I get to meet lots this way....haha

 

Seriously though, nothing gives you freedom like your bike.

And riding offroad anywhere (or on road in this country) you need to be concentrating on that and not thinking about those mundane work issues that should be left in the office.

 

I have been asked many times when I am all banged up after a crash when I am going to quit, and it's always the same...when I die.

[SimpleDom]

Lurch, also being unable to ride at the moment, I'm sure you feel the same.... Nothing tells you how much you love it like the frustration of not being able to do it. Then you know why.

[Bernard Horn]

I ride because the wind blows so much in Cape Town that the surf sucks most of the time.

[Lurch the stalker]

Lurch, also being unable to ride at the moment, I'm sure you feel the same.... Nothing tells you how much you love it like the frustration of not being able to do it. Then you know why.

"Those who do, can't explain; those who don't, can't understand"

[deanbean]

I started running years ago to wean myself from a bad place. Then at varsity I was in a digs with a couple of triathletes and they pursuaded me to start tri's, which i really enjoyed, particuarily the fitness you get from swimming.

After a few years and many marathons and ultras and a few tri's, my knees started giving hassels, and I had moved to the farm, so a skinny wheeled machine wasn't doing it for me anymore. I sold my road bikes and bought an MTB, and I was hooked.

The ability to cover so much ground in a fraction of the time of running (I must have been a trail jogger before it was trendy , but then we called it cross country) hooked me. I've explored the mountains around me, and the Transkei coast. I've been to beautiful places most Saffers would never see, and I love it.

My wife kicks me out of the house if I start gettimg ratty, because cycling and me are inseparable, its a big part of my life, even when I cannot cycle, like now with a fractured wrist.

[deanbean]

Lurch and Dom, been asked the same question, the answer is never, because it keeps me young

[Paul Ruinaard]

I don't actually know cause it hurts when you are old and all your PB's are behind you, plus you are carrying 15kgs extra up the hills grandmothers and children on BMX's pass you. And you know that at any given time over the last 10 years you would have whipped them in minutes.

 

Cycling is a harsh and humbling mistress....

 

But i love it.

 

I was out on the motorbike yesterday afternoon near Avianto riding down a hill that we used to ride up when we did one of the JMBC rides - Pete'z Area. 

 

I could remember sitting the wheel of friends of mine, climbing slower than walking pace and really believing the road up to Kloofzicht will never end.

 

I take comfort from that ride and how far i have come and how much of my life revolves around bicycles and two wheelers. I just feel free and alive when out on a morning like this morning.

 

And in the darker times in my life it has helped me stay sane - did the 2006 Epic with a mate in the middle of a divorce, and i can say that sitting spilling your guts to a mate who had been through similar was very therapeutic.

 

I was down to 92kg from all that riding and lean as a rattlesnake (up to 115kg now).

 

Finally- this morning we went out to the cradle with my wife who for the first time "rode" the bike rather than pedalled it. Like the difference between a run and a jog. It was so amazing to see that transition in someone i have been slowly nurturing. 

 

So now its about getting her in to it. Bought a tandem in November so we can ride together.