[TxCyclist]

Rode as a children like most then picked it up back as a way of commuting, exercise and just pure enjoyment. I rarely drive to work anymore and not dealing with a car and all the trappings of it is great.

[whyeyebike]

When I was a kid it was about transportaton....then I turned 16 and I put the bike down in order to drive the car because thats what adults do; right? When I went to school in Boston, I bought a MTB in order to commute to work and school and also be able to hit the trails. I then became more conscience about my fitness and realized quickly that cycling was my favorite form of excercise. Now I find riding is for fun, excercise, stress management and a way for me to get out and be alone with my thoughts. I find I get a lot of good "thinking" done when I am on a ride. There is a great freedom experienced when you ride a bike, road, mtb, tt, etc....

Ride On!!!!

[CTD50]

Grew up on bikes; my last one as a young adult was a 10-spd Schwinn, fell in love with the rush of riding for a purpose (commuting). Fell out of love with it when the mad rush for the car came over me.

Found the love all over again in my late 30's, and gradually weaned myself away from the car. Now I'm 5 years car-free and loving it!

[wild]

Well my Hart DR said walk or els so I walked 2 miles every day for 4 years then came the spur in my foot the Foot DR said don't walk on the spur. So I took the old bike out and dusted it off rode it for a year, then I realy started liking the ride now I look foward to the ride. New bike 6/25/09 now 960miles 9-24-09

[funetical]

I hate to quote movies but, " I wan't to look good naked."

[mtndoc]

Dad had a bike shop, I was 6, so car keys weren't really an issue... recently I quit running and came back to bikes, a LOT easier on the body, also when you run it sucks goin up hill, but hurts more doing down, on a bike the down part is WAY cool

but like funetical says, it does help the physique, wife likes it

DrB

[bohunker]

In 1997 I did my first Tri - had to bike on the tri, so starting riding a mt bike with slicks. Did a few tris. Trained for a marathon in 1999 found out that I had a hip disease when I was younger (legg-perthes), left leg now 1 inch shorter than right.

Running was out riding was in. Rode a centuron for a few years, until a guy gave me a lemond zurich. Raised money for the leukemia society, did 100 mile ride around Lake Tahoe. - Been hooked ever sense.
Now my two boys (12 and 9) ride with me.
Would rather ride than do just about anything: clears the mind, stress reliever, get to go fast under my own power, meet lots of awesome folks, see things I would never see, etc.

[Roadrunner]

I used to cycle a lot as a kid and cycled on a off ever since. I really got started with the road bike a couple of years ago, trying to get a bit fitter. Recently I've started go get a bit keener. I suffer from depression and it really helps to get out when I'm down. I always feel a lot better by the time I get home.

[boxhill]

Originally Posted by Dean

Rode as a children like most then picked it up back as a way of commuting, exercise and just pure enjoyment. I rarely drive to work anymore and not dealing with a car and all the trappings of it is great.

This about sums it up.

[CycleViking]

I got myself an MTB to commute to work some 6-7 years ago. Then I also re-discovered how FUN it is to ride a bike.
I've always struggled to find motivation to stay healthy before that purchase, but after that it's been easier. I certainly didn't turn athletic overnight, but in small increments. First, I found colleagues and neighbors who wanted to have occasional bike trips, and then a lot of us signed up for a major MTB race in Norway. This called for a more planned cycling schedule.
When my bike (that was a cheap no-name MTB with poor equipment) broke down during this race, I decided to buy a road racer to replace it.
I used this bike mostly for the joy of group- and solo rides, but no races. Last summer, that changed. I was challenged to sign up for a local road race of 210 km from the coast and up in the Norwegian mountains, and I took the challenge. Before this challenge, I would normally take my bike out of the garage around April/May, and have no training done since September. But since this race is at the end of May, I suddenly had to find a way to stay in shape over the winter. So I joined a local cycling club, and followed their schedule for indoor training after season end in 2008.
Suddenly, I came to know a lot of people who shared my passion for everything related to cycling. This made it far easier for me to endure spinning and gym (I have always detested it...).
At the same time, I've come to appreciate the efforts of Pro cyclists even more, because I feel I can somewhat imagine their pain and joy more on a personal level.

So this got me into cycling, but here's what keeping me:
1) I can't imagine any other ways of staying fit that appeals to me
2) I wouldn't have half the number of friends that I have now
3) I can't imagine a better way to enjoy the Norwegian nature
4) I love the combination of team feeling and individuality when racing and training with my club or with my friends
5) I get to know the most obscure little roads in my neighborhood, and not even my wife that - as opposed to me - is born and raised here can find more nice picnic spots
6) I managed to quit smoking due to an urge to become a better cyclist, and I know I'll fall right down to smoking again if I can't be a cyclist

Have to add in the end: Is there really any sounds more beautiful than...
A) The sound of a starting field simultaneously clicking their shoes into their pedals, or
B) The sound of a hundred wheels rolling over the road in 40 km/h?
I don't think so