Does Riding Your Bike Still Make You Happy?

This year I am going back to RAGBRAI which means I need to do a lot of miles between now and then so that the week is fun and doesn't kill my spirit. I'll be signing up for centuries, metric centuries, and lots of daily miles to get in shape for the climbs. Sometimes this can feel a little like a grind. For me it boils down to two less-favorable aspects - safety on the road and having to wake up way too early on weekends to do organized rides. 

Safety - I've been riding a lot of country roads which are great but don't always have a shoulder to ride on and sometimes people let their dog off leash and they are let loose to bark and chase. Both of these give me pause when it's time to get on the bike for my ride. 

I learned that I also need to schedule some massages to keep me pain-free on the bike. My bike fit is great but my muscles get sore when I ride a lot of miles.

What are your experiences? Here's an article from Bicycling Magazine, "What It Takes to Be a Super-Happy Cyclist"

http://www.bicycling.com/training/motivation/what-it-takes-be-super...

While it's a bit focused on racing, I think some of the same concepts can apply to other types of cycling e.g. commuting, centuries, etc. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on March 30, 2016 at 7:12am

Yes. In fact, these days I actively go a bit out of my way to make my commute a couple miles longer. :-)

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 30, 2016 at 10:11am

sweet! If I do a few more miles and work harder, I love having my ride end somewhere fun - a pint at the tap room or yesterday, I rode up to a Dairy Queen drive-thru for a cone. :-)

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on April 2, 2016 at 7:40am

In the summer, despite the fact that there are numerous ice cream trucks that go up and down my street (including the infamous Christmas carol one), I'll jump on my bike and pedal four miles into Bridgeport to a place that has great soft-serve chocolate-vanilla swirl cones for $1.50 or so.  What a treat!  Then I did the math and learned that every time I do that, I get a little fatter.  Life is not fair.    

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on April 2, 2016 at 9:19am

A buck 50? At that price, I'd get 2 and double my fat quotient.

A good incentive to ride more, if nothing else.

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on April 3, 2016 at 7:53am

Sadly, I must confess that I've done exactly that a few times.  I am so ashamed.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 30, 2016 at 12:14pm

I am a happy and positive guy to begin with, and  I choose to ride a bike which is simply an extension of my nature. I am happiest when the sun is out. When I pass the Lincoln Park Zoo on my commute I often mutter to myself: I am the luckiest guy in the world to be doing this. Taking photos makes me happy, and I get to do this on my bike.  It makes me happy that I am not wasting money on a car, keeping myself healthy and keeping our planet a little greener. Riding with my Sweetie on Sunday afternoons is pure joy. After 30 years of riding a bike as an adult there are still few things I would rather do than take my flamingo out for a spin.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on March 30, 2016 at 12:21pm

That's wonderful. I look forward to your photos. They are beautiful.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 31, 2016 at 2:57am

What beautifully kind words, George. Thank you. I read this last night to my lady-friend Ann and choked up at the last line. Peace.

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on March 31, 2016 at 6:26pm

Sometimes I just spin a wheel and watch it.  When it's straight and true, and when the brake pads are all aligned and symmetrical and properly adjusted, and when that wheel spins silently and forever because I just worked on it, I'm feeling a certain happy harmony already.  Life is in the little things. 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on April 1, 2016 at 3:15am

A couple days ago I had ridden to work and then to see some folks at a pub on the way home. It was raining  in the evening and some looked at me cross eyed about my choice to ride that day.  It was warm and I rode home in a steady rain wearing shorts and a breathable raincoat. I watched streams of water shooting out from my fenders. A variety of blinking devices let the few drivers on the road know that I was there, still a kid, playing in the rain. I joyfully rode and was dry when I got  home. My concession to adulthood was the text home saying that I was on my way and when I got home a text to a friend from the pub saying that I had successfully arrived. A few people from the pub were bummed as they looked up at the sky and contemplated their venture home. I as giddy.  Yeah, riding my bike still makes me happy.

Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on April 1, 2016 at 10:06am

Heh. Seems like a bike ride is the *only* time I'm happy.

Permalink Reply by john89 on April 1, 2016 at 7:37pm

Calms Your Mind

Boosts Brainpower

Makes You Sexier

Makes You Friendlier

Commit to a Better You

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