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 Paul Lazzaro on April 3, 2016 at 11:48am

I'm still quite happy, but over the years the kind of riding I like most has changed.

Once upon a time I did unsupported touring and loved planning and training for that.  After a few years, I got to like sleeping in a bed.  Then for quite a few years I did organized day rides (Bike the Drive, Boulevard and Lakefront Tour, North Shore Century, etc.).  That was fun, but riding in a crowd got old.  Now what I like best is just to putter around the city on my own, making excuses to go a few extra miles to get a tomato, for example.

One of the great things about cycling is that there are so many ways to enjoy it.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 21, 2016 at 4:10pm

Well riding in the city, every day, 5,6,7,10 hrs a day...not really.too many sh*t heads driving, groups of 4 walking on the 606 oblivious tourists on the LFT.

I still love Critical Mass and group rides but since I work so much ON my bike it's kinda old after 13 years

But on a positive note what other job would you be able to ride next to the beach FOR work besides beach patrol? 

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on May 22, 2016 at 1:07pm

I rode on the 606 today.  It was slow going.  Walkers 4 abreast, kids who couldn't ride in a straight line, etc.  It was great seeing all these people enjoying a beautiful day!  It didn't hurt me one bit to slow down, say "hi", and give everyone time and space to do their thing.  Yes, riding my bike still makes me very, very happy!

Permalink Reply by Maurice on May 23, 2016 at 6:04am

I still love everything about cycling except for inconsiderate Dbags.

Had a lovely commute into work this morning in perfect weather, until I got to the "protected" Washington lane, which was obstructed by the very familiar mail carrier who took extra care to pull up as close to the bus stop as possible so that it was physically impossible to use any portion of the lane on that block.  At the next block, I got right hooked by a white work van who didn't feel like waiting 10 more seconds for the turn arrow.  At the next block, I got right hooked by an armored truck who was attempted to plow through both the bike lane and a crosswalk filled with a dozen pedestrians who were legally crossing the street.

The thing is, I come across these people even when I'm not riding my bike.  The pedestrians were just as victimized by the Dbag driver as I was.  It's not really a unique, negative aspect of cycling.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on May 24, 2016 at 7:00am

My bike was cheating on me so I started taking the train.  

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on May 24, 2016 at 7:33am

wut.

Aaron, Are you able to bike-train sometimes? I miss train beers. That was the best part of the bike-train commute. :-)

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on May 24, 2016 at 7:37am

My commute is now 11+ miles and has just become something I dread.  Dealing with almost being hit, headwinds, monotony vs reading, playing games or surfing the interwebs on the Metra has won out over my bike.

I get my kicks at the gym on the 22nd floor of our building.  The treadmill has taken the place of my saddle.

Its odd how I used to love biking in the city - now I see it as a chore.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on May 24, 2016 at 7:45am

Interesting. My commute from Evanston is 12.5 miles straight down Clark Street to the Loop. I almost never take the shortest route anymore. I ride LFT from Ardmore, then add a "bump out" or two, taking me closer to the lake in two or three places. Those normally bring the commute up to 15 miles or so. If I add an extra little service road near Diversey Harbor, I'm around 16 miles. I actually look for more distance on my commute. If I could add more without simply backtracking (though I've done that as well), I probably would. This morning I tacked on a little pre-ride with a local group north to Winnetka, making the total ride a touch over 29 miles.

To each his (or her) own, I guess.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on May 24, 2016 at 7:52am

Doesnt it get banal after a while?

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on May 24, 2016 at 8:05am

Not in the least. I love both the exercise and the lake. I like saying "hi" to people or waving, stopping to take the occasional picture, working on my pedaling technique. I'm on a computer all day (I'm a software engineer), so it also keeps me off the little glowing screen for the Metra ride. I would find a treadmill boring. :-) I have a Cyclops trainer for use at home (like in the winter), but find riding it for more than 30 minutes or so excruciatingly boring. I just ride outside year-round. I'm taking Friday off to make it a long weekend. My wife and I are going to Michigan. I might ride my bike and meet her up there. If not, I'll toss it on the bike rack so I can ride while we are there.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on May 24, 2016 at 8:30am

My commute is about a mile more than Skip's and I only get to ride about once a week.  I am kicking myself over taking the train, reading the New York  Times on my tablet, sipping coffee and missing the delight of a bike ride today. I would be happy to commute home even if the wind turns and the rain comes but will look longingly out the window of the Union Pacific train at the bikes on the street.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on May 24, 2016 at 8:50am

Hodor

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