Velo News Rip Off... Why I love to ride my bike.

here are some early responses:

"ummm, endorphins, and beer! Addicted to both."

-Mike CZ, FSVS all around strong man

"The reason I ride is quite simply, it makes me feel fast and young again, every time. Even on a bad day I find that what I do on a bike is something no one at my firehouse could ever hope to do. Whether it be the Mtn bike or the road bike the sense of exploration and adventure is still there, 15 years since I started. That’s why I ride a bike, and also so I can eat ho ho's any time I want in season. "

- Bill Trautman, Wooden Wheels Racer

"So I can drink more beer!"

-Bill Breslin, D20 BAR

" Simply:
Riding helps to keep me from doing the things I shouldn't do. Ya have to be healthy to ride/race"

-Dennis Smith, FSVS, super photog, one of my heros

"well i don't 'zactly know if this is a good or bad reason, but after spending an hour and a half trudging around fairhill on snowshoes today, i realized what a great fat beast i would be if i had to rely on exercise rather than riding to stay in shape"

- Fuzzy, MASS Champion, Mountain Bike God Father, one of my heros

"September 2005 will mark 20 years of riding for me and I can't imagine lifewithout it. It's not exercise. It's not about getting a workout. It'ssomething that feels good. The possibilities are endless, the sky's thelimit. And it boggles my mind the things I've accomplished. Someday I mightconsider getting serious...but probably not.Life is good!"

-Nancy Waddell, FSVS, Queen B, National Champion

" LOVE:

The feeling of good pain, the type that only makes you stronger.
Crash and Burn stories shared among friends
Coming back from an epic 45 miles of high desert singletrack to a cooler of beer and a sunset.
The feeling of entering a barrier section and flowing through it like an olympic hurdler. (I don't feel this one very often, actually I've only felt it once)
Riding singletrack with friends while it's snowing.
Justifying the enormous amount of money spent on my addiction.
The feeling of a cleaning that humbling technical section for the first time.
The anticipation of lining up at the start.
Going for the whole-shot and getting it
Railing a corner on a road bike at 30mph
Descending an eleven mile descent at 62mph
Comparing caloric intakes and resting heartrates.
Shaving my legs and wearing shorts.
Going to the World Championships last year in Hamilton,Canada and realizing that I was among 800,000 other people who share the same enthusiasm that I do for this great sport.
Climbing.
Climbing on a group ride and listening to people pant, then dropping to a smaller cog in the rear. (I know it's a little cocky, but man is it fun)
The feeling of riding a that new bike that is perfectly dialed in.
Fixing peoples mechanicals during a ride.
The image of the light train which occurs when you get to watch your riding buddies flow down a section of singletrack at night.
The feeling of making a great recovery from that almost ride ending wipeout.
Riding new trails.
Finding new roads.
24hour races(everything about them)
The adrenaline rush felt when racing against the clock during a Time Trial.
Sprinting for the finish line.
Feeling like a chased rabbit during a solo break-away.
Winning a race on a solo break-away.
Finding that forgotten 5 dollar bill in your saddle bag in front of a WaWa, 45 miles from home.
Knowing that I have burned more calories before 10AM than most people burn in a week.
Camping out at the end of road18 in Fruita,Co.
Post-ride LaTolteca.
and finally,
The feeling of being part of a brotherhood, road or mountain, black or white, fat or thin, baggy or spandex, shaved leg or carpet leg, 1 speed or 27, huckster or weight-weanie, we all partake in this great sport for 1 reason......we love to ride."

-Dan "the man" Wilson, Beans, Secret Henry's Team, Bad Ass MoFo

" I guess the best way to describe why I ride is toenjoy the outdoors. I grew up hunting and fishingwith my family. As the years went on and my life gotbusy with a family, my time became very valuable tome. I found that I can use cycling (road or mtb) toget out year round and stay in (or get in) shape aswell as see the wonderful outdoors. There have beentimes that I have used my mountain bike to get tohunting areas or fishing areas, however, most of thetime I'm out with my friends or family. As far asracing goes, when I get up to the starting line, theonly person I'm really racing against is myself. Ienter the races to keep myself in shape andaccountable for health.(gotta keep up with the kids!) If I happen to pass some people, preferably my friends, along the way, that's even better! "

- Trevor Miller, Single Speeder

"I ride my bikes so I can drink delicious malty and hopped charged beverages while maintaining my girlish figure....."

-Chris Allen, rider

"Because my wife doesn't."

-anonymous