So, why do you ride?(merged)

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by KJ7862, Mar 6, 2009.

  1. davidB

    davidB Active Member

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    So I can eat.
     
  2. commplex

    commplex SSuper SSlacker

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    I like the sound of my heart pounding in my head while I mash uphill on my SSpeed. Then I like to go home and eat.. alot.
     
  3. Margaritaman

    Margaritaman It's just tequila...

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    Endorphins! Otherwise I can get pretty cranky.
     
  4. Rockinthecasbah

    Rockinthecasbah A.D.D. Unleased

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    I like to explore . I like to jump .
     
  5. autoduel

    autoduel sandbagger

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    It makes the work week more bearable just knowing I'm going on a ride with family and friends when Saturday arrives.:wave:
    I like challenging trails as much as cruising around with the family.
    Each has it's own rewards.
     
  6. surfzombo13

    surfzombo13 King of Kooks

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    I ride because I like bikes. As soon as I turn the pedals a few times my head seems to clear. I become more aware of my body and what it is doing.

    I recently read the book "Heft on Wheels" by Mike Magnusson, which is about his journey going from a 280lb., smoking and drinking "lummox" (his word) to a slim hard riding 170lber., which has motivated me even further to go harder than I usually do. So, a few weeks ago I started a riding/diet/no smoking/drinking regimen. It was really hard at first. My first ride the day after I quit smoking was f***ing hard. I couldn't go as hard as I did before I quit. But I've stuck with it and I've gotten faster (by my standards) and my stamina has been upped. I even lost around 12-13lbs (from 230). I've bought a Garmin 305 and that has been just awesome. That motivates me to go further than I would have before. I can see and keep track of my progression now!!! So, interestingly enough, I now don't just ride for the enjoyment, but for my fitness. And I feel great!!!

    Oh ya, buying an '08 Stumpy FSR Expert a couple months ago doesn't hurt in making things more fun either.

    Now, I'm off to Turnbull. See ya on the trails!!!!

    :wave:
     
  7. Punk Sanders

    Punk Sanders Member

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    Instant gratification. Clearing a hill I didn't make last ride, adding more miles, riding a new trail, meeting other riders. Mtn biking rocks. :beer:
     
  8. Dusty

    Dusty New Member

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    ... because I feel like a 10 yr old when I ride

    ... because I love the outdoors and remote trails

    ... because it is a blast

    ... because it was taken away and now I have it back

    ... because I can
     
  9. Stray_Bullit

    Stray_Bullit The sustain..listen to it

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    A few reasons...when I am riding, nothing else is on my mind. No bills, no wife, no kids, no pets, no job, no nothing. All I can think about is riding. I do not climb. I gave that up a few years back. I don't ride for fitness, I ride for the rush. I love the feeling of being in the air. That feeling is so amazing. I am an old guy, people my age usually don't ride the way I do. I am almost always the oldest guy riding in the group. It's nice to know that I can hold my own (usually) with people half of my age.

    I love to jump. I love the challenge of it. The commitment. The all or nothing aspect of it. When people ask me why I ride I tell them this; You know that feeling you get when you ride a rollercoaster? I MAKE myself have that feeling every time I ride! I make it happen. Nothing compares to hitting a jump that I have been thinking about for three weeks.

    When I finally hit the ravine gap @ Kenter, it was a glorious moment for me. When I first started riding in '95 or so I looked at that and thought that I could never, ever do anything that crazy. It took me a while but I did it! That is a feeling that money can't buy.

    I've also met some of the best people ever riding. I've made lifelong friends and I even have two surrogate sons now because of biking. Seems as though that people who ride are just the best, down to earth folks that I want to associate myself with.

    Whistler was another story in its self. Riding up that chairlift the first time, I felt like I was in a movie that I have seen hundreds of times. Hitting the jumps and berms and drops there was something that I think of often. So surreal.

    I ride for the rush, not fitness.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. 1080P

    1080P Banned

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    All of the above, but nothing relieves stress like riding technical single track and focusing on the right here and right now... just what is is front of you is the only thing that matters, nothing else.
    I also enjoy the buzz that I get from doing a good strenuous climb, the sting of sweat in my eyes, the taste of a margarita on my lips, and the pleasure of a nice hot shower after an epic day of riding.

    Then there's doing a camping trip and riding with fellow STR folks, and the signature material that gets passed around the campfire, and riding with like minded people.
     
  11. afgenkuong

    afgenkuong Guest

    I like the ride a lot because, just like many of you, I can vent my stresses and completely forget about everything. You go out there alone, or with your friends, and you just completely let go and have fun! Also, it's a great way to keep in shape while having fun. A lot of sports out there are very repetitive: football, soccer, tennis, you name it. All of it has the same old court, with the same racket. With mountain bikes, you can take it anywhere, push your self to the limits. You aren't confined to white lines on the ground. Also, theres the pride aspect of mountain biking. You can be faster, ride trails better than others, have a better bike. Whatever, you always are competing to be better than someone! (If you are a hardcore junkie like me). You can always tinker with your bike, change it up, try out new parts. It's always a changing sport. And you never have to replace your whole bike. You can replace small parts of it. With sports like tennis or ping-pong, you always have the same raquet, the minute you get a new one, its the learning process all over again. Also, you begin to build confidence in your bike, and it almost becomes part of you. You know how to treat it and use it to the best of it's abilities, and it aswell will take you places you could never image if you really try.
     
  12. brparts

    brparts Member

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    what everybody said is why we all ride,but there comes a time when i just what to stop and listen and look at the beauty that is all around us. if you are still long enough you can see and hear the wildlife. one time at chino hills i had stopped afer a climb and a big buck deer came over the ridge next to me, about 30 feet away, i did not move and he feed there for a couple of minutes before he saw me. that is why i ride for the moments like that.
     
  13. mpmffitz

    mpmffitz Farm Freerider

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    So why do I ride

    I ride to stay young and strong, also it is my love to push myself beyond my known limits. I work in a high rise building with limited windows, so when I leave work I want to see the world. Biking is my zen, the smell of rubber and dirt are mindgazmic. Oorah.....

    Nice air we got to hook up, I have just started catching mad air.
     
  14. Pat

    Pat New Member

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    Its the smell!

    Also, maybe I can leave my "spare tire" somewhere on the trail.
     
  15. jscepic

    jscepic New Member

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    The thrill of knowing that I can make it up this next hill. Even when I reach the top with my last ounce of energy, the next hill climb becomes another challenge and I quickly forget about the last hill I conquered. Helps me realize that taking one hill at a time is a great approach to life. I may not be the fastest, but I know that I will always make it.
     
  16. byker4christ

    byker4christ New Member

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    great full body work out and just the feeling of flying through the air or riding down nice single track that makes this all worth it
     
  17. gooseaholic

    gooseaholic Active Member

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    Im in the mind set lately of jumping higher, going further and going faster. It never gets old. Im somewhat of an adrenaline junkie. It adds spice to me life and keeps me wanting more. Riding never gets dull or old. If I find the going fast stuff getting old ( wait that dont happen) I go for a nice solid climb. Plus riding with my kids is better than anything I have done in my lifetime.
     
  18. Fewinhibitions

    Fewinhibitions Always be a moving target

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    Simply put, I get EVERYTHING out of it that I put into it.

    And more!
     
  19. Margaritaman

    Margaritaman It's just tequila...

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    BAM!:beer:
     
  20. Dan White

    Dan White Member

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    I've been on two wheels all my life but probably the main reason I continue to ride and train is:

    "When I look in the mirror I see a 60 year old man; when I ride my bike I feel like a 20 year old again.":)
     

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