Why I love cycling

Back in April of this year I started riding to work, and during my cycling commutes I have time to think about a lot of things. On one particularly enjoyable evening ride recently I started thinking: why do I like this so much? Why is this better than walking, running or driving the car to accomplish the same thing? The answer hit me. Cycling through the city requires a certain level of focus that you don’t need for walking, running, or even driving. In a way, it’s analogous to skiing. Think about it. In skiing we travel at fast speeds, constantly balancing, working our muscles, feeling the air rushing by, and thrilling in the element of danger that accompanies it. Isn’t cycling similar? When riding through the city all those things come into play. I think it’s the element of danger that really makes it fun, because there is a certain pleasure that comes from being totally focused and living in the ‘now’. Ask yourself what parts of a day’s skiing really give you a rush? Is it the times when you are coasting on an easy slope? Probably not. It’s probably when you are pushing your limits on a difficult run, totally focused on the next turn, not thinking about the last run or the next run, but just this run. Living in the ‘now’. I think the same thing happens with cycling. For example, when riding in the ‘door zone’ between the traffic and the parked cars, you have to be totally alert for doors, bad drivers, people coming off side streets, potholes, and debris on the road. That may sound dangerous, but I argue it’s no more dangerous than skiing through a glade full of trees – as long as you are focused you’ll survive. And that element of danger also gives cycling a big element of pleasure.

Before I started riding I made a list of reasons to cycle to work. That list included responsible things like getting into shape, being environmentally friendly, reducing traffic, and saving money. The money savings were actually quite considerable, when you consider parking, gas, wear and tear, insurance, and speeding tickets. There’s no doubt those are all good reasons, but none of them promised any intrinsic enjoyment. It is probably the sheer enjoyment of riding that will sustain this habit for a long time. It gives me smug feeling to know that us cyclists are getting for free what people pay $75 a day for at Whistler.

P.F.