Why We REALLY Ride
I always like it when readers send photos of themselves wearing the Fat Cyclist jersey.
But I think I like this one most of all.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a photo and caption in the "Why We Ride" section of the latest issue of Road Bike Action magazine.
What an awesome reason. What an excellent setting!
I confess, I just tried to think of a better reason to ride, and I can’t.
In fact, I hereby defy anyone to offer a better reason.
I’d offer a T-shirt for the best reason, but I think I’ve hit my giveaway limit for a while.
Thanks, Kyle, for scanning and sending this in!
Comment by Primal | 03.19.2008 | 11:39 pm
G’day Fatty.
I ride for the pleasure, the pain, the places and the people. Cycling is our community!
Keep Safe
Primal.
Comment by Ant | 03.20.2008 | 12:05 am
I ride in the hope that I may see my toes again one day.
Comment by troppocycle | 03.20.2008 | 12:51 am
I love this one! I ride so much that I would ride to a port-a-loo rather than use the neglected one at my house! I am sure that is the truth behind this photo.
Comment by Big Mike In Oz | 03.20.2008 | 1:50 am
Mission accomplished… now there’s room for dessert.
Comment by Si | 03.20.2008 | 2:39 am
Why we ride? To get out in the middle of nowhere and be at one with nature* rather than having to brave the overused portable chemical toilets on a sunny day…we’ve all been to races and we all know what that feels like.
*occasionaly known as a ‘green fielder’
Comment by Mike Roadie | 03.20.2008 | 3:26 am
I ride because I love it; because it is great exercise; because it doesn’t hurt as badly as running does; because you meet great people; because I want to stay in some shape OTHER than round; because it is a clean and efficient way to get around; because it is a “group” thing; becuase I like the outlet for spending my money on cool “toys”.
But mostly, I ride because it gives me my specific outlet to give back and serve the community–to help people I’ll never know; to honor the memories of those no longer with us whom we could not help; and to give hope to those who are still in the fight, that they will not have to lose it.
HTTP://BAYAREA08.LIVESTRONG.ORG/MIKE
Comment by Lowrydr | 03.20.2008 | 4:04 am
Super Fatcyclist exits the country telephone booth.
Comment by Big Boned | 03.20.2008 | 4:08 am
Is it just me or does that little smile say “That’s right, I DARE you to go in there”?
Comment by Don (http://cyclingphun.blogspot.com) | 03.20.2008 | 5:15 am
I ride so I can feel better when I enjoy your famous mashed potatoes and banana desert! WOO HOO!
Comment by isela | 03.20.2008 | 5:32 am
The caption for that picture is hilarious! I love it!
Personally, I ride/swim/run so I can one day be able to see my toes again. They kind of got lost after I got pregnant and I have never been able to see them again.
Comment by bradk | 03.20.2008 | 5:32 am
I’ve been missing out. I had no idea there were reasons to ride other than to beat Kenny.
Comment by Mocougfan | 03.20.2008 | 5:36 am
Why do I ride?….Hello, I’m fat. Why do you think?
Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 03.20.2008 | 5:40 am
I ride to be there for my daughters on their wedding day. I ride to be there when my grandchildren are born. I ride so I can grow old with my wife.
Oh, and also to have a second (ok, third) helping of corned beef on St. Patty’s day. :)
Comment by Boz | 03.20.2008 | 5:54 am
I ride because of a the to’s. Have, need, love, compelled, forced, want, beg. Like to seven deadly sins in reverse.
I think big boned got it right in this case. Kyle dropped the duece and is daring anyone to follow that act and live to talk about it.
Comment by BurkeInTheOzarks | 03.20.2008 | 6:05 am
I ride because I like beer – a lot. No, not “near beer” by the likes of BudCoorsMiller, but the good, flavorful stuff along the lines of Guinness, Smithwick’s, Anchor Steam Porter, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, etc. There’s nothing better (IMO) than rewarding yourself with a quality beverage after a good work-out, and there’s no better work-out (again, IMO) than a fast (okay, relatively fast), thrilling bike ride on a quality trail. (Snowboarding comes in a very close second but I don’t live close enough to a ski resort to do it often.)
In truth, even if beer didn’t exist (I just had a full-body shudder as I typed that), I would still love riding just as much for the challenge, excitement, fun and commune with nature. (Man, I’m in a parenthetical mood this morning!)
Comment by BurkeInTheOzarks | 03.20.2008 | 6:07 am
“Dropped the deuce” – that’s a classic, Boz! Kyle does look awfully proud of himself…
Comment by Barry B | 03.20.2008 | 6:23 am
I ride because I have a wife, two daughters, and a teenage son, all who drive. There is no car left for dad……
Comment by TheLurker | 03.20.2008 | 6:28 am
I ride because… hang on a mo. Do I _need_ to have a reason to ride?
Comment by TIMK | 03.20.2008 | 7:02 am
I ride because I suck at everything else that gives men a reason to wear tight pants – you know football, heavy metal guitar, ballet.
Comment by Tom in UK | 03.20.2008 | 7:16 am
Why do I ride?
To quote one of my friends, “chicks dig shaved legs”.
And of course the adrenaline rush of racing.
Comment by TheLurker | 03.20.2008 | 7:25 am
Ahhh, absolutely nothing to do with reasons to ride, but it seems there _is_ a God of cycling. A lackadaisical, part time sort of a God, but nevertheless real*.
http://www.anothercyclingforum.com/index.php?topic=49310.0
*For certain values of real.
Comment by The D | 03.20.2008 | 7:26 am
Good: Dropping friends on the climb.
Better: Dropping friends off at the pool BEFORE the climb.
Comment by a.lo | 03.20.2008 | 7:54 am
I’m in agreement with Boz…
Comment by Josmeh | 03.20.2008 | 8:07 am
Can’t ride fast, but its the only thing that I can go maximum effort for maximum time and get the sweet sensation of speed. Plus, I like to eat.
Comment by axel | 03.20.2008 | 8:13 am
i ride my fixie to work because it gets me there and back in a good mood
i ride my road bike at lunch because it is one of the funnest workouts
i ride my unicycle in the evening, because it is much more fun that walking the dog
i ride my tandem with a tag-a-long for quality family time
but most of all
i ride my mountain bike because few other things create that mix of adrenaline, dopamine, lactic acid, and post ride beer that makes you feel alive
Comment by jwbikes | 03.20.2008 | 8:14 am
I ride so that one day I too will be able to fit into one of those sleek Fat Cyclist jersey’s, if they are ever available again…..well, that and bar-b-que.
Comment by dug | 03.20.2008 | 8:22 am
there’s a magazine called “Road Bike ACTION”? is that a fake name?
i think you should change the name of your blog to “Fat Cyclist ACTION.com”
Comment by texastwister | 03.20.2008 | 8:27 am
i ride my roadbike to work monday thru friday so i can jump on the mountain bike on saturday and hammer on some trails so i can have some “postride” beer also!
Comment by buckythedonkey | 03.20.2008 | 8:29 am
I ride, but not too much, so that I look better with my shirt off than Michael Rasmussen.
Comment by Boz | 03.20.2008 | 8:40 am
yes, dug, there is a road bike action mag . It’s got stuff we all want but can’t afford. bastards.
Comment by je | 03.20.2008 | 8:41 am
Why to I ride?
Because not riding sucks.
Comment by capt.lou | 03.20.2008 | 8:44 am
I ride because it scares me (mountain) and because the wife looks at me like I’m crazy when I come home exhausted with a grin on my face after a long road ride.
Comment by bikemike | 03.20.2008 | 9:28 am
i ride to eat
i don’t eat to ride.
probably not smart but i’m not known for an abundance of…what’s the word…oh yeah, smarts.
Comment by cyclostu | 03.20.2008 | 9:42 am
…becuase it’s the the closest sensation a human can come to flying. That and ever since I was a child, I’ve associated a bicycle with freedom. I still get that feeling of freedom when I commute home and see that my truck is in the same place that it has been all week.
Comment by Orbea Girl | 03.20.2008 | 9:54 am
Tom in UK: Your friend is so right about shaved legs.
Comment by jerry | 03.20.2008 | 10:09 am
I ride because my bikes call my name loudly when left alone too long.
Comment by Jill | 03.20.2008 | 10:12 am
I’m surprised no one’s dropped this one yet …
I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle.
Comment by JM | 03.20.2008 | 10:16 am
Kyle nailed it. Kyle is wise.
Comment by Stephen Waits | 03.20.2008 | 10:17 am
I ride. :)
Comment by 29er | 03.20.2008 | 10:24 am
I ride because it is exhilarating! Also because it takes my brain out of “mom zone” for a while.
Comment by Clydesteve | 03.20.2008 | 10:50 am
Kind of along the lines of Jill, as well as TheLurker:
Why do I need a REASON to ride?
But using french fries as a spoon for ketchup is a good reason as any. Or gravy.
Comment by Denise | 03.20.2008 | 11:00 am
Ahhhhh, I am right there with you 29er!
Comment by KT | 03.20.2008 | 11:24 am
I ride because…. the sun is shining. The birds are flying.
I ride because I too like good beer; our local brew pub makes an amazing cream porter– and I generally don’t like dark beers!
I ride because it takes the same amount of time to ride to/from work as it would to drive. :)
Why not?
Comment by Willie Nelson | 03.20.2008 | 11:40 am
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring. –Desmond Tutu
Comment by G8TR | 03.20.2008 | 11:41 am
I ride because I’m too skinny to play football.
Comment by Rick S. | 03.20.2008 | 12:02 pm
Maple bars- that’s why I ride.
Comment by db | 03.20.2008 | 12:19 pm
Häagen-Dazs.
Comment by neilro51 | 03.20.2008 | 12:58 pm
ahh, ready for the next piece of RAGBRAI pie and I see Mr. Porkchop’s bus up the road. RAGBRAI ‘08′ nuthin like it!
Comment by neilro51 | 03.20.2008 | 12:59 pm
p.s. Any word on the ‘08′ jerseys yet?
Comment by judi | 03.20.2008 | 2:30 pm
I ride for cross training from my running. But now I love to ride so sometimes I gotta run to xtrain.
Comment by Duane | 03.20.2008 | 4:29 pm
I ride because I can.
I train because nobody listens to a fat PE teacher.
Comment by rokrider | 03.20.2008 | 4:45 pm
Veho ergo sum
I ride therefore I am
Comment by Vince | 03.20.2008 | 6:08 pm
I ride to stay out of the office.
I ride to clear the cobwebs out of my head.
And I ride to get that fancy tan!
Watch out for Number 1 or you’ll step in number 2!
Comment by Marrock | 03.20.2008 | 8:51 pm
I need a reason to ride?
Comment by Bluenoser | 03.23.2008 | 5:26 pm
It needs to be a really tall dog fatty. With at least 18 inches of belly clearance. That way the pooch could be geared up with a spare set of wheels and a repair/first aid kit. And give the pup his own camelback so he won’t be begging your water all the time.
-B
Comment by Big Mike | 03.24.2008 | 9:49 am
I have 2 reasons:
Two girls under the age of 3-need I say more?
Comment by Dee | 03.25.2008 | 6:48 am
If I don’t ride my bike, it’s like I’m going through withdrawal: I’m edgy, in a terrible mood, and curled up in a corner having murderous hallucinations.
(In one of Urban Velo’s recent “Riding in the city” features, there was a girl whose response to the question “Why do you love riding in the city?” was something like “I need as many excuses as possible to wear spandex and flashing lights.”)
(And Bryan (not that one)’s comment brought tears to my eyes.)
Comment by RoughInAfrica | 03.26.2008 | 3:08 am
I severed a knee ligament doing motocross.
After the operation I started cycling to get the knee(s) strong again. That was 7 years ago and I haven’t stopped cycling since!
Geez, I now rarely have time for the motocross bike…
:-)
Comment by TheOx | 03.27.2008 | 6:12 am
I ride TO shave my legs.
Trackback by Dog love. | 07.31.2008 | 5:28 pm
Dog love….
Dog love….