As I climb upward, I can feel my heart rebelling against me, pounding against my ribs like a manic, crazed inmate trying to burst through the bars of his cell. Pedal stroke after aching pedal stroke, I press upward, gulping down huge breaths of pavement-baked, tar-tasting air, full of much needed oxygen. Keep going. The medallion hanging from my chain feels like a five-pound weight, instead of five-gram disc. It occasionally swings and clinks into my grimacing grin, just frustrating me, but not enough to slow me down. I take a quick glance behind me, to see if the chase is catching up. I cannot see or hear them, but I know there’s still a lot of hill to go. Forget it, it’s just a speed bump. Keep going. I can see the crowd at the top. I knew my parents were in there somewhere, and my girlfriend, waiting to see if the rider on the hill was me. I knew I couldn’t deprive them of their hope, so I kept going.—Michael Metzmaker; 19

…Because sitting on my bike feels more natural than sitting on the couch.
…Because the times when my life has been flowing most smoothly have been the same times when riding was a priority. Conversely, the times when I have strayed away from riding have been when I have struggled.
…Because people driving past in the comfort of their heated cars during winter look at me as if I’m insane.
…Because being on Alpe d’Huez in 2004 gave me a sense of serenity and “being in the right place at the right time” that I have seldom experienced before or since.
…Because enjoying a smooth, flowing downhill is the closest you can get to a roller coaster that you can steer.
…Because that first warm spring day feels extra glorious without tights, a windbreaker, and long-fingered gloves.
…Because riding 100 miles in a day is still rewarding.
…Because you’re never more aware of your heart and breathing than when your chest is thumping at 180 beats per minute and your body is searing with lactic acid.
…Because there’s a certain tranquility at sunset on a still summer evening.
…Because there’s nothing like suffering on the bike to make you appreciate a shower, clean clothes, and a plate of food. Shared suffering to accomplish a goal also forges a very strong bond of camaraderie.
…Because I’m still friends with people I met through cycling 20 years ago. Because I love the sound of crisp autumn leaves crunching under my wheels as the sunlight warms my face.
…Because one of my most vivid childhood memories is the moment that my training wheels stopped rattling against the ground. Because riding is intrinsic to who I am.
—Rich Miles; Pennsylvania

I ride my bike because it feels so much better “getting there.” By feeling the wind in your face and hearing the soft movement of gears spinning below you, it is easy to see what God’s earth is all about. It can make traveling over a humdrum road feel exciting and new each time you spin. I am a 51-year-old lifelong cyclist. Like most over-the-hill athletes, I have had my share of sports-related injuries (very few from cycling). Riding a bike has been therapeutic. Am I fast? Not by any means. Then again, the only thing I have to beat is the wind.
—Peter Winkler: Maui


I ride to stay healthy, so I can take my granddaughter for her first bike ride. I hope that she has the selective compulsive disorder like me. And I select cycling!
—Papa T.; Maine

I ride to help control my weight and cholesterol, which are genetically stacked against me.
I ride because, at 50 years old and over 200 pounds, I can ride faster and for more miles than most people half my age.
I ride because I love the feeling of wind rushing by my face.
I ride because it makes me a happier person. Ask my wife.
I ride because there is nothing like the feeling of a great downhill after a hard climb, a good tailwind or a well-coordinated paceline.
I ride because I love those days when you feel so good that you’d swear you don’t have a chain on your bike but you’re cruising faster than ever.
But mostly…..I ride simply because I can.
—Jim Reynold; Tulsa, Oklahoma




To figure out what an iPod is. To listen to my favorite music and podcasts on my new iPod that I now know how to use (I ride with only one earphone in to be safe).
To prevent a mid-life crisis.
To eliminate cellulite.
To spend time with great friends.
To make new ones.
To be a role model for my kids.
To re-acquaint myself with weather, trees, flowers and wildlife.
To get to know the nooks and crannies of my neighborhood.
To leave the gym.
—Rachel; Afton, Minnesota


I ride to celebrate friendship and conquer mountains. At 44 the idea of riding six mountain stages of the Tour de France started as a dream. During a ride, I realized that if I didn’t try and live out this dream soon, I might never say that I tried. My love for the bike drove my efforts. With each and every ride I became more confident that I might be able to accomplish this seemingly absurd challenge. Hammering out these six stages transformed my life. The long, tough climbs, treacherous descents and stunning majesty of the mountains touched my soul. Most importantly, the friendship forged through this experience will last a lifetime!
—John Gimino; Austin; Texas

Riding my bike keeps me in good shape, helps me control my weight, and is a great stress reliever, but most of all I ride because it gives me a chance to see the world at a slower pace, to enjoy more of God’s creation. I am looking forward to this summer because I have four major rides booked as well as a ride across the state of North Carolina.
—Greg Bouck


I ride for the total freedom that I've felt on a bike since I was 10 years old. The ability to leave home and go any direction I want to and to discover new roads I've not ridden before.  I ride to experience the natural beauty of Hunterdon County, NJ that can only be felt on a bicycle.  I ride 30 miles each way to get a cranberry scone at an obscure bakery but I would never drive 30 miles to buy a scone.  I ride for my own sanity and for my family's sanity. I ride to push myself and so that others can push me. I ride to avoid getting dropped on the next jam or the next ride.
-Doug Antelman; Flemington NJ


I ride because it keeps me connected to my body, because it sets me free, because nothing beats the feeling of the wind and sun in my face as the landscape rolls effortlessly by. This must be what heaven is like.
—Doug Cho; Vancouver, British Columbia

I ride because it is freedom. I ride because bicycles are the greatest machines of mankind. I ride because bicycles are works of art. I ride because it hurts. I ride because it feels wonderful. I ride because Bob, Eddy, Lance, and countless others ride. I ride for Levi. I ride because there is no room on the bike for the weight of life, and it must stay behind, if only for a while. I ride for what it is.
—Ed Portmann; Franklin, Kentucky

I wait for winter to come to an end, for the days I can get out and ride to free my mind and my soul of life’s complexities. I ride to get my body back into shape. With every exerted deep breath I take, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be alive and riding with my faithful, beautiful companion and best friend of twenty-six years, my wife. Ride long. Ride free.
—David D. Buckey; Cedar Hill, Missouri