Riding a bike is fun. If it weren’t, kids wouldn’t do it. So why do adult cyclists frequently suffer burnout? I think it’s got a lot to do with poor goal-setting, and the work we undertake in order to meet our self-imposed expectations.
Like I wrote earlier, it’s important to have meaningful goals, and to work hard towards them. But come on – nobody reading this is making a living racing their bike. It’s our hobby, so if it’s not fun, what’s the point?
With this in mind, here’s a list of ways I’ve found to make riding fun. If you’ve got more, leave a comment.
- Ride with someone you care about. Go at a pace that’s comfortable for them.
- Ride a bike that forces you to go slowly – a cruiser, a clunker, or whatever’s available.
- Ride somewhere new. (Find a route on MapMyRide.com.)
- Ride to an interesting destination.
- Bring a camera and take pictures during a ride.
- Leave your computer/power meter/GPS device at home.
- Ride farther than you’ve ever ridden before.
- Do spontaneous intervals of indeterminate duration and intensity. Just enjoy going fast.
- Go to a race and just spectate. You’ll remember how much fun it is to be in the action.
- Go on a night ride.
- Ride a route you haven’t done in a long time.
- Ride to work.
- Ride in the rain.
- Try a different type of riding – road, MTB, BMX, cyclocross, time trial, touring, track, whatever. Just don’t start running and swimming. That’s a slippery slope…
Denny Yunk 
Thats what I’m talkin’ bout!Great posts Denny!
Yeah, I figured this post would resonate with you. You pretty much do all these things – and probably more!
A bunch of good ones in there. I love riding in the rain (fenders mandatory).I have to say I agree on the no swimming part. But trail running, I’ve actually gotten to like (we’re talking northern ice age trail here, not a rail trail). No worries, however, as the bike always will be king. 😉 And running actually makes me think I might try a cross race again someday in the next who-knows-how-many years.As for others, I’d add some in similar veins to what you had:– Ride with the kids. Go as slow as they want. Or hitch them up and rip it as fast as they want. When they dig it, it’s even sweeter.– Ride where the kids want to go. My son loves the MTB trails… even on his 20-incher. Wants to go on the nastiest trails, even if he has to walk a lot. Or ride to a playground. Or don’t set a destination and wing it.– If you ride in a group, whenever possible, ride with everyone. MTB is easier to do this, especially with loops involved. Hammer one out with the hammers. Then whoever in the group you run into next, talk about where you want to ride, then do it. Like you said before, speed doesn’t matter if they’re “slower” than you. It’s about chillin’ with others. – Build bike mounted bottle openers. Nuff said.- Practice the same MTB corner in both directions at increasing speeds until you biff. Gotta find the limit.- Do death spirals — turns as tight as you can make them — in both directions. This one’s fun with the kids too… they can turn WAY tighter on their little bikes that they almost always win, even when dad tries his hardest.- build your own DYI bike lights. i’m about to do this. can’t wait.- Try a new bike mechanic “thing.” For me it’ll be building wheels. For others, it might be changing a brake cable. (though probably not readers of THIS blog). ;-)- Go on bunny hop rides. Hop everything you can. Even on a fixie.- anyone who reads this, start typing. I can’t believe the stuff I spewed out here when just thinking about fun bike shenanigans I’ve done.
Oh, and read the Rusty Tool Shed blog. I don’t even think I’ve met Russell yet, but that’s the funniest bike-related shizzle I’ve read.
I do what I can, but never have I ridden for fun.Except that one time…