Why I ride?

Every now and then, I reflect on my life as a cyclist. I reflect on the people I’ve met on the bike, the Mountain Passes I’ve ridden, and the freedom I feel every time I go for a ride. I also regularly ask myself the question: Why I ride? 

In my head, the answer to that question has changed over the years. In the beginning, it was about finding my limits as a cyclist. I wanted to know how far I could push myself and how strong I could become. After many crashes and getting dropped by 18 year-old Belgians, the answer to that question evolved from chasing race results to escapism. Cycling offered an outlet to escape my everyday stress and the constant voice in my head. The bike gave me peace where I could not find it anywhere else.

When I ask myself today: Why I ride? The answer is much simpler. Today, I ride for adventures and friends. Cycling adventures and exploration with my friends is exactly why I ride today. In the future, my answer to that question will undoubtedly change again, but that is why cycling is so beautiful. As long as cyclists continue to question their purpose on the bike, the sport will always offer them a reason to ride. The sport inherently offers cyclists so much! The feeling of riding a bike is one of life’s greatest joys, and this should never be taken for granted.

As cyclists, it is important to regularly ask the question: Why do I ride? Cycling is a brutal sport, and without purpose or direction, it can quickly become pointless. As cyclists, it is purpose that keeps us cycling no matter how brutal the sport can be. Purpose on the bike and in-life is of greatest importance. People, who know their purpose, go above and beyond. They have something to fight for bigger than themselves.