Addiction is typically defined as a bad thing. Addiction to drugs, to alcohol, sex or even work is usually portrayed as a condition to be battled, to overcome. The same sources may recommend a strict regime of regular exercise and healthy living as the perfect antidote to the bad addictions that befall an overwhelming majority of the general populace. We are convinced that an ‘exercise addict’, ‘gym junkie’ or ‘health nut’ is a tag that we should be proud to hang around our necks, not something to be fought. But take away the words ‘exercise’, ‘gym’ and ‘health’, and all you’re left with is an undesirable character of questionable sanity with bad skin and rotten teeth. And no-one wants to be that person.
I’ve known, and know, a lot of people with a lot of addictions during my life. Moreso, I’ve been/am one myself. Both good and bad. The one unifying addiction throughout has been Cycling. It seems Cyclists are of the predisposition that doing something, anything, is best done to excess. I don’t really have any Cycling friends who ‘just do it on the weekends’, as one might play golf or go to the movies or ballroom dancing. Ok, those ballroom dancers seem to be a bit obsessed, too. But Cyclists, no matter how hard they try to kick the habit just seem to keep coming back, over and over again. And I’ve never heard a doctor or so-called expert tell a Cyclist to give that shit up before it sends them to an early grave. So what we’ve got ourselves is a ‘good addiction’.
Long before I ever read the tale of Guns n Roses’ bassist Duff McKagan’s pancreas exploding and his subsequent absolution through mountain biking (in BIKE magazine sometime in the 90s), I’d been fighting my own demons, and using the bike to help conquer them. Still am. Being a hard-drinking/drugging bassist (then later a DJ) and mountain biker myself at the time, I drew a lot of comparisons between us. I took some inspiration from his story, despite not being a fan of the band, and used it to tip the balance in favour of riding rather than partying.
I’d also been surrounded by a lot of other Cyclists who had delved a lot further into the sport than I ever had, and who had their own personal battles to fight. Some were up against alcoholism, others drugs, depression, or failed relationships. And on more than a few occasions, I heard the term “saved by the bike” quoted. Among all the turmoil, in the maelstrom of a life gone awry, their constant saving grace, the rock on which they could rebuild a solid foundation for happiness, or at least some form of normality – contentment, perhaps – was the bicycle. It was always there for them, silent, trustworthy, reliable, even if many other aspects of their situation weren’t. I wouldn’t hesitate to wager that it still is there for most, if not all of them. I know it is for me, and always will be.
Whenever I need saving, I know where to look.
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@Sandy154
One of the things I've learned is that sometimes there are things I don't empathise with and maybe even disagree with.
I'm not addictive. I pride myself in being measured and controlled. I could post to say "Well I've never had that problem, what's up with you", but it's better to just not say anything than come across as a total arse, like you just have.
@Days Chapeau to you. That's my dream too. Where is your fine emporium ?
I remember a few years ago being at a dinner with some very high-flying people hosted by an executive headhunter who asked what people would like to be if they could be anything. The various answers ranged from supreme dictators to drug lords, but I got the most amazed looks when I said I'd like to be a bike mechanic and have a shop. Probably explains why I never got a call for any CEO jobs afterwards.
The devil makes work for idle legs. Nice article Brett and stories from others.
My favorite cycling quote can be used to describe life in general - 'There will be chaos - keep pedaling'.
@Ron
Being nailed to a tree literally or metaphorically is too often the reward for telling the truth - look at some of the posts on this article.
I like the picture because its way more than a man on a bike climbing a hill in front of a building.
Thanks to my addition I've been up that hill too.
@ChrisO
That's next door
And by the way - I seem to have got my mojo back
@Sandy154
You sir...are an ass!
@ChrisO
Surely by being a bike mechanic and having a shop you become your own CEO, expect that call any day!
@Sandy154 First post? Strong work.
@ChrisO
Measured and controlled = obsessive = addicted. You know you'll feel better when you admit it.
@brett Great article. The Keepers defiantly are on fire at the moment.
Sadly, I'm not addicted to the bike nor as devoted as I'd like to be (Forgive me Merckx, for it has been two weeks since my last confession) but I do know that when I'm riding my other vices are kept at bay.
@Chris Fuckwit. I'd also like to be addicted to proof reading and spell checking.
@Chris
No, I'm not in denial. I really am like that, and oddly I think it gives me some appreciation of what people mean when they talk about addictive personalities. I'm so far at the other end of the spectrum I can see the opposite.
When I was drinking I would have two per night e.g. beer, spirit or wine didn't matter, but no more than two. Then I decided to stop so I just did, but occasionally on a weekend I'll have a beer or a glass of wine if I'm out and I'm not worried it will lead me to start again.
Chocolate - you know those little Lindt balls. I have a box of them in the fridge and I have one each night.
Ice Cream - little 100ml tubs, like they serve at cinemas. I buy one per week and have it on Fridays as my reward for the long bike ride day.
When I used to smoke weed, I would grow it - I would have a large bin bag full that could have put me in a stupor for a month. But I would have one or two each day, maybe more on weekends, so that I had enough to get me to the next harvest. And then I decided to stop, so I did and I haven't touched it in 10 years.
And I'm probably similar in my bike riding.
I plan my rides, I measure my training and I do the amount that I need to do to perform at the level I want to perform at. It's only obsessive in that I have my plan and it annoys me if I can't stick to it. And sometimes the plan includes non-training or just riding so I enjoy it.
To someone addictive that probably all seems just as weird as addiction is to those who don't suffer it.
So to answer the earlier question, no I don't think you have to be addictive or obsessive to be a cyclist but I think a lot of cyclists are odd in some way, and it attracts and rewards those people.