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
What long responses are you talking about ?
There's a total of five lines from three different people responding to your comment. Admittedly five lines more than you deserve but still considerably less than your own contribution.
I think you suffer from delusions of grandeur. Or maybe just poor comprehension.
The only long reply since your previous post was mine (which was to Chris not to you), and I was saying I don't have any inner demons to struggle with.
Did you just cut and paste your reply from some other trolling you prepared earlier ? Sloppy work.
To quote John Travolta
"Stranded at the drive in, branded a fool, what will they say Monday at school?
Sandy, can't you see, I'm in misery"
The other integral point he missed when he signed himself up is that this site is a community, not a forum. A community cares about it's members.
I know it is not @the keepers preferred mode of operation but please delete him. He is ruining the humanity of this post and the comments.
@Deakus
STRONG
FROM
YOU
Ohhhhhhh Sandy, Sandra-dee, oh wha-wha-whyyyyyy. Etcetera, etc.
@ChrisO
You've got to remember that you're my schizophrenic alter ego, the bit of me that fulfils my dreams about living in a hot country, doing the occasional stage race and having a family that doesn't get in the way of my riding.
Right now, we're thinking about having a second bar of chocolate and whether to ride tonight or have a curry. It would be mean to tell you whose wife I was thinking about earlier.
@Chris
Oh boy, this is pretty great. Be nice, not mean.
@Sandy154
I'll be brief, and less kind and accommodating than my colleagues;
Go and crawl back under the rock you emerged from, you utter cretin.
Your mother must be so proud.
Missed some earlier drama. Good. No addiction . No addict. We aren't users? We "love" cycling like we "love" our families -- or we "love" our work. There is no addiction to my wife. I love her always and that has more permanence -- it's absolute. I know that I "love" cycling and the bikes that come my way. Cycling has no end and (unless you're crashing on tarmac at the moment) it always gives.
@Sandy154
A completely genuine tone -- "You're very special Sandy154. You are loved." Assuming you're a cyclist? Always remember -- "La gloriosa strada!"
@girl
Amen! And Amerckx!