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
Fuck off troll. Why are you here (you don't need to answer that, we already know)?
@Sandy154 We need a break. Here is a little relief. You remind me of this guy -- Lawrence.
"I don't swim. I'm not that strong... swimmer."
@Bretto: great article, generating great, honest discussion.
I'd like to think I don't have an "addictive" personality, but I've been told otherwise. In the 90's, when I discovered cycling as PT from a middle distance running injury, it only took a few rides to get "hooked", especially when I discovered racing as a outlet for my competitive nature. The more results I got, the more I rode, the more relationships I lost. In 99, I hung up the bike (burned out from 9 years of 600K weeks, and racing sometimes daily in the summer months), and didn't get back onto it until a few years ago. Now it's about balancing the bike, family and work. The Mrs is very supportive of my time out since I remain cognizant of the need for that balance. I'll keep riding until I can't or I'm dead.
@Chris
I should be thinking of Clark Kent and Superman but I get the impression of a cycling Gollum somehow.
And if it was my wife, then keep dreaming - I think myself damned lucky to get the occasional romp and I'm only there once every six weeks, so you haven't got a hope buddy.
@Bianchi Denti
This is an excellent response. Straight on - people ride da bikes for different reasons. All of them can have purpose.
@scaler911
As a relatively new Follower (since 2003 or so I'd say, or around my mid-twenties) and one who adopted cycling as my movement-activity-du-jour after many other sports through college I'm intrigued by both folks who've been at it much longer and thus have more to contribute or those who've done it, left it, and now do it again.
I guess I haven't been steeped in the sport, since I got involved kinda recently. Thus, in a short span I've had to get to know the terrain.
For me the reason why cyclists become so obsessive about it is the difficulty. I like to walk in the forest near where I live. Without any real training or commitment, just a (fairly) decent pair of walking shoes and some base fitness, I can walk for miles. The other day, I visited some friends and we climbed their local 'big hill' - a pretty testing lump of rock. You know... I'm pretty good at walking. I can get to the top.
On the bike, it's not the same. For every pedal stroke up a testing incline, I am reminded of my lack of commitment. Even when I've been quite committed: have I been committed enough. I get to the top of a hill; but it wasn't a mountain. It's not Ventoux. It's not Angliru. And if I ever make a trip to Alpe d'Huez, I'll never do it in 43 mins. There is no end to the challenge and that's the appeal.
I'm a photographer. I'm always looking for the perfect sunset. I know that it doesn't exist. But it doesn't stop me looking.
@scaler911
yeah, I thought I was an asshole til i read your first post, then you up'd the hate with your second post
Amerckx scaler, +1!
@all, thanks for the kind words
yes, there will be another love, just as true as sophies.
@cyclops, I think I will just hang her on the wall for now, I may send her to you some day, thanks!
and I may be welding my own in near future
@Ron
in regard to your thoughts on 'food' and addictions, as a nurse practitioner in my work, i see this all the time and this whole socio-cultural issue is multifaced, and probably best parsed elsewhere, but you hit the nail on the head. There are alot of similarities and most of us have commonalities
-In reference to earlier 'semantics' between addiction and passion, for the sake of Merckx, is there REALLY a difference, i mean at the grass roots of it? Not really.
I AM A FULL BLOWN ADDICT for my beloved bipedicular habit. Perhaps you may call it obsessive and compulsive thoughts, perhaps a loss of impulse control, perhaps even borderline personality and manipulative in order to buy the new carbon hoops, perhaps manic or even in my last unipolar dive a bit depressed.
Whatever, passion...addiction, it really doesn't appear to me to be exclusive of one another, perhaps we may call all this passion in a fit of denial that we are really addicted. Fine with me.
pass the butter
@Gizmo
I don't know. I've spent 10 days on Santorini in the Greek Isles and this is as close to perfect as I've seen:
(do understand that I get your point tho).