It’s safe to say that if you’re reading this website then you probably like bikes more than the average amount.
If you’re anything like us, you ride bikes, read articles about bikes, bore your loved ones about bikes, and spend a significant proportion of your income on bikes.
But life’s rich tapestry does offer other pleasures, ones that don’t involve pedalling.I like cars, for instance. They take me places to ride bikes, but they’re enjoyable in their own right too. Cars are mechanically marvellous things, sometimes beautiful, and a whole lot of fun.
I appreciate them for some of the same reasons I love bikes. They offer freedom and thrills, and a chance to get up close and personal with some splendid engineering.
Within the limits of my abilities, I enjoy trying to maintain and repair cars myself.
The torque ratings are far higher and everything tends to be rustier than on bicycles, but the mechanical skills I learned in bike shops are transferable to an extent, and there’s huge satisfaction in sorting something out myself rather than paying someone else to do it.
Let’s talk about you
I don’t doubt that there are countless activities that could enhance your time on the bike, or which are a natural complement when you're off it.
Dare I say it, other sports such as swimming and running are great ways to boost your riding fitness, and work all those muscle groups that cycling neglects.
Do you have a hobby that involves fine manual work? It probably helps hone your wrenching skills. Or maybe you're obsessed with coffee, and that fuels your assaults on Strava segments.
So, what do you do for fun when you’re not riding bikes? And does it help or hinder your cycling?
