What got you into cycling?

[goody]

Marriage.

 

[Seevio]

In my yoof it was the general thing that cycling was faster and easier than running to get to places. After a big gap it started again with a friend showing by example that it was easier and quicker to get to and from the pub on a bike. That and I was given a second hand bike.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Living near to a wonderful network of cycletracks (they do exist), and watching Le TdF on channel 4 as a kid in the '80s left an indellable mark on me*.

I haven't always cycled in my life, but I have always had a great respect for it.



* - As did that '80s theme-tune, complete with that drifting, doppler effect final note, OOFFFFTT!!:

The theme as it appeared normally:


View: https://youtu.be/1IMjb6sU5Mg


And the full thing, of which bits would feature. The footage used isn't bad here either, and, that is definitely a 'What happens next?' moment from 2.30 - 35.

Those minor notes of the main theme always made me think that something awful (and very French, of course) had happened and this race was to try and fix it! :


View: https://youtu.be/WLSUsw04O6M

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

'And the old girl has really turned on the style'

Watching this as a kid, how could it NOT leave an impression, seriously??!! (I was 7 in 1989).
I care not a jott about the drugs (of which we/I only learned about later), it was of it's time and as such should be left alone.

We have the theme tune, the Topgun theme, and, from 1.51, well, you might recognise it, I do, but I don't know what it is called, but with the commentary it is utterly compelling

From 8.28 onwards , what was the story of the rider on the motorbike and of the guy taking the Police rider's gun out of it's holster (8.50 onwards)..... How did he get away with that??!!

I wish they still did intros like this!

Anyway, enjoy, seriously! :


View: https://youtu.be/VDznJwZvSKs

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Recognise that tune at 1.51?? in the TdF video above, Especially from 2.24 onwards in this video in this post, not the one above??
I have posted this amazing video more than once over the years!!

Ever seen an English Electric Lightning at a bus stop??

Health and safety, pah! What's that??!!:


View: https://youtu.be/OplHPw6axT0

 

[Levo-Lon]

Independence..i still look at the long scar down my knee cap from my first stabiliser free tree bike me interface..

 

[Shut Up Legs]

'And the old girl has really turned on the style'

Watching this as a kid, how could it NOT leave an impression, seriously??!! (I was 7 in 1989).
I care not a jott about the drugs (of which we/I only learned about later), it was of it's time and as such should be left alone.

We have the theme tune, the Topgun theme, and, from 1.51, well, you might recognise it, I do, but I don't know what it is called, but with the commentary it is utterly compelling

From 8.28 onwards , what was the story of the rider on the motorbike and of the guy taking the Police rider's gun out of it's holster (8.50 onwards)..... How did he get away with that??!!

I wish they still did intros like this!

Anyway, enjoy, seriously! :


View: https://youtu.be/VDznJwZvSKs

Great video, with a good theme track. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Iainj837]

I started riding when I was younger but after passing my test, I became lazy.
I started riding again after losing licence due to health reasons.
I now have a car but ride the bike when possible to get to and from work

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Great video, with a good theme track. Thanks for posting that.

Also watching the TdF every year as a kid, I began to realise

'Hold on, are they wearing pants? I am sure I can see their willies'


Watching the shorts became part of it long before I even hit puberty (I had such a dirty mind even as a kid)!

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

At first it was because I was 4 and wanted a bike like big kids.
Roll on to 2001 and I was depressed, overweight and knew that antidepressants couldn't cure the problems. Getting on a mountain bike gave me the reboot my life needed.

 

[rossw46]

I rode bicycles from an early age, all the kids round my way did, it was the cool thing to do. Cycled all through my childhood, and teenage years, until I turned 17 and my parents bought me a motorcycle. Bicycle went into the garage and that was the end of that. Remember thinking "I'll never get on a bicycle again !".

Fast forward to 2012, I was staying away from home at our company training centre, nothing round there for miles, and after 4 or 5 days of sheer boredom, and their crappy gym being shut, I discovered they had a couple of cheap mountain bikes in a shed. Got to be better than sitting around surely. I took one for a spin and it all came back to me in 5 minutes, and once again I was young and free, and I could go where I liked !!! (within about 5 miles as I was knackered).

That was it. Bought a decent MTB, and rode fairly regularly, more and more. By 2014 I was going out once every few weeks and doing 60 milers in addition to commuting and social riding. Last year I made the leap to a carbon fiber road bike, and get withdrawal symptoms now if miss 2 or 3 days on the bike. I remember in 2013 doing my first 30 mile ride, it nearly killed me. In May this year I did my first 100 mile ride in 6hrs 6mins 32 seconds riding on my own, and didn't feel nearly as knackered as the first 30 miler I did.

 

[raleighnut]

Also watching the TdF every year as a kid, I began to realise

'Hold on, are they wearing pants? I am sure I can see their willies'


Watching the shorts became part of it long before I even hit puberty (I had such a dirty mind even as a kid)!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Prude!

 

[raleighnut]

Prude!

You've edited that since the giggle , I may have to take the like back.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

You've edited that since the giggle , I may have to take the like back.

Yeah sorry, I thought I had better ellaborate slightly.

Anyway, the story just goes to show that you should never let anyone say that cycling isn't a bit gay!