The part/type of riding that gives you the most pleasure

[summit7]

So out with a group today with some guys who know how to ride a bike.....

90% of them would kill me in a time trial

Some of them would kill me on a "distance" ride (think 6 hours plus here)

A good few could outsprint me after a few miles (I do ride track league to improve speed)

But no fker took Dunstable Downs or Ivinghoe Beacon off me today - I love climbing that's when the hurting time comes and that's when us sub 70KG's riders laugh

...and here we have the joy of cycling no one person can be good at all

[okgo]

Hurting riders on rolling roads

I'm not a great climber, better than the vast majority of riders in our club, but not the best, neither will I be at 82 kg. But I love putting massive turns in on rolling roads.

I too did a nice group ride today and wasn't so much a hero on the hills as we only did a couple of notable ones (got a second overall on one on strava though) but did some big turns and helped carry the group to a quick time for 70 miles.

[Watchman]

Wheelies. I find popping a really long wheelie on my HT, holding it on the brake so I'm only crawling along, very satisfying. Especially as I appear to be the only person in my riding group who is old enough to have been a BMXer in the 1980s and as such is normally the least fittest.

[BOBTEE]

I'm fairly handy at wheelies too, which is nice cos I'm crap at the rest!

[mcelliott]

Years ago it would have been racing in Northern France - epic events, fully closed roads, 110 riders, 26/27 mph pace - what road racing is all about. These days as a gnarled 40 year old who no longer races, it's blowing riders half my age into the weeds in training rides.

[anonymous-user]

My favourite is a steady ride in the dark, down country lanes, with good lights. Nothing to rush for, just enjoy the peace & quiet with few cars about..

[IroningMan]

45 mph plus downhill on a road I can see is clear...

[Rouleur]

Yep, long fast descents are the best

[TheFungle]

On an MTB it's smooth flowing singletrack, not many people can keep up with me and it just suits my riding stle perfectly.

On a road bike it's that feeling of effortless pace you get when the weather, the road, the legs and most importantly the wind are all working together.

[Paul Drawmer]

For me, just getting round is a bloody achievement! There's a short sharp hill near me (Duns Tew to Hempton) That for the whole of the year before last I couldn't get up. (OMIL walking up hill) Last year I rode up it, and eventually ditched using the granny ring. It's all relative. But I do remember in 1965 getting 'under the hour' for a 25 - that felt bloody great!

[crisisjez]

The cake

[Digga]

Fast, flowing downhill with nice rolly-poly jumps that you can jump a big, small, long or short - as you like. Just safe, fast, brainless hooning.

A close second is muddy, rooty, steep or fast technical singletrack.

[NorthDave]

Smooth tarmac, no wind (or wind behind) and a bit of sunshine. Amazing! I could happily waft along like this all day.

[S10 GTA]

Spanish mountains. Sunshine. Win.

[ewenm]

When I was properly into my mountain biking it was the gnarly technical climbs that I loved. Getting the line right, getting my weight transfer spot on, applying the power at the right moments to get up things my riding mates couldn't.

Of course, I needed that advantage on the climbs as I was crap at descending

Nowadays, it's getting out on the bike on lovely sunny days like today, even if it is just the commute.

[AyBee]

okgo said:

Hurting riders on rolling roads

I'm not a great climber, better than the vast majority of riders in our club, but not the best, neither will I be at 82 kg. But I love putting massive turns in on rolling roads.

I too did a nice group ride today and wasn't so much a hero on the hills as we only did a couple of notable ones (got a second overall on one on strava though) but did some big turns and helped carry the group to a quick time for 70 miles.

Pretty much this - grinding the big cog

[anonymous-user]

finding a jazz mag in a lay by on a country road...

[ccr32]

MTB - technical downhill singletrack followed closely by long and wide open fire-road descents at silly speeds. Wet weather is also fun, providing you discount the ensuing moaning that results from SWMBO and having to get undressed on the doorstep.

Road - beautiful sunny day, smooth flat road, no wind (or slight tailwind), no traffic, and happily crusing along at 25mph.

[RGambo]

seeing the time on the watch at the end of a 25mile TT.
52.02 made the pain worth it.
unfortunatly, won't be there this year though. issues have resulted in no training and addtion of 10kgs to my weight. I'd be happy with the hour at the moment.

[oyster]

The grand prix starts from traffic lights alongside a dozen other cyclists on CS7. For some reason, whatever gear I am in, I always beat others off the line.