I feel a little sad for people who only ride their bikes because they want to lose weight or get fit or save the environment. Those are certainly noble goals, but there is just so much joy just in riding.
From a Bicycle Times interview with Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly.
To some degree we are re-creating this (the height of the randonneuring movement [where] the bike was more than just a sport; it was a way of life) in the U.S. There are more and more people who just love to ride their bikes. People who aren't racers, people who just enjoy riding, exploring and checking out new places, and I think it's a great time.
And yet elsewhere he calls randonneuring competitive where all who finish within the time limit are winners but all who finished before you are faster winners. I don't think you have to be competitive to enjoy a bike ride, and yet, competition against others or oneself is enjoyed by many. There are many different motivations and reasons for riding a bike. I think Mr. Heine wants the riding to be seen as an end, and not just a means to an end.
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