Taken from Scientific American Exploration, Spring 1999.

Does a ride for you mean time spent in a car/truck/van/SUV?

If so, maybe you ought to think about why. One of the truly zen-like aspects of cycling is its efficiency: it’s hard to beat cycling as a form of transportation. Add the benefit to mind and heart, it’s not difficult to fathom the almost pathological devotion we cyclists give to our sport. But are you getting the full dose of good karma that cycling provides? Are you throwing your bike on top of the car and driving to the trail-head? I have the good fortune to live in a town where I can be at the trail after 1 mile of pavement, and as there isn't much pavement I ride off-road. When I was stuck in the heart of a metropolitan center, my recreational cycling centered around road cycling, and I loved cycling as much then as I do now. Greater than 99% of the miles I ride are done without involving an automobile. Only 30 miles away is a great set of alpine trails. They’re great fun but, all things considered, I prefer a ride that begins and ends at my house or office door. So, consider it all. Perhaps you could get more out of your cycling if it didn’t involve your car.

It is a bit hypocritical of me to suggest avoiding involving an automobile when riding recreationally. I certainly have been known to travel quite a ways to attend a bike race. So no, I don't begrudge a cyclist the chance to see other terrain, race, or do a legendary ride. I'm thinking of the folks I'm coming across up at Happy Jack who as far as I can tell don't ride anywhere else . Yup, those trails are awful nice and I like to get up there too -- but I ride there and that makes them even nicer. Okay, so not everyone has the time to get up there and then ride or are fit enough to make it there and still have energy left to ride. That's true and I've been in that position myself, but to turn cycling into an event that requires a car every time in order to partake is simply wrong! It goes against the laws of nature. If you are doing the majority of your riding linked to a car shuttle, I ask you to re-examine why you ride and if you might not get more out of it by riding locally.

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