- We all need inspiration from time to time,
so here are 10 cycling quotes
to ignite that spark inside,
as well as giving you an insight
into why cycling means so much to so many people.
First up, the esteemed author
of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
Mark Twain, gives this sounds advice:
"Learn to ride a bicycle.
"You will not regret it, if you live."
Hold on.
What did he actually mean there?
Anyway, putting cycling into context,
Mark Cavendish former World Road Champion
and 30 times Tour de France stage winner,
had this to say,
"I used to work in a bank when I was younger,
"and to me it doesn't matter whether
"it's raining or the sun is shining, or whatever.
"As long as I'm riding a bike,
"I know I'm the luckiest guy in the world."
Thanks for that, Cav.
Now, as succinct and as sharp as ever,
Charles M. Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip,
compares life to a bike.
"Life is like a 10-speed bicycle.
"Most of us have gears we never use."
Hmm.
Very profound.
Now, on how he got into cycling,
double World Road champion and five times
Tour de France green jersey winner, Peter Sagan, said,
"My brother persuaded me to try cycling,
"and I realized it was the best thing in the world.
"People thought we were strange,
"but I couldn't have cared less."
Well, thanks of that, Pete.
Now, expressing his love of the bike,
John Lennon, Beetle, said,
"As a kid I had a dream.
"I wanted to own my own bicycle.
"When I got the bike, I must have been the happiest boy
"in Liverpool, maybe the world.
"I lived for that bike.
"Most kids left their bike in the backyard at night.
"Not me, I insisted on taking mine indoors,
"and the first night, I even kept it in my bed."
Anybody else slept with their bike?
Now, literary giant H.G. Wells,
author of The Time Machine and War of the Worlds
amongst other works, saw hope in the humble bicycle,
"Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle,
"I do not despair for the human race."
Enough said, H.G.
Now, former World Road Champion,
three times Paris-Roubaix,
and three times Tour de Flanders winner
and Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw,
made this profound observation.
"Crashing is a part of cycling,
"as crying is a part of love."
35th President of the United States of America,
John F. Kennedy, clearly had a real place in his heart
for our favorite mode of two-wheel transport.
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike."
Now, perhaps more informative than inspirational,
this quote from bike innovator extraordinaire
Keith Bontrager, is stone-cold classic,
"Light, strong, cheap.
"Pick two."
Always good for a quote is Keith.
Now finally, author and community leader Bill Strickland,
was glowing in his praise of the bicycle.
"A bicycle is an unparalleled merger
"of a toy, a utilitarian vehicles, and sporting equipment.
"The bike can be used in so many ways,
"and approaches perfection in each use.
"For instance, the bicycle is the most efficient
"machine ever created, converting calories into gas,
"a bicycle gets the equivalent of 3,000 miles a gallon.
"And a person pedalling a bike uses energy
"more efficiently than gazelle or an eagle.
"And a triangle frame bicycle can easily carry
"10 times its own weight, a capacity no automobile,
"airplane, or bridge can match."
Hmm.
I can't actually vouch for some of those facts,
but it certainly sounded good.
Now, I hope you enjoyed these inspirational quotes,
and I'm sure there are many, many, many quotes
that we've missed. You know what to do.
Leave your comments down below
to tell us which quotes inspire you.
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