a blog for the real cyclist
April 9th, 2026
10 Signs You're a Hopeless Cycling Addict (And Why That's Perfectly Fine)
By Cycliste Touriste — for the riders who know exactly what number they are.
Let's be honest. There's cycling as a hobby, and then there's cycling as a lifestyle. One involves a bike. The other involves a bike, four other bikes, a spreadsheet of your watts-per-kilo, strong opinions about espresso, and a slightly strained relationship with your wardrobe space.
If you've ever justified a new wheelset as a "long-term investment," this one's for you.
1. Your bike is worth more than your car — and you're fine with that
The car gets you to work. The bike gets you to yourself. The maths make perfect sense, actually.
2. You have a pre-ride coffee ritual more elaborate than most religious ceremonies
Grinder, pour-over, specific cup, specific spot near the window. Touch nothing. Say nothing. The ride begins here.
3. You describe suffering as "type 2 fun" — and mean it fondly
Legs burning at kilometre 90. Wind in your face. Rain appearing from nowhere. You are, objectively, miserable. You will describe this ride as "one of the best" by the time you're back home.
4. You've cancelled plans to "get a ride in"
Not a race. Not a training block. Just a ride. Just 80 kilometres on a Tuesday evening because the weather was good and the legs felt okay and honestly what else were you going to do, sit inside?
5. You know exactly what "bonking" means and have done it at least once
You were fine. And then, suddenly, you were not fine at all. You pushed on for another 15 kilometres on pure stubbornness and a half-eaten cereal bar. You've never left the house without food since.
6. Sunday mornings belong to the bike. Non-negotiable.
Your family knows. Your friends know. Sunday is sacred. The kit is already laid out on Saturday night.
7. You've become suspicious of anyone who calls a ride "just a short one"
"Short" in cycling means different things to different people. You've learned this the hard way, following someone who said it was "just a quick loop" and came home four hours later questioning your life choices.
8. You eat pasta without guilt — because science
Carbohydrates are not the enemy. Carbohydrates are the strategy. Anyone who says otherwise has never needed to get over a mountain pass on willpower and spaghetti.
9. You've given a bike a name
It just happened. You didn't plan it. But after you built it up, after that first long ride, it had a personality. And now it has a name. And you talk to it, occasionally, when things get hard.
10. You wouldn't change any of it
The early starts. The saddle sores. The weather that turned. The climbs that nearly broke you. The mechanical that cost more than it should have. The group rides where everyone was a little faster than expected.
All of it. You'd do all of it again, probably this weekend.
Cycliste Touriste makes clothing for riders who take their cycling seriously — but not themselves. Eco-friendly materials, unique designs, and a deep appreciation for everyone who's ever called a 120km ride "just a spin."
Tags: cycling lifestyle, cycling humour, road cycling, cycling culture, cyclist problems, cycling gifts