Cycling Quotes To Inspire Your Bicycle Adventures

Over 50 of the best inspirational cycling quotes to get you in the mood to get out on your bike and ride more!

A collection of the best inspiring cycling quotes

A collection of cycling quotes for inspiration and reflection. Cycling is often thought of as a metaphor for life, and these quotes prove just that.

What is the saying about riding a bike?

You are only one ride away from a good mood! Here's a few of the most famous quotes about cycling to get you back on the bike and turning those pedals: 

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”

 

“It never gets easier, you just go faster”

 

“Crashing is part of cycling as crying is part of love”

 

“A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke”

 

“Cyclers see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to”

 

“Like dogs, bicycles are social catalysts that attract a superior category of people.”

 

“Beyond pain there is a whole universe of more pain”

Keep reading though – there's 50 more cycle quotes complete with inspirational images on this page!

Bicycle Quotes

The aim of putting together these cycling quotes is twofold. Firstly, I hope that they will inspire people to cycle more. Secondly, that they might perhaps start some reflections on life in general.

cycling quotes life is like riding a bicycle to keep your balance you must keep moving

Indeed the act of cycling has often been thought of as a metaphor for life. To me, it's more than that though, especially when it comes to bicycle touring.

There is an almost Zen-like quality to bicycle touring, where the journey by bike is just as important, if not more so, than the destination.

There is space to clear your head. Time enough to get back that healthy balance of mind and body the modern age seems determined to upset. A feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

These cycling quotes come from cyclists, household names, philosophers, thinkers and adventurers. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do.

And remember, in the words of John F. Kennedy – “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.”

Related: Bike captions for Instagram

Inspiring Cycling Quotes

Here's our first section of inspirational bike quotes. We're getting the wheels turning with an old, but a good one!

Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.

“Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” ~ Charles M. Schulz


The bicycle has a soul. If you succeed to love it, it will give you emotions that you will never forget.”

– Mario Cipollini


Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.

“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” ~ Eddy Merckx


Bicycles may change, but cycling is timeless.

“Bicycles may change, but cycling is timeless.” ~ Zapata Espinoza


The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind.

“The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind.” ~ William Saroyan Nobel prize winner


You never have the wind with you -- either it is against you or you're having a good day

You never have the wind with you — either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~ Daniel Behrman The man who loved bicycles; the memoirs of an autophobe


On my tenth birthday a bicycle and an atlas coincided as presents and a few days later I decided to cycle to India

On my tenth birthday a bicycle and an atlas coincided as presents and a few days later I decided to cycle to India. ~ Dervla Murphy Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle


Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” ~ H.G. Wells


There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as simply messing about on bicycles.

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as simply messing about on bicycles.” ~ Tom Kunich


Life may not be about your bike, but it sure can help you get through it.

“Life may not be about your bike, but it sure can help you get through it.” ~ Hallman


Quotes about Cycling

This next section of inspirational quotes for cyclists begins with a slogan that every rider should hold dear to their heart! By the way, you might also be interested in these facts about cycling and bicycles.

Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world.

“Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world.” ~ Grant Petersen


It never gets easier, you just go faster.

“It never gets easier, you just go faster.” ~ Greg LeMond


It’s the first machine we master as children and the one we abandon when the seductions of the automobile take over.

“It’s the first machine we master as children and the one we abandon when the seductions of the automobile take over.” ~Colman Mc Cartly


Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.

“Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.” ~ Mark Twain


Like dogs, bicycles are social catalysts that attract a superior category of people.

“Like dogs, bicycles are social catalysts that attract a superior category of people.” ~ Chip Brown


Cyclers see considerable more of the world.

“Cyclers see considerable more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to.” ~ Dr. K. K. Doty


If constellations had been named in the 20th century, I suppose we would see bicycles.

“If constellations had been named in the 20th century, I suppose we would see bicycles.” ~ Carl Sagan


A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke.

“A bicycle ride around the world begins with a single pedal stroke.” ~ Scott Stoll


A bicycle ride is a flight from sadness.

“A bicycle ride is a flight from sadness.” ~ James E. Starrs


The advantages? Exercise, no parking problems, gas prices, it’s fun. An automobile is expensive. You have to find a place to park and it’s not fun. So why not ride a bicycle? I recommend it.

“The advantages? Exercise, no parking problems, gas prices, it’s fun. An automobile is expensive. You have to find a place to park and it’s not fun. So why not ride a bicycle? I recommend it.” ~ Stephen G. Breyer


Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.

“Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.” ~ H.G. Wells


Best bicycle quotes

The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community.

“The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community.” ~ Ann Strong


Cycling Quotes: The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.

“The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” ~ John Howard


Bicycles have no walls.

“Bicycles have no walls.” ~ Paul Cornish


When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


Inspirational Cycling Quotes

We haven't got images for these serious and funny bike quotes. We're sure you'll enjoy them in any case!

“Pain is still the friend that always tells me the truth”

– Chris Froome, British Tour de France champion

“Training is like fighting with a Gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the Gorilla is tired”

– Greg Henderson, New Zealand pro racer

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.”

– Ernest Hemingway

“Cycling isn't a game, it's a sport. Tough, hard and unpitying, and it requires great sacrifices. One plays football, or tennis, or hockey. One doesn't play at cycling.”

– Jean de Gribaldy


Funny Cycling Quotes

Here's a couple of funny bicycle quotes to put a smile on your face:

“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

– Desmond Tutu, South African cleric and human rights activist

“The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community.”

– Ann Strong, American writer


Lance Armstrong Quotes

Here's a few quotes from cancer survivor and controversial cyclist Lance Armstrong. He was stripped of his Tour de France titles in 2012 after it was realised Armstrong had been doping :

  • Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.
  • I figure the faster I pedal, the faster I can retire.
  • The riskiest thing you can do is get greedy.
  • If there was a god, I'd still have both nuts.
  • A boo is a lot louder than a cheer.
  • If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on.

I hope you enjoyed these inspirational cycling quotes, and if you have come across any yourself that you think may make a good addition, then just leave it in the comment box below. 

More Travel Quotes

Planning a bike ride around the world? You might find these cycling articles useful: