I ride for myself, my own gratification, transportation, and health.
I "freeride," or as I call it opportunity ride! Much like, bmx street, or urban assault riding, I pump or jump all ramps, do stupid gap hops, manual wheelies into curbs for air time, pretty much how I rode as a kid!
Takes a special combination of parts and finesse, and alot of body english! Also no fear of breaking stuff.
Mmy current daily:
It's got a long front end, steep headtube, lots of trail, and 3 gears. Semi knobby, kenda cosmos tires = cheap and tough.
Don't misread me, I have a "road cruiser," and a cruiser just no m.t.b. or pure road bikes anymore!
My building oddities came in the 90s, built a GT Talara(cheapo mild steel) frame I built with pieces on hand to ride to college. Among those pieces was a set of 650 wheels, skinny tires, and it was lightning fast.
Thusly began my skinnier is better bikes.