Yeah, I might be exaggerating a bit, but come on. Being mentioned in We Love Cycling got to be better than receiving an Emmy. But only those who truly love cycling will get their names on our website. So today, let’s celebrate the celebrities who love cycling just as much as we do.
Matt Damon
You may know him from blockbusters like The Good Will Hunting, the Born series or the The Martian but about 30,000 people in South Africa know him as that guy who rode a tandem in the annual Cape Argus Pick n Play Cycle Tour. Back in 2010, Matt enlisted the help of his brother Kyle to ride a tandem for charity. The venue was the 109-kilometre Cape Argus Tour and, well, it was Matt’s first serious ride.
It seems the Hollywood A-lister had a lot of fun that day as now, he is often seen riding his bike in Malibu. Damon owns an e-MTB with a mid-drive and is always sure to wear some protective gear. Most often, a black helmet and some gloves. Is he training to take over the Tour de France? Probably not but who knows – maybe one day on the silver screen, he can portray Greg LeMond, though both look nothing alike and LeMond is just nine years older than the Hollywood star, so Matt is probably not on top of the list of potential actors to take the role.
Matthew McConaughey
When you get into riding bikes, you often start from the very beginning with some close friends advising you on what to get, how to ride, and how to gear up. Well, imagine if you are Matthew McConaughey. Now, you may ask another Hollywood A-lister for some advice but why bother? It’s far better to seek help from a fellow Texan, Lance Armstrong.
Both enjoy riding road bikes pretty often. But something more, McConaughey started influencing other A-listers. He had been spotted riding with several of them (like Jake Gyllenhaal near Malibu and in Florida).
Hugh Jackman
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Hugh Jackman is more than amazing, being a genuine triple threat – he can act, sing, and dance. Actually, scratch that. He’s a quadruple threat, as he can also ride a bike. And something more – he really loves it. According to several media news outlets, this was his way of getting through his separation from Debora-Lee Furness. Yeah, cycling is a great way to deal with emotional trauma, stress, and other problems. So, good for Hugh.
But that’s not the only time Jackman was spotted riding a bike. Actually, cycling is present in all his training routines as that’s his preferred cardio. So, if you are looking for a unique Halloween costume, you can dress as Wolverine on a bike. Bonus points if you can sing “Look Down” from Les Mis.
P!nk
Cycling is not only for men, you know. Women A-listers also enjoy the sport just as much. P!nk is the perfect example. This is her go-to family fun time as she has been spotted multiple times riding with her entire family. In 2023, the pop-idol shared some pictures of their special family time when they went for a “short” 20-mile bike ride in Austria’s Wachau Valley.
This year, she did the same but in Australia. Whether she was riding upside down is unclear but she went sightseeing with her family around Sydney Harbor.
It’s evident that P!nk’s a huge cycling fan but I can’t understand why no one in the group is dressed in pink. I mean, at least Carey Hart could have taken one for the team just to be on brand.
Sheryl Crow
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While it’s sweet to see P!nk enjoying her free time with her family on two wheels, let’s talk about some serious cycling. Sheryl Crow is here to show us that celebrities can also have a cycling obsession. That’s hardly a surprise for someone who was engaged to Lance Armstrong. Still, Crow loved the sport even before that. Plus, she is quite good at it. She managed to climb Alpe d’Huez in an hour 37 minutes, which is pretty good.
“I did the whole stretch even though I might not have set a new record. It was extremely difficult,” she said after the ride. This was her way of showing her commitment to her relationship with Lance. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out and, today, she mostly rides her bike for fun.
Reggie Miller
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Now, not everyone is in love with road cycling. Reggie Miller, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest shooters, is, in fact, more in touch with mountain trails. The former basketball superstar spends his days speeding down mountain trails and, well, he’s pretty good at it, too. You can even follow him on Strava to see his records and time. I only wonder how he manages to corner with what I assume is his 3XL bike. I mean, the guy is 201 cm tall.
But if you think that Reggie is just playing around, well, guess again. He’s participated in several high-level events, like the 100-mile SBTGRVL race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Scrolling through his Instagram, you will see many pictures of him rushing down a slope, which is heartwarming.
Neil Peart
The late great Neil Peart is another superstar who was more than just a casual rider. In fact, the Rush drummer often shared the fascinating relation between drumming and cycling. He argued that cycling helped him endure the gruelling tours where he had to play like crazy for hours each night. It’s essentially a different kind of cardio. So, to cope with the demand, he cycled every day so he could continue being the monster behind the drums that he was until the end.
Unfortunately, Peart lost his battle with brain cancer in 2017 but he left a legacy – not only behind the drums but also on the bike. He actually wrote “The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa,” a book following his cycling tour of Cameroon in the late 80s. What a legend!
Zac Efron
He’s the youngest celebrity on our list but is one with the biggest cycling experience. Actually, Zac is not just cycling. He’s also running and swimming. That’s right. The A-lister often enters triathlons just to challenge himself. He’s not there for the win but for the thrill.
Outside these sports events, Efron is often on the road, preparing for races or just shaking off stress. You can rarely see him on the city streets, though. Actually, on one of the few occasions, he rode in London with Hugh Jackman and almost died. “I cycled with him in London but I’m not one to ride a bike early in the morning in traffic, so it turned out to be quite dangerous,” Zac said in front of Teen Vogue in 2018. “I followed Hugh around a few cars, and suddenly, there was a double-decker bus right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, went under the front tyre, and narrowly missed death.”
Now, anyone would think twice whether they want to get on a bike after such an experience. But Zac’s not the one to quit. I mean, you don’t just make threats if you quit every time there is a small inconvenience like falling under a bus.
Jennifer Lopez
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Jennifer Lopez is another diva who seems to have a crush on her bike. At 55, Lopez is constantly cruising around with her lovely city bike, Linus. The bike itself costs only 770 dollars and has an upgrade, an adorable basket at the front. A very classy move from the 400-million-dollar-worth superstar.
Recently, Jennifer celebrated her birthday by taking a long ride around the Hamptons with some friends. Moreover, she has often been seen riding with her family and friends whenever she has time. I guess Lopez is still just Jenny from the block.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Finally, we have Hercules himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The former 6-times Mr. Olympia has switched the dumbbellsand power lifts for good old-fashioned cycling. I mean, the guy is 77 years old and still looks as ripped as ever.
Schwarzenegger is well-known for his love of moving around on two wheels. It’s a great way to keep in shape and bond with his family. A year ago, he even confessed that he always rents a bike when he lands in a new country, just so he can look around by himself.
But that’s not all. He pushed for cycling infrastructure and education during his term as a California Governor. I guess we all need more governors (or Terminators) like Schwarzenegger, right?
Wrapping it up
Well, you don’t really need a celebrity to tell you that riding a bike is awesome. Still, it’s nice to see that there are some rich and famous people who enjoy your hobby. And who knows, you may even meet Reggie Miller on the slopes or Arnold Schwarzenegger riding around your neighbourhood. If you do, don’t forget to ring your bell politely and nod, just like you should do with every other cyclist. After all, even though they are world-famous, they are just riders like us.
