Your Cycling Supporters

[paigette]

This is inspired by a convo I had with my dad last night. He kept asking me about my bikes & we ended up comparing cycling costs to his fishing costs. After the convo, he was like "It's pretty cool you found something that interests you this much".

Anyway, I have a family who understand that I love biking, but most roll there eyes when I mention how much it costs to do it. LOL, my mother went insane when I told her that I paid $50 for a headlight......and even more crazy when I explained $50 was the low-medium end for lights:D

Who mentally supports your love of cycling?

[Bikingmomof3]

This is inspired by a convo I had with my dad last night. He kept asking me about my bikes & we ended up comparing cycling costs to his fishing costs. After the convo, he was like "It's pretty cool you found something that interests you this much".

Anyway, I have a family who understand that I love biking, but most roll there eyes when I mention how much it costs to do it. LOL, my mother went insane when I told her that I paid $50 for a headlight......and even more crazy when I explained $50 was the low-medium end for lights:D

Who mentally supports your love of cycling?

My DH, my three boys, and the wonderful women here. Everyone else thinks I am nuts. :D

[NJBikeGal]

Despite lovingly referring to me as his "Bike Dork," my DH completely supports my insane love of biking!! He's actually really excited that I will be racing with a women's team in the spring and he'll be able to come to the races to watch...although this may have something to do with a lot of women in spandex pants....hmmm.. :)

[SheFly]

LOL, my mother went insane when I told her that I paid $50 for a headlight......and even more crazy when I explained $50 was the low-medium end for lights:D


Tell your mom that my new light was $299 - that should floor her :D .

I've stopped sharing that kind of info with my parents - they just don't get it. Unfortunately, cycling is such a big part of my/our life/lives that it makes it difficult for us to have conversations sometimes. It can also lead to big disappointment.

This summer, my parents were visiting and before they came had mentioned that they were interested in watching us race. We had a crit on the Sunday of their visit (at least that's somewhat more entertaining to watch than a road race), so I asked them to come. The response I got was that it was too early for them. They stayed home, and DH and I went off to race. I was pretty upset by it.

Thankfully, DH is as addicted as I am, so he totally supports my habit ;) . My teammates and friends are also supportive, as are all the women here at TE!

SheFly

[GLC1968]

I've stopped sharing that kind of info with my parents - they just don't get it. Unfortunately, cycling is such a big part of my/our life/lives that it makes it difficult for us to have conversations sometimes. It can also lead to big disappointment.


Mine too. My parents live off one of the deadliest roads in Florida and they just can't fathom that we feel safe biking on road where there are cars. They were supportive of the big MS ride...but they don't 'get' the century/long ride thing and I haven't even told them that I commute yet. It's just too much for them. I can't even imagine how they'll react to my desire to race! I basically just leave it out of our conversations altogether. :(

My friends are fairly supportive, if somewhat indifferent. We just talk about other stuff most of the time. Coworkers get the cycling...they just don't get the commuting in the cold and dark. :p

And DH is as nuts about it as I am...so there is super support there!! :D

[Bad JuJu]

Like NJBikeGal's dh, mine sometimes acts like he thinks I'm nuts with all this cycling, but most of the time, he's proud to tell people about my weekly mileage and the touring I've done. I'm overweight, too, so I think he likes seeing people's faces as they register surprise that his short, overweight, 50+-year-old wife can finish, for example, a 50-mile ride with energy to spare.

Friends are supportive, but not all that interested. They encourage me, but they don't want to hear about it that much. Two neighbors used to be that way, but they recently got bikes (other than cheap neighborhood cruisers) so they're coming around to my way of thinking. It's gratifying when they come over to ask me a cycling-related question. Not that I'm any expert, but compared to total newbies, I do know a little something about the sport.

Now that I'm riding with a club on Saturdays, I'm starting to make some more cycling friends. But nothing beats the support I find right here on these forums!

[paigette]

But nothing beats the support I find right here on these forums!

I completely agree. BTW, my DAD actually found these forums when I first bought Oscar.

LOL, it's nice to see everyone's spouse is supportive & hooked....I guess this means I should patrol group rides & bike shops for a hubby (just kidding....sort of):p

[SouthernBelle]

My cutest supporter is my 96 y.o. neighbor. If he sees me riding in, he'll ask about miles. If he sees me puttering in the garage, he'll come to chat.

[GLC1968]

LOL, it's nice to see everyone's spouse is supportive & hooked....I guess this means I should patrol group rides & bike shops for a hubby (just kidding....sort of):p

This is my exact argument to get my single girlfriends into biking!!

1) the ratio of men to women is WAY in our favor for 'shopping'
2) you get to check out the goods in lycra before you buy
3) you can use bike cost to gauge spending habits and/or salary! ;)

They aren't buying into my theories though.... :p

[kaybee]

Well, you ladies are the greatest support network a girl could want! Besides y'all, there's hubby, who not only supports but encourages me. With no family within 700 miles, I have the luxury of not having to explain much, and the few friends I have locally are just as interested in staying fit as I am. As for coworkers, that's another story! ;)

KB

[paigette]

As for coworkers, that's another story! ;)


This is how I ended up purchasing my mountain bike.......my boss & most of my freelance writers all mountain bike! I just started this job about a month ago & don't want to be left behind!

Plus side is that my boss has a road bike, so she's already mentioned she may get more into it since I am gung ho(we are going to a woman's ride on Nov. 11)

[spokewench]

My Hubby started riding about 3-6 months before I did so he is very supportive; he understands the costs of biking and thinks it is a good investment in our health. Otherwise, we could be spending lots of money on doctor's visits and prescription drugs! I have it easy at home.

My sister thinks it is cool that I ride and even has a picture of me doing the Death Ride years ago. She is a professor and the kids that come into her office think it is cool that her sister would do something called "the death ride!" I'm sure she doesn't understand the money I spend, but she is not judgmental.

My parents are sort of supportive; but over the years, they have only come to one mountain bike race that I did years ago in California. I've been a little disappointed in their lack of support sometimes. A few years ago, I was in the running to win the State Championships and the race was 15 minutes away from their house (5 from mine) and they wouldn't even come up to watch. That kind of disappointed me, but they just don't understand. The only thing that is important to them is academic achievement! If I were a professor like my sister they would be wowed!

Some people get some don't and never the twain shall meet.

[pooks]

My husband is really supportive -- brags about my mileage (which isn't brag-worthy but he just can't figure that out!), etc. His work schedule has kept him off the bike so much that he shares the interest but not the time to be involved; I hope that changes soon.

My sons think it's great.

My friends think it's cool but we don't talk about it much.

And I have people who read my blog who actually complain if I write about biking too much. My blog addresses several different interests of mine, and people come to it usually because of one or the other, and are ho-hum about posts that don't involve exactly what they're interested in. But a few have actually complained! (Um, folks, that's why it's MY BLOG. I get to choose!)

My mom is supportive, totally. I rode my bike to her house over some busy-busy roads (with light traffic, though) and when I got there I was hot and tired. We visited, had lunch, and before I left to come home she said, "You need to do this more often," as if I don't drive over there all the time!

[Eden]

I feel really lucky too - my husband is very supportive. He started racing a year before I did, but I've been more successful than he has (I have to give him credit in that the competition among men is much more intense and there are a great deal more of them, so its always going to be harder for him). In some guys that could lead to pouty, jealous behavior, but he's been great. I got the fancy new bike and I just got a coach (I did my first coach workout yesterday, yeah!) and he's been encouraging me to do it the whole time.

[HappyAnika]

Wow, I totally admire those of you who are more or less on your own. If it wasn't for my supporters, I may never have started cycling. DH started 2 years before me, just for commuting - he never did weekend rides until I started riding. About 60% of my inspiration to start riding came from 2 of my girlfriends who started riding a year before me, then I in turn inspired the 4th one of our little group to start riding as well. Two of those three girlfriends' husbands also ride, so we've got a nice little cycling group. Road biking is huge in the work place. We jokingly warn new employees that if they don't already own a road bike, it is highly likely they will end up buying one soon.

My parents are another story. They are couch potatoes (I was raised as a couch potato), and they don't understand why anyone would do any physical activity for fun. In addition, they are always worried that I will hurt myself. They have no idea how much my bike cost and I intend to keep it that way, my Dad would flip. They also don't know that I commute, or that we go on really long rides on weekends. I'll just casually mention to my mom "Oh, we went for a bike ride" when she asks what we did over the weekend. She thinks its more like we rode along the 3 mile greenway where people jog and walk their dogs and kids. And that's fine, she can keep on thinking that. They both know I wear a helmet and that's all they need to know. The in-laws are a little more supportive, they understand that biking for us is a combination of social interaction, fitness, fun, and transportation.

[Haudlady]

DH is #1 - he has been a cyclist for about 20 years (in one form or another - he used to freestyle {aka "flatland"} in Junior High :cool: ). He is really excited that I am involved in the sport, but keeps checking to make sure I am doing it because I think it's fun - not because he's happy to have me on two wheels! Yup - I'm doing it for me! :D

My Dad and Stepmom are very supportive, too - but they are that way about anything I do. My Mom is good, but has a habit of saying "that's nice, but are you (riding your horses, spending time with your husband...)?"

DH's cycling friends are good, too, and happy to include me! Of course, DH's main riding partner was funny... I was proudly announcing that I had hit 375 miles (I only started in July, and got my road bike on 9/24). He said "that's great! I have about 4000 miles so far this year." Um, thanks Rob. Ah well... he means well! Besides, there's always next year.

My poor Grammy, though, does nothing but worry. "Are you sure it's safe, deah? I hope you're careful of the cahs! Maybe you should stay in the yahd!" Yes, Gram, I'm careful (didn't she think that horseback riding was dangerous? :rolleyes: I guess she just got used to that)!

[hsmpcycle]

Somehow I felt the need to share because y'all understand.

My DH supports me 110% in my obsession with riding (along with my dire need to stash yarn for my knitting fix). When we first met, he tricked me into dating him when he told me he loved riding bikes and did so all the time!!! Our first few dates included long Sunday rides to the coffee shop. Untill one day when I started questioning his riding habits when he stopped for a cigarette break. YUK!!!! Once we got serious, however, he confessed that his passion was for fixing and building bikes, not riding them. Needless to say, I lost a riding buddy:( , but gained access to a personal bicycle mechanic:cool:. Oh by the way, he quit smoking before we got married.

As with all of you, the majority of the people I know think I am nuts.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We must remember that our parents were raised in another generation, a very different time when bikes were old fashioned and vaguely unladylike, cars were modern and the preferred mode -a symbol of success. Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work. Improving yourself meant learning to sew, baking for the church bake sale, taking a shorthand course, or joining the PTA.
I can imagine how dismayed some older people might be at their daughter spending lots of money and energy focusing on a pursuit that to thme may seem selfish and frivolous. We should try to make some allowances for their outdated viewpoints, while still helping them to "get with the times". ;)

[ace]

Good thread...

I have (had?) two main supporters- my recent ex-boyfriend got me riding, and really encouraged me (we didn't ride together that much because it was boring for him, but when we did, he was impressed by my mighty legs!). However, we just broke up, and that's part of the sadness. I just fixed my first flat, and I wanted to call him, but we're taking some time off, so it was hard ('specially since he taught me how to fix a flat a month or so ago). But actually I feel like even though our relationship hasn't ended too well, he really gave me a huge gift getting me back on my bike- I rode w/my local club all last summer, had a great time, and am planning a bike trip to Italy next summer with my oldest friend. I am hooked.

I also have a good buddy at work who's cycled for years, and I tell him what kind of rides I'm doing, and he always has good advice.

-Amy

[Haudlady]

Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work.

I don't know if this was partially in response to my comment that my mom says "that's nice but are you spending enough time with your husband." Oh dear! Can I just say that my Mom is only 53! It's funny, actually, but my Gram, at 74, is more modern in her attitude than my Mom is!

Boy oh boy... I am glad that the times have changed! DH does the cooking - I'm not very creative when it comes to food! (Okay, dear... do you want pasta tonight, or would you prefer cereal?) :D

[paigette]

DH does the cooking - I'm not very creative when it comes to food! (Okay, dear... do you want pasta tonight, or would you prefer cereal?) :D


LOL, my dad did all the cooking when I was growing up, he made sure to teach me! I actually like cooking, though, it's calming.

Oh, and my parents are 56(mom) & 53(dad).

[GLC1968]

We must remember that our parents were raised in another generation, a very different time when bikes were old fashioned and vaguely unladylike, cars were modern and the preferred mode -a symbol of success. Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work. Improving yourself meant learning to sew, baking for the church bake sale, taking a shorthand course, or joining the PTA.
I can imagine how dismayed some older people might be at their daughter spending lots of money and energy focusing on a pursuit that to thme may seem selfish and frivolous. We should try to make some allowances for their outdated viewpoints, while still helping them to "get with the times". ;)

And in that 'other generation' my mom didn't quite fit the mold! I think you are making some assumtions here that don't necessarily apply to all of us whose parents don't get it. My parents definitely don't have outdated viewpoints at all. My mom is HUGELY supportive of my athletic pursuits, my career (in a male dominated field), my independence, my "late in life" marriage, my lack of desire for children...she just doesn't get biking. Neither of them do...it's so odd to me when they are so open, supportive and forward-thinking in so many other areas. :confused:

[Geonz]

Hmmm... my friends are pretty supportive, especially when it comes to making sure I've got safety gear :) Most of my friends are the ones I met in the bike club, though.
Work is at least tolerant- though da boss lady emphasized that she did not want to see my bicycle in the office (it's a big computer lab) once students were coming (not that I'd have parked it there then anyway). It is sort of a "well, we want to encourage diversity" thing, though... it's not *normal* behavior. There aren't any kind of facilities - a pretty basic bike rack out in the weather... and the gym showers ... I don't know, maybe it's me but I have never gotten hot water from them so I gave up.
There are lots of fellow cycling nuts around here... and in general, the citizens like the idea of people riding bikes instead of cars, even if they don't "get it." It's sort of like being a monk or yoga guru or something - they don't think they could do it, but they admire it . If only I could convince them that it's a very feasible conversion... and I try, one bike trip at a time...

[paigette]

GLC1968--

Rock on with the late in life marriage! To this day my parents' friends continually remind them that they married 'old'. Geez, they were only in their 30's, but a lot of their friends have grandkids my age!!!:eek:

[bikerchick68]

I'm pretty lucky... my brother is a cyclist as well, so he and I chat all the time and did our first big rides together... including our first metric, then our first 3 centuries! It's cool having that in common with a sibling... if we lived closer together I have no doubt I'd ride with him a lot.

My mom is supportive, I have friends I ride with regularly, and have met and got to ride with tprevost from this forum!

My best friend does not ride but IS a marathon walker, so she gets the physical effort and sense of achievement thing... for Xmas last year she had a sterling charm made for my charm bracelet.. it's a silver disc with the number "100" etched into it... she put a note with it saying she was incredibly proud of my accomplishments and this charm was in honor of my century's (I rode my first ones last year!)... now THAT is some cool support huh? :)

[Bad JuJu]

They are couch potatoes (I was raised as a couch potato)

LOL--it's like you've converted to another religion!

[Bluetree]

Love the new avatar Bad Juju!

My first supporter was my ex-BF. Having lived a few destitute years as a med student in England, he spent his free time cycling throughout Europe, including a climb up Alp d'Huez. Currently, my biggest supporters are the guys I ride with, and the gals here at TE... Inspiration a-plenty!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I guess I'm older than i thought! :rolleyes: I realize that my own parents (if they were still alive) would actually be the same age and generation as many of your grandparents! :eek: Oh well.
Yes, I should not generalize. My own parents were real hippies, only back then they were called "Bohemians", and when I was young they were called "Beatniks"...(God I'm feeling older by the minute!!)...

As to my own biking supporter- well it's certainly my darling DH- he is my mentor, my personal fan club, my best friend, and my inspiration. :p I feel so lucky to have him. He's been quietly biking once and a while by himself for years, but since I got interested, my enthusiasm has infected him as well, and we share the raging biking fever now. He patiently shares his bike knowledge whenever I ask him, but never does it like he's "educating" me. He helps me learn to fix and adjust my own bike. He never feels we need to compete in any way, never speeds on ahead when we ride together, though I know he could. A truly wonderful person.

[Bad JuJu]

Think we must be about the same age, Lisa. My parents weren't Beatniks (too straight-laced!), but my uncles were, and they were my childhood heroes. Happy to say I grew up somewhat in their images.

They both had cool 10-speed bikes--called "English racers" in those days, which my brother and I used to lean up against the side of the house, climb onto the saddles, and pretend we were riding, when our feet didn't even reach the pedals!

[chickwhorips]

my BF is my greatest supporter. he has been cycing for years and was the one that got me into it. we were talking about it the other day and i get frustrated for how slow i seem to be because i compare myself to him, and he told me he's just proud of me going out there and doing it. thankfully he rides with me on his slow days and doesn't complain, just pushes me harder to make me better.

i have a new supporter since this summer. we had a retired refuge manager come up as a volunteer. super nice guy. well he's also into cycling and running. so now we email each other seeing what the other one is up to and "challenging" each other. its quite fun!

and of course i have all you girls here at TE to thank for keeping me modivated though it all. thanks! :)

[telegirl]

BikeHubby is my biggest supporter - I joke with him that he actually carved his first bike out of a rock, before the wheel was invented. I have none of my family close by, although they do make the appropriate "we support you" sounds on the phone, even though they think mountain biking and road riding is kind of crazy. It is funny, but in my area, I find that a lot of the women are very "closed" when it comes to supporting each other- I like hanging with BikeHubby's guy friends, because they not only push me to do better, but give me a lot of support. And I feel fortunate to have stumbled onto this site! Thanks, everyone!!

[salsabike]

Everyone, from my friends to my mother to my work colleagues, has been completely positive. I can't think of any exceptions at all.

[Mimosa]

Currently it must be my coworkers who are my biggest fans.

It used to be my dad but we had/have a big disagreement and since then I no longer see my parents. My mother never understood, she thought it was dangerous and couldn't bare to see me riding during crits.

My friends try to understand but they don't really connect at the same level. Most of them never done sports at such a level and don't understand what you need to do to get there.

So I rely on you girls and one other dutch forum.

Hopefully next year I can find a team of girls to share my passion with. :D

[light_sabe_r]

BF is my biggest supporter. The other cyclists at work are big supporters. We don't ride together but we all exchange horror stories and achivements much like we do here.

one of the girls at work keeps asking me when I'm getting my baby (my SUBzero.2 2007 road bike *sighs*)

[7rider]

My DH is my biggest supporter and encourager (some might say "enabler"). We met at the LBS sunday a.m. shop ride, so cycling has been a big part of our relationship from Day 1.
Since we are also "later in life" marrieds and kid-less (and are good friends of the LBS owner), we tend to too frequently indulge our desires for the newest and the coolest bike toys (like his re-fit of his Mtb, and he's currently trying to convince me that I "need" a fully custom Seven, since mine is "only" stock).

[Offthegrid]

Unfortunately I have no cycling supporters. In fact, I only know one other person who rides. She's a co-worker, but I don't know her very well. It makes it tough because I don't have anyone to ask to show me how to do mechanical things.

My friends know that I'm trying to lose weight, but they're indifferent. They think it's good that I exercise, but they're not going to start asking me how many miles I rode or something.

[twin]

My biggest supporter is my twin sister that has taken up biking for about 5 years. My co-workers although some teach at different schools because we are in a contest to see which one in our group will ride everyday to school and so far 3 of us are still holding that spot. I have a 1000 mile club for bicycling , running/walking and backpacking at school and it is for anyone that wants to be in the group they are not all trying for 1000 miles. lol This forum and a few friends plus my parents when they were alive and I am 51 so I guess they were ahead of others in that generation.

[pyxichick]

I'm very lucky that my mom is my biggest role model and supporter. She was out riding centuries when I was in high school and I had no idea how cool she was then. She got me and one of my sisters into cross country skiing, she's flown down to florida to run the 7 mile bridge race with one of my other sisters. She is just incredibly supportive of the whole lot of us when it comes to any athletic adventure. In fact, she has all of our pictures on her fridge with a little note that says "Team Sturdy Women."

As for my own cycling, I started because my BF convinced me that it was something we could do together and it would keep me in shape year round. Well, almost as soon as I started cycling, he decided to take up tennis instead :confused:

He's still a bike rep, so it will always be a huge thing in our household, but it's funny that as soon as I passed him in mileage this summer he lost interest in riding.

It's a good thing I love riding with the local Bellas and by myself when necessary.

And yes, he totally supports me by asking how my ride was, where did I go and how far, gets me all the cool gear, and even suggested I buy one of the new Look 585 carbon frames that he's repping this year. Hmmm. tempting, but still expensive at half the price!

My friends don't really understand all the time, money and effort that I expend on cycling, but they understand that everyone has their thing.

cheers,
Kate ;)

[Veronica]

I have no supporters. I have adoring fans or enablers. I'm not sure which.

V.

[SheFly]

Unfortunately I have no cycling supporters. In fact, I only know one other person who rides. She's a co-worker, but I don't know her very well. It makes it tough because I don't have anyone to ask to show me how to do mechanical things.

My friends know that I'm trying to lose weight, but they're indifferent. They think it's good that I exercise, but they're not going to start asking me how many miles I rode or something.

Not true - you have us :D !

Seriously, though, you should look into a local cycling club or group in your area. This would give you people to ride with, and people who understand your passion.

SheFly

[Tater]

My DH is my biggest supporter. He brags to the guys at work about the mileage I have, that I ride to work every day (even when it gets cold!), and that I rode over a hundred miles in one day (wait until the 400k brevet in May!). He loves to drive me to organized rides and has no problem waiting when I spend an hour in the bike shop comparing the stitching on two different messenger bags. He understands I need to be in motion, to be active or I will drive him nuts!

My family is pretty supportive, despite thinking I have lost my mind biking when there is snow on the ground. Well, a girl has to get to work!

My co-workers think I am fit for the looney bin. Yesterday the security guard was gobsmacked when I rolled up in 27 degree weather. What's the big deal? I was toasty!

[Crankin]

My husband and sons are my supporters, along with the one couple who are our "cycling" friends. My 'regular" life friends don't really get it. They don't discourage me or make fun of me, but they probably would faint if they knew what we spent on cycling stuff. They spend their $ on other pursuits, so I guess they would understand. I just find that it's getting harder to relate to a couple of people who are really good friends. I force myself, because you never know what could happen in the future. I think it's more that people don't get the addiction to living a fitness/healthy oriented life. One co-worker recently just rolled her eyes and said to me, "That's all you're putting on your salad?", in reference to how much dressing I was using. We spend a lot of time with our cycling friends, including all of our recent vacations.
My dad lives in California. He's never been athletic, but he does ask about what I'm doing, although he thinks I'm nuts. My mom, who would have been 77, would have been my greatest supporter. She was active in high school sports (girl's intramurals) and always walked, swam, did floor work stuff. She taught me to ride, and I was a hopeless 9 year old! We would regularly walk 5 miles or so when they would visit us. Right before she died, she told me that i would have to find something to "do" with my husband, since my kids were entering their teen years. Well, I guess her advice paid off...
Seriously, I always thank my son for getting me (and my husband) into riding. Even though he can't ride now because he's in the military, he always asks about it, and I ask about his running. When he was home a couple of weeks ago, he went into the new LBS where I got my bike and he told the owner that if it wasn't for him, "my mom and dad would have never started riding."

[TrekJeni]

I've stopped sharing that kind of info with my parents - they just don't get it. Unfortunately, cycling is such a big part of my/our life/lives that it makes it difficult for us to have conversations sometimes. It can also lead to big disappointment. SheFly

My mom doesn't get it either but then she's never been supportive of anything I've done. It was always, "you're not good enough to do that", kind of crap. Good thing I chose to ignore her! LOL Just broke up with BF of seven years and she was devestated. He was her smoking buddy (no one else in the family smokes). All our other friends and family said "what took so long?" since about the only thing we had in common after all those years was the fact we slept under the same roof! :D

BF was supportive at first, until it handicapped his ability to get rides to and from the bar to hang out with his buddies. Last straw (for me) was my wreck when he chose to stay at the bar and watch the Bengal's football game with "the boys" instead of come to the ER and wait with me to get stitched up. That's okay, as it was also the day that I realized I was in love with the manager of my LBS. :eek: Cool, cause he feels the same way and has for over a year and NEVER let on about it. Always had a professional relationship with me at the shop and when we rode together.

I would have never started biking without my gym rat buddy though. We have done countless charity rides and logged thousands of miles locally just riding around.

My boss runs marathons and thinks biking is way too expensive but understands the addiction to calling in sick during the winter when the temp gets above 65!

Jeni

[Meaux]

My husband is my biggest supporter. He's great! Even when I have a bad ride and don't feel good and get all whiny, he's always telling me what a great job I'm doing and how I kicked that road's @$$.
We found a sponsor for our MS150 team, so that's financial support. This guy is also a really great guy. He's so enthusiastic and so enthralled by the fact that we're doing this ride.
My family is sort of a different story. My father-in-law cycled years ago and I think was inspired to get on the bike after DH and I started riding. Now he's be super competitive and sometimes a little mean and conceited about it. Sometimes I think that he thinks that since he rode 10+ years ago (but not since then) that he knows everything and that he's obviously better than us. Not that I have a problem taking advice, it's just the way that he gives it. He just acts like he invented the sport. It's incredibly frustrating, since I have been trying to look up to him as a father figure, and he can't be one.

[RoadRaven]

My life partner... ny biggest supporter, fan and coach

My older two sons, cause they like to talk races with me and encourage and reassure my weight loss and fitness goals

My daughter, even though she doesn't ride

Three colleagues at work support me by being interested - but they also ride. The rest who can be bothered to remember I bike are more incredulous or think I'm slightly mad - neither of which are supportive.

My ma and pa - they have never been fit in their lives and have always assumed I would be the same. They are thrilled I have taken control of my fitness before I get any older and that my partner supports me - they support physically at events when they can and always take an interest.

I am very lucky in the man I have lived with for over 20 years and the children we are raising together

[susiej]

Unfortunately I have no cycling supporters. In fact, I only know one other person who rides. She's a co-worker, but I don't know her very well. It makes it tough because I don't have anyone to ask to show me how to do mechanical things.

Suggest a ride together after work or at lunch? I kept asking around at my last job until I found who owned the SUV with the bike on the back. We rode together a couple times before we left for other jobs.

At the current job, half my co-workers bike (or run), and we trade horror stories and advice. I got my bike to be more involved in my husband's bike habit (and my habit has a life of its own now), so he's very encouraging. Mom knows how important exercise is, so she's just thrilled.

My friends and family (that don't bike) have the same reaction as they do to my love of math -- they're mildly impressed, but they don't understand why I would want to. I feel the same way about climbing Everest. ;) No one has been negative. One friend couldn't understand why I turned down his offer to drive me and the bike home from the train. It was just a mile! And the rain was just spritzing! And if I stop for a day, I'm less likely to do it the next day.

-SJ

--SJ