What we're missing...

[roguedog]

It was just one of those moments you know when you kinda take a step back and say "huh.."

First I noticed something missing in this forum from other bike forums I'd been on. Then I did a quick mental confirmation. Yup.

Then today, I read more threads on this forum. Silver's hubby. Lisa S.H's hubby allowing her to fill up her winter wardrobe.

You guys know what I'm referring to yet?

You (We?) all must be the collective of all the cool SOs of the other bike forums. You know, those understanding spouses & partners who don't nag their husbands/partners about their bike habit. (And probably also the ones who keep up if not .. uh pass them :D )

Further, on all the other forums, all I constantly read are " ... if the wife let's me.." or ".. there's no way the wife will let me.." and I don't hear any of that negativity here. Seems all the SOs here are really supportive of the bike habit.

Kinda cool, really. Nice energy here..

In the spirit of TDay, here's to all those understanding SOs and partners!

[jenjustjen]

hear hear~!
My SO and i just brought new bikes to cycle together, he's very supportive, but get's a bit nervy if i mention centuries and touring!

[makbike]

I count my blessing every day for my wonderful BF. He was, until recently the service manager at a LBS and his love for riding was contagious. He is very supportive of my desires to ride so I never have to worry about him telling me I need to stay home. He is always looking for affordable parts for my "little blue bike" and always has a word or two of encouragement to offer when things get tough. Before I found the current combo of asthma medication I'm using, he would never leave me on a tough ride just in case things really went from bad to worse. It was a great comfort to have him beside me as I struggled for air (this issue has now been solved). Have to told you how lucky I am? He is wonderful.

[7rider]

I admit to being an enabler of my DH's bike habit, just as he is an enabler of mine.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) he doesn't cruise the other forums, so he's not one of those few voices in the wilderness out there saying "My DW rides with me."
DH and I met cycling (and had visions of getting married on our bikes before tradition won the day) and bikes are a big part of our life together.

[Crankin]

I can't agree more. I don't even look at other bike forums because of all that stuff. My husband willingly buys all and any bike stuff I want, sometimes without me even knowing. Of course, he's buying for himself, too!

[margo49]

My SO doesn't ride . He walks (Breathwalk).
"I've got short legs, a chronic bad shoulder, carpals tunnels syndrome in both hands. Why would *I* want to tag along with her in something she's so good at and so enjoys?" is his response when people ask why we don't ride together like a "real" couple

[mimitabby]

i too have one of those amazing DHs. He has said not once but several times "she can have whichever bike she wants"

so I savor the moments while i decide and research. And i'm in no rush because I have a decent bike already.

While he isn't the greatest of all in the domestic department (dirty underwear on the floor, clutter, etc) I know that i am really really fortunate to have this guy.

[NJBikeGal]

Margo, my DH doesn't ride either! I used to get a lot of weird reactions from people when I would talk about spending 4 hours on a Saturday on the bike without him!! He gets out on a bike once in a while when he's sick of running, but as many times as I have offered to get him a bike of his very own, he always says no. At least he never says no to me when I need something bike related or want to watch the Tour on TV!! :D

[spokewench]

Yep, my husband got into biking just before I did - so he is supportive. I never tell him he can't buy a bike and he never tells me I can't! Finally, I got the nicer road bike than his - (of course I was sponsored so got a lot of stuff for next to nothing). It only makes sense though I road ride more than he does.

This year he redid his full suspension bike to get more travel. Yahoo!, he rides mountain bikes more than I do!

Biking is a good healthy lifestyle so why not?

He's a great guy.

[rocknrollgirl]

My DH is the finest man on the planet. He is my best friend and training partner. We ride together and race together. He just spent about....4 months researching and shopping for every component on my new Titus Racer X.
And he treats everyone that way. If we are out mt biking, and there are other women there, he will get off his bike and spot over obstacles. He is patient and kind and supportive.

I am very blessed, and I know it.....

You rock CT.....
Ruth

[Pedal Wench]

My boyfriend is the most amazingly supportive, encouraging mentor I could ever ask for. He's ridden forever, but since he got me hooked, he's so much more involved too. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.

[GLC1968]

I actually got my husband into cycling, but now he's *almost* as hooked as I am. He's leaning more towards touring, while I want to race....but we definitely have found a joint love for this! Our house is draped with cycling gear, our bank statments are all to our LBS (or TE...shhhh! ;) ), and now our holiday cards this year will have a bike theme. Oh, and we both got bikes for Christmas (already...gotta ride while we can!).

My DH is active on BF...and he's also one of the 'nice' ones. :)

I'm VERY grateful for his unwavering support!

[Tater]

My hubby doesn't ride, but he loves to drive me to rides, he brags to his co-workers about how I commute (yes, even when it gets cold, says he), how many miles I've done this year, etc. He doesn't roll his eyes when I mention I need this piece of bike apparel or that particular bike part, he knows it will get used. Just this last weekend, he surprised me with a $160 jacket that I had been drooling over but declining to get. His reasoning? I don't want you wet, cold and *itchy! So that wind proof/water proof jacket will see many miles!
I love that man.

[Bikingmomof3]

My husband is so very supportive of me and my hobbies. I am quite fortunate. We share the same hobbies, which makes it more enjoyable. This is the only bike forum I frequent and DH is not on any forums.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My boyfriend is the most amazingly supportive, encouraging mentor I could ever ask for. He's ridden forever, but since he got me hooked, he's so much more involved too. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.

Hey wait a minute....I think I'm married to your boyfriend!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My DH and I never tire of each other. I am so blessed and SO lucky.
We work harmoniously at home together all day, chase each other around the house :eek:, ride bikes together, play music together...it's all too good! He's the Best. :p

[Pyannyplayer]

My DH got me hooked on riding and he's my favorite to ride with! Before I had any "legs for hills" he would patiently wait for me, let me rest, etc., and NEVER say anything bad! Now we do all sorts of tours, I do triathlons (he and our two boys are my BIGGEST fans!), we do team duathlons....golly! We now think nothing of a 50-75 mile ride :eek:

He buys me bike stuff (it's almost ALL that's on my Christmas list) and goes with me to "try it out". He loads bikes on the rack, keeps them maintained.....I could go on and on. He's told me it's all worth it when he tells his male biking friends that HIS wife rides or when we go for our group rides and we're the only "couple" he loves to hear our friends say "wish my wife would try it".

He's the best! (That's why I bought us new road bikes for our anniversary:) )

Lorie

[Aint Doody]

Oh, wow! Y'all are soooo lucky. My husband is wonderful,too, and I love him to distraction. However, he smokes and the only exercise he gets is getting out of his golf cart to hit a ball and get back in. He's also diabetic and stays up half the night watching the jewelry channels. I'm probably one of the few women in the world who say--nope, don't want that ring, necklace, earrings. I mean, I like the stuff, but there's a limit!

Anyhow I'd do anything to get him moving because selfishly I'd like to have him around longer. And I don't relish the thought of an oxygen tube in his nose while I push him around in a wheelchair. (Sigh) OK, I'll be quiet now.

[Cassandra_Cain]

It seems rather ironic that there is a thread about great SO's here, on what is obviously a women's forum. Meanwhile, in every one of the predominantly male forums I've visited, all I hear about are SO's being belittled, criticized, etc.

Just a casual observation though I'm not vested either way since I'm happily uninvolved.

[eclectic]

My DBF is the one who got me to get a road bike although very unintentionally :)
He rides an older Schwinn hybrid, is strong and spins unbelievably well, I rode a Schwinn leisure style bike and NEVER could keep up w/ him (one flaw - he wasn't good about slowing down to my pace) As I rode more and more club rides with him and learned more, the time came that I figured if I had a road bike I could keep up with him - that was my primary reason for trying one out.

Well 1 year, clipless pedals, a century, 2 tours and 2000 miles later I can keep up with him. Now HE is threatening to get a new bike :D

[light_sabe_r]

My BF is awesome. he did get me into riding. and he's my biggest supporter. My mum's so impressed because a few weeks ago he bought me a bright light for the front of my bike. "He's looking out for you!"

The ONLY thing I've said NO to when it comes to cycling was "tits on wheels" cycling calander which was just soooo sexist. The bikes were hot though! that Cannondale was SWEET AS! Too bad the woman looked like she'd never ridden one before.

I know he was joking around but seriously girls, If your boyfriend showed you a calender of all these breast enhanced, naked, not wearing helmets women on road bikes photos you'd say NO too! THAT was probably the only complaint you'd hear from him about cycling.


Anyway, BF's cycling buddies keep telling him to marry me even if it's only because I let him ride.

[kelownagirl]

It's not too late chime in here with "no, my dh is the best?!" He's into cycling and is totally supportive and so proud and excited that I have joined him. He encourages me to buy stuff I need (incuding two bikes this year :) ) and it has helped him a lot because now he rides much more now too.

For the record, I hate most of the other forums too. Way too sexist/macho. Way too non-supportive. DH doesn't hang out in them either.

[momof4greatkids]

It's so great to hear about all the supportive hubby's, and I have a wonderful hubby, too. He's not into biking as much as I am, YET. I dragged him along on a 27 miler a couple weeks back and he was a good sport about it but thought it was a little too much. But he's in good shape, just not heavily into biking. I hope he gets more into it as time goes on. I can really envision us biking more together as our kids get older, our youngest is 11, and it's just hard for both of us to be away for hours at a time. The kids are not at all into any biking beyond a short jaunt up and down the street at 8mph :rolleyes:

My dh is super-supportive of all my hobbies and he even brags on my accomplishments. He's wonderful, I am very blessed.

Colleen

[liberty]

Well, as I don't have a BF, I'll brag on the other man in my life. My dad has to be one of the greatest men in the world. As far as cycling goes, when he was 16/17 he was on a 50 mile bike ride, working towards a merit badge for Boy Scouts. He had just gotten a brand new bike; and I think it was one of his first rides on it. But he cut a corner on the road, entered the opposing lane and went head-on through the windshield of a car. Did he quit riding? No. I remember as a child doing bike rides as a family. And then in an attempt to get back in shape, last year my parents bought recumbents. Now we do 30-40 rides on a regular basis. He is very supportive and always has a good attitude, even though mom and I go faster than him. Even after having to do an emergency run to take me to the doctor's after my bike wreck, he still encourages me to ride. What a guy! My hubby will have a lot to live up to.

[MomOnBike]

I've always had the sneaking suspicion that when guys talk about how their wimmin "won't let them" they are really saying "I don't want to" in a male-acceptable way. But what do I know? I'm female.

Anyway, my DH drove me to another state and left me and my bike behind so that I could take a solo tour. And then, when weather and time conspired against me, he drove out to get me, so that I could make it back to work on time.

I didn't realize that this was unusual until someone else told me. Hmm... Really? :confused:

We were going to take a tour together this fall, but we didn't quite have the fundage. Next year...

[silver]

Wow! Such wonderful affirmation of your SO's and DH's! I'm not going to justify the ungrateful hubbys...frankly, I'm not a macho dude and don't share their "blame the Mrs." attitude.

BUT, I must confess...Silver has her indulgences, but she tolerates a big one from me:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/etsterling/photo/294928803774054902/0

SO, I give and I receive...isn't that what marriage is?

[silver]

Wow! Such wonderful affirmation of your SO's and DH's! I'm not going to justify the ungrateful hubbys...frankly, I'm not a macho dude and don't share their "blame the Mrs." attitude.

BUT, I must confess...Silver has her indulgences, but she tolerates a big one from me:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/etsterling/photo/294928803774054902/0

SO, I give and I receive...isn't that what marriage is?

[hugs/] luv ya!

silver

[Lifesgreat]

My DH is the finest man on the planet.


No sir! :p

MY DH is the finest man on the planet.

I could not ask for a better, kinder man to spend my life with.

[Meaux]

My DH got me into cycling in the first place, both following the sport and actually doing it. I was hoping for some sparkly jewelry for our 1st wedding anniversary last month, but when he suggested getting road bikes, I leapt on that! He's really supportive and pushes me gently when I'm giving up too early. He's fantastic, and he's my favourite riding partner. I just can't figure out why he likes to ride behind me. Tee hee.
I belong to the Bike Forums forum as well, and a few months ago, they had a thread that one guy started trying to get advice on how to get the wife to let him buy expensive bike parts. I told him to get his wife involved. Another guy said that he should buy the wife flowers and I told that guy that flowers die, but aerobars are forever.