How many of you..

[LadyinWhite]

Drive your friends crazy by working your bike into way too many conversations? You know what I mean: "yea yea yea, that's nice, glad little Jimmy got a B+ in math, yes, I'm sure you are very proud. Did I mention I brought my bike to the shop today, that FD is really acting up and I really think it needs to be upgraded from the stock 2203 but my wrench wants me to give it another 1000 miles and then upgrade the works: shifters etc."

[mimitabby]

lol, well, yeah. maybe I do that sometimes :p

[Thistle]

guilty :D :D

[East Hill]

Er, I try to hang out with other people who understand the obsession!

Then we just have to see who gets to talk first.

East Hill

[doc]

Also guilty

[Bad JuJu]

Hah! DH and I were visiting friends over the weekend, and I talked so much about my bike that Mrs. Friend let me drag her (on her single-speed cruiser) along on an 8-mile ride. Doesn't sound like much to most of us here, but imagine doing it on a dinosaur like that. My friend was a trooper, though, and even got up and did it again the next day! In fact when we left, she was talking to DH about getting a road bike of her own. She's in trouble now! :D

[spokewench]

I usually avoid talking too much about bike stuff with non-bikeys. They just don't get it and sometimes I think it intimidates ladies who don't ride when I say something like - oh, I just rode 450 miles in 6 days - so I just don't usually go there.

but, I do have a lot of bikey friends so sometimes the conversation can get sort of one sided. I have a girlfriend who got a new boyfriend last year (not a bikey). SOmetimes,I feel sorry for him and will try to talk golf with him to give him a break.

[Pedal Wench]

Went to dinner last night after spin class with about 12 of my cycling club members. Someone mentioned how they hate going to eat with non-bikey people. Personally, I just avoid the situation:p

[SouthernBelle]

Actually, It's kinda fun impressing people, who have no clue, with my 'huge' distances.

OK so I'm evil.

[IFjane]

Guilty here!

But SO and I have migrated to having mostly bikey friends so it is not so much of an issue socially....however, here at work I am the ONLY bikey person, so everyone else has to deal with it. Wait! Maybe that's why no one stops by my office any more.....:D

[IFjane]

Actually, It's kinda fun impressing people, who have no clue, with my 'huge' distances.

OK so I'm evil.

Belle - it IS fun. My director asked me once how far I rode the day before. I said, "only 30 miles." She was shocked I went so far.....and then I told her that was a short ride...(evil is good sometimes!) ;)

[bouncybouncy]

haha...i post pics on a site for sharing with friends and family...my Mom not-so-subtly told me

"you can only look as SOOO many mtbike pics!"

she does really support my interest!!!! I am trying to post more "interesting" pics on there now...more scenery and macros just to break up the monotony...

[GLC1968]

Guilty. But I do try to tone it down around certain people.

My mom wonders why I never have much of an update on my life anymore. It's because she doesn't want to hear about biking and well...what else is there?! :p

Actually, there are a lot of guys here at work who bike, so we tend to get all going on some biking-related topic in the breakroom and when we come down off our 'high' most everyone else has left out of dis-interest! :o

[Susan126]

Put me down as guilty too. And like southernbelle and IFjane just said about "distances" . . . that always grabs their attention! For example my sister called me one weekend afternoon and asked me what I was up to and I told her that she had caught me as I was leaving for a short bike ride because I had to be somewhere later that afternoon. She asked, "Oh only a short ride like 5 or 10 miles?" And I said, "No a short 25 - 30 mile ride." She couldn't believe it. :p

[Mimosa]

Guilty. But I think most non-bike people I talk to listen out of politeness not out of interest :p

[stacie]

I try to be careful here. Many of my friends I met at the Y or eventually got them to join. However, I've lost friends who were not successful. Recently, some really good friends started asking my husband and me about working out. I even got them a free membership for a while in hopes that they would enjoy it. They never went and we get far fewer invites to their house. When we do visit, they usually start giving us excuses why they aren't doing all the things they dream about. I was recently having a glass of wine at a bar with my husband when a friend I haven't seen in a while caught my eye. He came over to say hello and immediatly started explaining the weight he'd put on. I knew I wouldn't be seeing him again. My husband and I remind each other not to talk fitness when we head to non-fitness type people's parties. We've gone as far as to change out of run tshirts when walking over to get our son's at a neighbor's house. When a friend starts talking fitness to us who doesn't already exercise, my husband I always try to change the subject. :(

[LadyinWhite]

My friends all laugh and say look at their watches, ribbing me, saying Gee, 30 min before she worked her bike into the conversation! LOL.. it's so funny.

Now I do it just to bust their chops. I'll very overtly deliberately say "Why that's just like when I [insert bike story/comparison here]."

Everyone is just glad that I have something that means so much to me in my life.
:D I'm a lucky girl!

[DarcyInOregon]

I have very few bikey friends, so it is worse for me. I am what is referred to as a living widow, so I can't even talk bike stuff to my husband. I have one male friend who calls and he asks me what is new, and I launch into a description of every ride for the past seven days, and now he doesn't ask me what is new anymore. Or worse yet, the conversation veers towards something I did, and I always say, well I had to spend the day taking my husband to the doctors and so I couldn't get my ride in, instead of merely stating that I spent the day taking my husband to various doctor appointments and lab tests; it is always I did this or that and so I couldn't get my ride in, because that is what is really important to me, the lack of the ride, not what I did that prevented me from having the ride.

Darcy

[Minty]

I'm a piglet shaped person who commutes to work and does little rides on weekends. Like 9km each way for the work commute and maybe 40-50km on the weekend. This is such a tiny distance, and I know it is but I never get tired of how impressed non-riders are with my efforts, especially considering I don't exactly look athletic (big bums are great for downhill ballast!).

I think everyone I know knows my bike's name is Trevor and that his favourite bike shop used to be Cecil Walker Cycles (bianchi specialist), but now he prefers Brunswick St Cycles because he doesn't feel as self conscious about being the only non-bianchi in the workshop.

When I bought Trevor some new wheels for Christmas I bored everyone stiff with how exciting it would be to have blade spokes and some nice sturdy hubs.

Oh well - could be worse. All my colleagues talk about is Big Brother!

[Wahine]

Most of the time I play down my fitness endeavors with non-tri/bikey friends and family. But all of my friends know how important it is to me so they almost always ask how much I've been training, how long I've been riding...

Well once they ask, I let them have it but in a very brief way. Sort of like this:

Them - Did you train today?

Me - Yep

Them - What did you do?

Me - For which workout?

Them - Pardon?

Me - Which workout? I ran this morning and biked this afternoon.

Them - What?

Well you get the idea. And like Southernbelle, IFjane and Susan 126, I love the looks on their faces when I get to the part when they ask how far or how long. I am evil. Sometimes I think I do this so that when I'm 90 and in a nursing home if the nurse says "My are killing me," I can say in a crochety voice, "You don't know what sore feet are. When I was your age..." :p

But seriously, I never talk about my training beyond them asking me questions. It is an easy way to bore people to death.

[run it, ride it]

I have a horse, run, fence, practice taekwondo, sail, skateboard, work out, AND bike. Thankfully whoever I'm talking to finds at least ONE interesting, but sometimes it just goes over people's heads.

I was talking to a friend after class, when I mentioned I should drive home before it gets dark. Once he determined that I meant my BIKE:

"Don't you have a car?"
"I'm not wasting gas driving when there's a bike lane the whole way here!"
"Uh, can't you take the bus?"
"I don't do busses. Huh, mine's the only bike on the rack, today..."
"Yeah, that's because it's MINUS TWENTY!"

Now whenever I mention a bike he just shakes his head and walks off. This is a magician who sticks Q-tips in his nose for fun, calling ME crazy...

[crazycanuck]

Well..People at work know I bike 20km to work and think i'm a bit crazy. I can tell you many of my conversations are similar to Wahine's.

Them-So, how far did you bike yesterday? Did you swim today? Are you mtn biking on the weekend? How many km's have you done this week. etc etc..

Me-only 50km. Yep, swam today. Yep as per usual. only 170 so far.

Them :eek: :confused: :rolleyes: :eek:

They know i've only ever called in sick twice-when i mistook a curb for a flat piece of ground & landed on me head and when i had stitches in my knee late 05..

They like me because i'm crazy :)


c

[Crankin]

This is getting to be a problem with 2 couples who are non-cycling friends. Couple #1 USED to be very active. Now they do nothing, no tennis for him, she plays doubles and complains about the running! She's on Crestor and tells me how she loves to eat ice cream every night. Brags about her brother in law's marathons, but doesn't really listen too well when she asks what I did that day. There are other issues here, but they have been friends for 16 years. Couple #2, are both overweight. She eats fine, but it's family history. She doesn't exercise and constantly says "I'm going to start." They have had other issues (no jobs) for a few years, but are back on track. They are wonderful friends, so I try not to bring it up. Didn't ask at all when we did our century or done other unusual rides.
Couple #3 are our cycling friends. We also go to theatre with them and dinner, etc, vacations, x country ski, hikes, snow shoe. We talk about sports stuff a lot, but also lots of other things. Naturally, we spend mfore time with these people. Wish we could find more friends like this, where we have the cycling interest, but also other things in common...

My dad doesn't even know half the stuff I do. When my mom was alive, she was very interested and supportive. Both kids like to hear of our adventures, though.

[missymaya]

Im guilty of this conversation piece (that and political science). My coworkers are mostly overweight, eat poorly, and most of them smoke, so when I mention what I do before and between work in the daytime and school in the evening, and what I do on my weekends, they look at me like I haven't 'lived' b/c I don't get trashed on weekends or smoke or eat the birthday cake (ok a little ice cream every once in a long while just to satisfy the taste buds!). This also applies to many of my pre-bike friends, and my fam, particular my sis. B/c I'm in school and work, cycling is practically the only thing extracurricular for me, so the conversation is either about poli sci or cycling (never work!)

[Batbike]

Biking is important to me, so I talk about it. Yet, I have learned (through blank stares, nervous responses, and sheer bafflement) to tone it down or avoid the subject all together with "those of less knowledge and understanding". Then again, there are those who have gotten use to it and know that 30 miles is a short ride; 100 miles is an accomplishment. :cool:

Most people who know me know "I ride a bike" for fun and exercise. I get asked questions (a lot) about overall fitness, bikes, and proper nutrition -- lots of times because people want to know and feel guilty they aren't doing anything. I am happy to give them web sites and other resources, but keep the subject VERY SHORT and explain that I am just a "middle-age woman who rides a bike and watches what I eat". I have found this relaxes people, frees them of their "guilt" and we can move on to other topics. :)

Now, with people who ride a bike -- what else is there to talk about?!! :eek: ;) It is nice to have good friends who understand and are as obsessive as you ... makes life fun!! :cool: :D

[caligurl]

Guilty. But I think most non-bike people I talk to listen out of politeness not out of interest :p



what she said.....

[Bluetree]

Guilty here, too. Although I found that if you even mention the word "triathlon" to non-fitness people, they invaribly use the word "crazy" in their response.

I've been making a concentrated effort to see members of my tri club on a social level... we just can't seem to stop talking!


I'm a piglet shaped person

LOL! I like to think of myself as an Asian Gumby... looks thin from the side, stick-like arms, no chest, no hips, wide legs...:D

[IFjane]

LOL! I like to think of myself as an Asian Gumby... looks thin from the side, stick-like arms, no chest, no hips, wide legs...:D


As long as you aren't green all over it's ok, BT!

[caligurl]

Guilty here, too. Although I found that if you even mention the word "triathlon" to non-fitness people, they invaribly use the word "crazy" in their response.


"I" use the term crazy about triathlons! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/201.gif

[Bluetree]

"I" use the term crazy about triathlons! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/201.gif

You will be punished for that... hand over your Ruby... NOW!

[caligurl]

speaking of fitness.... working out.... this was on the news this morning

link here (http://www.nbc4.tv/health/10897987/detail.html?taf=la)

nbc4.tv
Exercise Bulimia Often Accompanies Eating Disorder

POSTED: 5:47 am PST February 1, 2007
UPDATED: 5:49 am PST February 1, 2007

Americans are constantly exposed to messages about the importance of getting enough exercise for our health, but there is actually such a thing as too much exercise. The condition is called "exercise bulimia," and it's likened to addiction and eathing disorders.

Lisa Rubin considered herself an exercise fanatic. She worked out to use up the calories she consumed.

"You eat two slices of bread, you work out two hours; one slice, one hour," Rubin explained.

It was an obsession, and she would spend four or five hours a day at the gym. She trained and ran marathons with broken bones and even while recovering from surgery.

"Apparently, that's not normal," Rubin acknolwedged. "Doctors would say to me, 'Outside, you look great, but inside, your bones are just falling apart.'"

For 30 years, Rubin said, she has battled the disorder called exercise builimia.

"It is the degree to which exercise thoughts and behaviors interfere with the quality of your life and ultimately take up space inside your head and ultimately infringe on your wellness and your health and potentially your life," according to Sondra Kronberg, of the National Eating Disorder Association.

Those who suffer from the affliction cannot judge how much exercise is too much. It often accompanies and eating disorder, and there is an underlying cause.

"The disorder develops as a coping mechanism for what's going on inside. It's a creative strategy for survival: 'What can I do to feel better about myself?'" Kronberg said.

Rubin became exhausted; for some, the result is worse.

There is a lot of denial as to if this is wellness or illness," Kronberg explained. "They will have to rock bottom before they can see that something is wrong, like an alcoholic."

Warning signs include a compulsion to exercise and the need to keep moving to burn calories. They may include antisocial behaviors, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

"This is a mental illness, and it's not just about eating too much or exercising too little or or exercising too much and eating too little," Kronberg said. "These illnesses are deadly and ... people will die from them."

Rubin now limits her workout to 30 minutes and knows she needs food for energy, but she said it's still an uphill battle.

More Information: NationalEatingDisorders.org

[caligurl]

You will be punished for that... hand over your Ruby... NOW!

*gasp* NO! meanie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bluetree]

*gasp* NO! meanie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're not mean. We're just crazy. ;)

[caligurl]

ya..... i agree: CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY!