biking and self esteem?

okay, how about an informal poll on the 'other' effects of cycling?
yeah, my butt's a little firmer (not much though, i like ice cream too much!) and my hill-climbing has improved 300% since i started (in june) and running for the bus no longer causes me to cough up a lung...but that's just the obvious effects...
what i'm *really* asking about is the other stuff-- like the psychological effects, i s'pose. why am i so interested in this? well, before i was cycling i was a little over weight, somewhat out of shape, and --like most of us-- a little insecure. now i'm still overweight , but it's more muscle than it used to be, and i'm in way better shape. but my confidence has soared!! i put on my cheesy spandex and jersey with the sleeves too long (i'm really short) and I feel like superwoman. i went from yoga as my only excercise to biking 120 to 200 or so km a week (commuting plus weekend fun). i ride on city streets, in rush hour, for two hours when i bike to and from work. after that, i figure i can do just about anything!! i read something in the paper today that said cycling is empowering-- a statement that must be agreed with.
so... anyone else feel better about yourself since taking up biking? any other interesting results? dump a jerk? get a better job? tell your mother to lay off? re-paint your kitchen? buy sexy underwear? share! share the stories, i mean, not the sexy underwear ;)

Great topic spokes.

I honestly believe that cycling saved my life...or at least my health. I was a runner before cycling found me and I battled eating disorders (anorexia and bulemia) for years trying to be light light light and fast fast fast.

When I started racing mtb, I noticed that the female bike racers were a bit larger and sturdier than my running sisters. I discovered that I needed the extra muscle mass to do well riding off-road. That, and a little extra butt-cush sure is nice on the ol' sit-bones :p If I want to be lighter and faster, all I need is a quick (but often expensive) upgrade to the bikes.

I still run, but it's more about endurance and enjoying the scenery now. I still have bad body-image days, but in general I'm satisfied with my fitness, I don't own a scale, and I eat pretty much whatever/whenever I want .

The other thing that cycling has brought me is a social life. All of my friends ride/race.

This is a good topic. Cycling and exercise in general has just about changed everything in my life. In 2000 I weighed 218 lbs and knew I had to do something. I couldn't even get up off the floor when I played with my two little boys. I started walking and watching what I eat. Pretty soon I was running, then my 43 year old knees couldn't hack it. I took up cycling two years ago. Lost 80 lbs. Now I ride centuries at an average of 16 mph. My career took off because my self confidence had increased so much. I literally doubled my income. I'm teaching the rest of my family how important exercise and nutrition are. My mother and one of my sisters have gotten with the program and had their own successes. I wish I could bottle up how good I feel about this and sell it.

well there has been several articles indicating that exercise increases a chemical in the brain that makes you feel better. they have found exercise to greatly reduce depression and other psychological problems.

i have to admit though that i feel like a superwoman too. at night i dream of climbing hills like i am a pro rider or something!! i never dreamt those dreams with any other sport. :)

it is nice to hear that someone else feels the same way.

enjoy your ride!

christine

I got into cycling for a lot of different reasons. I got interested in cycling when a customer of mine (turned friend, turned more than a friend, turned heartbreaker!) talked nonstop about cycling, racing, riding....... when we were talking all the time, he begged me to get a bike and ride. It wasn't until we "broke up" that I looked into getting a bike and riding. I was instantly hooked!

It has been a life-saver for me. Not only do I feel close to someone I loved very much, whom I can't be with right now; but I feel free when I am on the bike. I am doing something totally for me and no one else. It is challenging and inspiring to me to conquer each milestone I set ahead of myself.

In life, (this is just my opinnion), everyone needs a purpose. You need a reason to get up in the morning. Everyone needs a challenge, a reason to keep fighting the fight. If we don't have those things, we're just existing. So, for me......the bike is my challenge. Riding consumes me. Makes me feel alive again. I don't know how long it will take for my heart to heal, but I know cycling gets my mind off the pain!

Thanks for letting me vent.........you guys are my therapy!

I love reading the posts on this forum. This is real life to me!

i used to run. running started to hurt my joints, and after i would get done, i would ache deep in my bones. i quit and took up cycling. it was not an easy transition (clipless pedals), but it saved me and helps keep the power in my legs.

believe it or not, i eat more now than i did when i was running. my joints feel better too.

I am handicapped! there that said.. see ya on the trails. I was born with a muscle deformity in my knee that made it dislocate its knee cap a LOT. As a kid and teen it went out 3-4 times a day. Major Bummer. A BF in colllege taught me to ride a bike. I had been considering yet another sergical option that would permenantly fuse my knee. Couldn't do it until I was "full grown". Discoverd biking just in time! Its hard to learn how to ride a bike at 18...but God bless a BF with the patience of a saint. I bought a mtn bike the next year, and started a cycling club on my campus. Saw my Dr at age 22 and told him I hadn't worn a brace in 2 years...he said.."how are you walking?" Cycling changed the way the muscles in my knee supported the knee cap. Several bikes later I am a completle wheel junkie, and the only evidence of any of mt old knee problems are pictures of the old braces I had to wear and the scars from early sergeries.

Did biking give me confidence... um Hell Yeah! I never wore a skirt and hardly wore shorts at all, as I always had to wear a HUGE hideous brace. If there is a down side to cycling... I want to see it! Crashing sucks...so what, get up brush it off..... and go ride! I can honestly say, cycling gave me the ability to walk and cured a handicap!

I LOVE my bikes...all of them!

What an awesome testimony! Whenever I whine about my petty problems and feel like I am "all alone with my misery"....... someone remind me to get up off my a$$ and get moving in the right direction!

Cycling for me has been a life saver in its own way, too. I am just getting started in this sport, but I absolutely love it! It has been a gift from God all the way around!

i'm glad i asked, aren't i? you guys are an inspiration!! which was, i s'pose, the point... thanks for being up to the challenge. this is just something to ponder as i stare down a monster hill-- it's all relative...

Since we're getting into the "spirituality" aspect of cycling........

What needs in your life get met by this activity?

For me it's freedom to think about and feel anything I want to! I don't have to answer to anyone and deal with my 3 kids (15,13,8 yrs old!). It's "ME" time!

It also makes me feel like I am a part of someone that I miss a lot right now. Common ground, I guess.

What about y'all?

mountain biking gives me the oppurtunity to really "play" as an adult.

I confess, I love the "cool" factor when people learn where/how much I ride.

I have great apprecaition for how strong my legs are, carry me up the hills.
Make me feel prettydarn good about my non-toothpick legs.

Irulan

I was mostly a runner then decided I wanted to do triathlons. I immediately fell in love with being on my bike. Running and now biking have made me feel like I can accomplish anything! I agree with what everybody else has said above.....being a mother of two teens (I love being the "old me"), love conquering my fears of "have to be careful" when I race down a hill, I'm quite short and I feel "tall" on my bike......just so many wonderful things.

I'm looking for a new bike now.............got to keep up :D !

Kelly

This is a difficult topic to write about. Not because riding means so little to me, but because it means so much. It is hard to put it into words.

Riding has been a large part of my life for over 20 years. It's not just something I do, it's part of who I am. It's given me health and strength, physically and mentally. It's brought me through good times and very bad times. It's kept me going and going, down the road, over the rocks, wherever life takes me. I want to keep doing this forever. Yes, not every ride is a profound and spiritual experience, but it's there in the background. Each ride, long, short, difficult, easy, contributes it's own rythm to my life. Riding beyond what I think my abilities are shows me not to limit myself. Riding easy with friends makes me realize how extraordinarly lucky I am to have those friends. Riding alone makes me appreciate it all - the effort of riding, the beauty of the countryside, the endless cycle as my legs turn the pedals around and around.
Cycling, to me, is freedom. It is motion. It is JOY! I wish you all the joy of cycling.

**Whew! I don't usually gets so philosophical. That is it for deep thinking for the day. I need to get out on the bike and play!**

Beautiful!

It is a spiritual journey for me as well. I feel very close to someone that I am not physically close to right now. I feel like we still have a kindred spirit.

I have never been depressed in my life.......until now! It is so bad, that I had to seek help.....both with medicine and with counciling. I just started about 1.5 months ago on the medicine, about the same time I started biking. I am just now feeling like I am going to pull thru this bad time. I still ache for what I have lost, but I can make it thru the day.........as long as I know I will be out on my bike for a while.

I am almost there with the "joy" of riding. Right now, it is therapy.... it's what I need to keep living!

I love it as well for the time it gives me to escape from the world. I love how powerful and fast I feel when I'm on my roadbike bike, and I love the muscular legs that it leaves me with (even though it's hard to get those big muscles into the same size of jeans my waist fits-- why do they think all girls are stick legs with no muscles?!) When I was younger I used to think of my legs and arms as ugly as they never fit into the tight fitting clothes that all the other teenagers wore, but as I've grown up and continued to be athletic (and fell in love with cycling) I've become proud of the muscles I have acquired-- proud when my legs didn't fit into those slim jeans because it meant I was healthy and active and strong... I love the freedom to escape the craziness of my 8 hours with 5th graders and my own 6 year old at home. I have very little "me" time since I am a single mom, and so when I get out there on my own, and get to do something that is only for me, I feel a great release from the pressures of trying to do it all...I have gained a huge sense of self esteem from my accomplishments on my bike. I've done countless centuries, rode from Minneapolis, MN to Chicago, done many tours, raised money for wonderful charities, been an inspiration to my students, etc. I never thought that one hobby could bring so much joy into my life as well as the lives of those in my community... One of the biggest "effects" has been from gaining a whole new group of friends. I love the ladies I ride with. I love how they make me feel, and encourage me, and stand by me. What better for a girls self esteem than to know she will always have people who believe in her and are there for her no matter what life throws her way! And it's all because of cycling!!! Horray for bikes!!!

Wow this is a great thread, I've really enjoyed reading what everyone has written, and I thought I was the only one who felt so strongly about cycling.

Spokes asked:

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so... anyone else feel better about yourself since taking up biking? any other interesting results? dump a jerk? get a better job? tell your mother to lay off? re-paint your kitchen? buy sexy underwear? share! share the stories,

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Well lets see.......I started serious cycling at age 48, up till that time I was busy raising five kids. Watching my boys do BMX-ing was a blast and really gave me the cycling bug. I was so envious of them, it looked like so much fun! I was just overcomming fibermyalgia and if anyone back then had told me I could ride a bike a block let alone do century rides I would have never believed them. It made me physically stronger and helped me to heal even my doctor was in disbelief at my abilities to do that!

I've dumped a jerk.......(or two).

I moved/divorced the jerk and started a new life on my own, my own business and yes I think I did tell my mother to lay off.:eek: LOL

humm sexy underwear......well I won't tell all but lets just say Victoria Secret and I are very close.

I recently married a wonderful guy and even though he's not a cyclist he loves the fact that I have something I like to do and supports me in it. He laughs at the fact that I insist on keeping my bike in the house he thought they belonged in the garage, LOL.

I started cycling when my life (as I knew it) was falling apart, it was cathartic, it gave me something to believe in, it made me believe in myself. I discovered I was a very strong woman inspite of being beaten down by my X. There was nothing more inspiring than being on a long, loney stretch of road becoming one with my bike to make me fall in love with life. It gave me purpose again.
Many of those reasons aren't the same for me now but cycling is something that centers me and keeps me humble and wanting to improve, not only in my cycling but in everday life.

Yes cycling has changed me, saved me even and made me a stronger person. I am certain that I will always known as a "bikerchic" a name I earned and was given to me by my cycling buds.

I do live to ride and ride to live!

Thanks spokes for the walk down memory lane.

Kate

i guess they don't start a discussion board for people who are *kinda* into cycling!! ;)

if only they made sexy underwear suitable for sitting on a bike.. .damn scratchy lace...:D

it's true you know, if we could get people to feel like we all do when we're biking, the world would be a better place!!! something to dream for...

spokes, you aren't supposed to wear underwear when you bike.

Irulan

Knickers no, but I was on a cycling holiday in Itlay in May and one of the guides was a very slim, blond Italian woman. She used to wear a pushup bra under her jersey which had a long zip.

At coffee stops she'd open her jersey a bit to cool down and she looked great. So glarmorous, not at all tarty like it might sound. To top it off she was a totally fanastic rider....

The best I can do is a blue crop top:o.....bring on the glamour :)

silly, I meant underpants!!

The lace peek a boo thing sounds cute and like a great attention getter but I dont' like how regular bras feel when they get all sweaty.

Irulan

Wow, these are some of the best stories I've read in awhile. Thank you all, you've brightened my day. It seems like a lot of women have been pulled out of their lows through cycling and even more, been propelled to heights they didn't imagine. I feel the same has happened for me. I never thought a middle aged woman like me would ever feel like wearing that sexy pair of tight jeans with pride. But cycling has given me a whole new outlook (and body). Here's to a long life of happy cycling!

I bought my first bike, a Giant Hybrid, last year and after putting over 900 miles on it I decided to step up to a "real" road bike. In August I bought a Trek 2200 WSD. At first my husband thought spending that much money on a bicycle was crazy, but he quickly figured out I was determined to get one anyway.

I have logged 800 miles on her and my family thinks it's great. My personal goal this season was to do a 50 mile ride and I am pleased to say I did it last Sunday. It was so cool to call my daughters, 28, 25, and 21, to tell them I met my challenge. They were so excited and proud of me. My youngest enthusiastically screeched, "Mom, that's so awesome!" It's so rewarding, at 47, to know that they admire me for doing something as physical as cycling.

Next May I gonna do the Horsey Hundred!

PS: I guess that my husband decided that if he was going to spend any quality time with me he needed to buy a bike. Well, he has about 400 miles on his Trek 7500 and is wondering if maybe he might need a "real" road bike. ...wonders never cease.:) :) :)

Chamchick,

That is awesome!! You go girl! Isn't it cool when not only do you accomplish your own goal but you suddenly find you are a role model for others. That is a great feeling.

What wonderful stories! I'm pretty new to all this, but hopefully I'll have my own to add eventually. In the meantime, thanks for the inspiration.

- rosie the lurker

It is good to hear so many people talking about cycling in words I sometimes feel. My younger brother Pat, and I used to race each other home from school on our bikes, I still remember the smells and feel of autumn rides, rushing to get home when the gang of farmers were there bringing in corn crops. I was a farm girl, still am at heart. Pat died 2 years ago after a 10 year valiant battle with brain cancer. Sometimes when I ride, especiall at this time of the year, I can hear his giggle and laugh. Always, I feel his spirit with me when I ride, and thats one of the big reasons I will ride until I die. Freedom, vitality, strength, happiness, joy, all of these emotions cycling brings to me.

I realize that this thread is almost 2 years old, however as a new rider myself I found it to be touching and motivational like nothing else I've read here or anyplace.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you wonderful ladies for the inspiration & information I receive on this forum.....I am a lone biker and you are all my cycling buddies in spirit :)

I hope other new riders will enjoy this post as it is timeless in my eyes...

~doorah~

Very cool to see this - I teared up more than once. Thanks. And it's all true. The bike is teaching me that I ask more of myself - and do it - and then ask a little more - and do it. My self-respect has grown by leaps, and there is a sparkle in my eyes that was never there before. And you all help to keep it going.

And I can't wait for the right time & place to do the sexy bra thing. :cool:

I missed this thread the first time round, so thanks to Spokes for starting it, and to Doorah for reviving it.
It's just so wonderful to be among people who understand. Whenever I'm surrounded by a group of cyclists, I always feel like I'm with "my people"!!
It's wonderful to share something so fundamental and know that others feel it to. To not have to explain that feeling of exhileration and empowerment that a ride can bring.
I ask friends sometimes what their passion is in life - what gives them that thrill-factor, that feeling to be alive. Most can't answer as they don't really know.
The great thing about cycling is that it doesn't matter how good you are, how fast you are, how good you look - it's personal, it's freedom, it's you and your bike and the great outdoors.
I'm so grateful to have a passion, to have something I get such a kick from, something that drives me and makes me feel alive.

What a great topic. No doubt, physically, I've never been stronger or in better shape. But more importantly, my sense of self has grown as well. It's true, I feel like "superwoman" when I'm on my bike and that confidence carries into other aspects of my life.

I bought my first road bike this year because it was a "reward" to myself for making a huge step in my career. And it was my bike that saved me in those first few months when I lost confidence because I had no idea what I was doing or felt I was in over my head. I remember one night I came home sobbing because I was so stressed out but after a bike ride that night, I suddenly had the answers to my problems and most importantly, felt my confidence re-building with each pedal stroke to face another day.

It may sound cheesy but had I not had my bike during those first few months, I would've likely quit or had a nervous breakdown. I owe my bike so much. It's given me more than a healthly body, it provides me that confidence boost when I've temporarily lost it.

Wonderful to read all this because I think I was born to ride. In my youth I toured New Zealand, Highway 101 of your USA, France (toute seule avec mon velo et mon tente), Switzerland and Germany, and worked as a messenger in London for 2 years.
Since I moved to Israel I rode whatever there was .On the basis that whatever you do on your bike has been done in the 1930's by an English woman on a Raleigh Sports with 3-speed Sturmey Archer gearing and a canvas pup tent . Then I bought a Raleigh commuting bike for my 5 year free of breast cancer anniversary .I rode the agricultural tracks around the kibbutz and the shores of the Sea of Gallilee. Then 2 years ago an incredibly close to fatal tractor accident left me with a right arm full of medical reconstruction metal (2 plates, 12 screws and a "kebab stick") Even after 18 months of physical therapy I thought I would never be able to ride again. But my son gave me his Trek 820. A bit of adjustment (twisted the handlebar to off center to accomodate the unstraightenable arm) and I am now riding 3 or 4 hour trips .I love the international border military "road" where I can see the prints of the night animals and the early birds in the sandy roadside. Today a flock of migrating storks flew right over me.
You know, Lance, it *is* about the bike

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Originally Posted by margo49

Then 2 years ago an incredibly close to fatal tractor accident left me with a right arm full of medical reconstruction metal (2 plates, 12 screws and a "kebab stick") Even after 18 months of physical therapy I thought I would never be able to ride again. But my son gave me his Trek 820. A bit of adjustment (twisted the handlebar to off center to accomodate the unstraightenable arm) and I am now riding 3 or 4 hour trips .I love the international border military "road" where I can see the prints of the night animals and the early birds in the sandy roadside. Today a flock of migrating storks flew right over me.
You know, Lance, it *is* about the bike

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Wow Margo49 - you story is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
Happy riding.
:)

welcome to the board Margo! Good to see you. If you get a chance there's a thread unde open titled "getting to know you".....gives you a chance to giggle for several hours while learning about us and - if so inclined - tell us something about you!

and what a wonderful story, thanks for sharing!

Cycling is new to me (less than one year), except for when I was a kid and used to bike all over the place on my banana seat :) But when my hubby was overcome with everything cycling, I decided I'd better follow in his wake or I'd be missing out on a huge part of his life. It's been very exciting to share the sport with him and has given us a boost in our relationship. And when we go on long rides together it's way better than a date :D I mean, most people go for dinner and a movie - nice, but not THRILLING! With four kids (ages 15, 12, 8 and 2) it's a fantastic escape. It's also great for the legs, but, back, arms, shoulders... As for the sexy underwear - My man would rather follow behind me and admire the "view" in my bike gear (of course, he'd probably rather see me in sugar shorts than attack shorts) than in cheesy lingerie. Well, OK - he still likes the cheesy lingerie...

Biking makes us women strong, and strong is sexy!

One more thing - biking is a great metaphor for life's ups and downs. Get over a really hard climb (bad day) and then coast down that same hill (good day). Just remembering how tough a particular hill was, and how I conquered it, is like therapy on a really bad day.

Can't tell you how much I've enjoyed these chats. My hubby even peeks on every once in a while to see what all the "chat" is about and he follows threads too! What a guy! BTW - he signed on as jfish a while back hunting for bike shorts for me :cool:

OK, now I'm the one sitting here all teary eyed. When I'm out on a big group ride I will often look at someone and wonder "now what is their story?". I love this opportunity to hear what other women think. Every year I do the Danskin triathlon because I love seeing so many different women in so many different sizes and shapes---and I know that they all have their own reason to be out there.

I started spinning after 9-11 as a stress reliever. That turned into purchasing my Gary Fisher Nirvana (hybrid) and riding all summer. It made me feel like the girl who saved all of her babysitting money to buy her first Schwinn 10 speed. I'm that girl again, not a 47 year old mom!

The next summer my husband joined me on his old Trek commuter, and this past xmas he surprised me with a Specialized Dolce Elite. He's since purchased the Allez and we have spent hours and hours and hours together riding this season. Its great.

And my self image has soared. I have a bright green leopard print jersey, and I just love it when guys ride past me and growl! This after noticing that after 40 I felt invisible to most men (except the ones REALLY older than me!) Oh, and the feeling when I leave guys eating my dust! PRICELESS!!!!

So for me it beats Paxil for anxiety, I again feel like that 13 year old girl that I once was, it makes me feel young, and strong, and helps me deal with being a parent to two teenagers and a pre-teen. It helps me walk tall!

yeah!!!! glad to see CorsairMac is back!! writing "If you get a chance there's a thread under open titled "getting to know you"....."

what'd we do without you? really, I mean it.

psst, Corsair, it's Spazzdog's b'day, I just e-mailed her a card. :)

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Originally Posted by littleblue

With four kids (ages 15, 12, 8 and 2) it's a fantastic escape. It's also great for the legs, but, back, arms, shoulders... As for the sexy underwear - My man would rather follow behind me and admire the "view" in my bike gear (of course, he'd probably rather see me in sugar shorts than attack shorts) than in cheesy lingerie. Well, OK - he still likes the cheesy lingerie...
Biking makes us women strong, and strong is sexy!
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littleblue - thanks for sharing its great to hear everyones stories. Boy you must be busy with your kids - phew - when Im feeling stressed by my kids I will think of you. (mine are 8, 6, 4 all boys). :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Civa

And my self image has soared. I have a bright green leopard print jersey, and I just love it when guys ride past me and growl! This after noticing that after 40 I felt invisible to most men (except the ones REALLY older than me!) Oh, and the feeling when I leave guys eating my dust! PRICELESS!!!!

So for me it beats Paxil for anxiety, I again feel like that 13 year old girl that I once was, it makes me feel young, and strong, and helps me deal with being a parent to two teenagers and a pre-teen. It helps me walk tall!

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Civa - great read. I agree about cycling and self image. I dont know if I actually do look any different but I feel like I do. Feeling strong makes you feel younger and happier and I think that shines thru to others. :)

My adventure into cycling has been an esteem lifting experience as well...I have always loved tooling around on a bike and was jealous of those screaming by me on the road or those gettin' all dirty (I have always loved mud-puddles)
For a while I was married to a very controlling, verbally abusive person (I do not say man cause he does not deserve that title...I use person with hesitancy *is that a word?) It took a year to crawl out from the hole I had allowed myself to bury myself in...I started riding a very old Diamond Back to the gym and to work, running, lifting weights, quit smoking, quit drinking...then he came into my life
We went on a MTBike ride and I was HOOOKED!!!! ....and after seeing me ride, he was too ;) He went out and bought me a Santa Cruz Juliana after dating a month :p

A few months later and many, many rides one day on the way home I burst out in tears (and I mean BURST!) Poor Chris had NO idea what was going on....and neither did I... I did know that I was extremely happy and it all just came out at once...LOL!

I had fully gotten over the X, but I had not completely renewed myself. Cycling has been a constant reminder that there is always something different and you must adjust to stay upright. It has also been a great challenge...as if getting older wasn't enough!

Yesterday I experience a slue of emotions (being hormonal doesn't help) but I chose to walk down a few drops that I have made in the past and after chickening out on one I started to get upset that I was regressing in skill (I won't mention the sections were extremely washed out since last ride cause of rain) until we came upon a climb that I have NEVER made up...I made it with NO PROBLEM!!!! :D and Chris went at it twice with no luck :( , but boy did that make me feel good....all my worries about lacking was gone!!!! I rode the rest of the trail with great pride and even made it up a few more climbs I have never made before!!!! WEEEEEE!!!

Needless to say I have gained so much from just being out on a bicycle....