I am a bad person

[smurfalicious]

Ugh, that's all I can say. I haven't been on my bike in uh, too long. Last ride I remember was our anniversary on July 31st. That's messed up. I took her out last night to load on my bike rack and she had dust on her! I was planning to ride today because I'm house sitting for my mom and super close to trails, but motivation was lacking. I feel like I don't even deserve her, but here's the story.

Not too long ago I started hanging out with this gorgeous team roper from work. He's um, yeah he's sooo stinking pretty. None the less hanging out with him inspired me to ride my poor neglected horse, PJ, more. That was a good thing, considering that he's 4 and really needs the sweaty saddle blankets. And heck had it not been for him I wouldn't have gone to the Paulina Rodeo which is more fun than a person should have in a weekend.

Anyway, I feel like such a stupid girl, but whenever I hang out with/date biker guys they diss the horse, and the cowboys diss the bike and damnit I haven't met anyone else like me! I know I shouldn't let who I date dictate what I do, but it's hard not to considering both hobbies have a huge social aspect.

So I've been doing some thinking and I might trade my hardtail, Pony, in towards a road bike. I think it's a lot more practical balance of hobbies. With my mountain bike I have to load up and go somewhere, which takes a lot of time. A road bike I can ride out the front door on all the beautiful country roads here, and I can bike commute!!! Work has showers!!! With gas what it is, and my pickup getting the mileage it does (easy now anti gas guzzler people I use it to haul hay and pull a horse trailer) going for MTB rides is less and less practical. Oh sure, I could move to bend and be closer to trails, but that would add about $100 to my rent and $135 to board my horse, which means driving to the barn and defeating the purpose.

I think this is a good decision, despite that I already miss the feel of sweet singletrack just thinking about it. I've fallen in love with biking though, it feels so good to just spin, but horses have always been my love, and PJ is an amazing colt. I know there will be some regret, but I'm confident next summer my financial situation will be better and maybe then I can buy another hardtail. Pony isn't as perfect for me as I thought anyway. So my next MTB purchase will be more educated.

Anyone else had to make an agonizing decision to limit their toy collection?

love and cookies
-HillBill

[BikeMomma]

I just have to say, if I were a guy, I'd date you just to be able to ride your horse. Then after I ride your horse, we could jump on our bikes for a bike ride together! heehee

Sowwy...just being silly!
(oh, and you're not a stupid girl....just a girl with multiple interests...guys should be falling all over you!!)

[Trekhawk]

Anyone else had to make an agonizing decision to limit their toy collection?

Umm well yes is the answer to the above. I would love to get into Canoeing and go back to the indoor rock climbing gym but time is pretty limited with three little boys. So I choose to cycle and swim because they top my list and I hope one day to get into canoeing but for now its still a daydream for the future.

We all lead pretty busy lives these days so you know best what time you have for your loves. If you need to make some changes which you think will make life better and easier for you, I say go for it the mountains will still be there waiting for you.

[roughingit]

Anyone else had to make an agonizing decision to limit their toy collection?

My lack of car and money limits mine. I love to canoe, but have nowhere to store one or way to transport one even if I could get ahold of one. I love bouldering and rock climbing too...but I have no way to get to anywhere I could do those activities at (indoor ain't the same) or all the needed equiptment. *shrug* At least I got the bike!

[mom2twins]

I have officially hung up my racquetball equipment and my treadmill is on it's way out the door. Racquetball isn't any fun for me unless I can continue to get better and that takes lots and lots of practice which requires time to and from the club, time in the club alone, time in the club for leagues and time at tournaments. Running was a love/hate relationship which I have lately decided wasn't worth the pain of constant injury. So I pulled out the dusty bike, yes she also had a nice coat of dust from hanging in the basement for 5 years, and decided to give that my focus.

On one hand it's sad to see old friends being left on the side of the road but on the other hand I'm falling in love with a sport all over again so I think it all balances out.

I can totally see how a road bike would be a better balance for you with the horse. it seems like horses and mountain biking are almost redundant, not that they are alike so much as the venue is very similar. A Road bike may be more pracitical take you where the horse can't therefor eleminating the guilt of niglecting one interest for the other.

[TrekJeni]

Anyway, I feel like such a stupid girl, but whenever I hang out with/date biker guys they diss the horse, and the cowboys diss the bike and damnit I haven't met anyone else like me! I know I shouldn't let who I date dictate what I do, but it's hard not to considering both hobbies have a huge social aspect.
Anyone else had to make an agonizing decision to limit their toy collection?

You are not alone by a long shot! In fact, I'm getting a new saddle (the horse kind) this fall. See, before road biking, I was very active in my local dog club. My boyfriend and I own Weimaraners and travel in our camper to all their shows - obedience, agility, conformation, etc. Within the last few years we have been really involved with horseback hunting competitions with the dogs and just bought 50 acres to train on. My BF said to me jokingly that I had to pick a sport. Either hunting or biking. He wasn't serious but gets frustrated that all of our weekends are planned months in advance for competitions and my bike rides. I can see his point but I'm one of those OCD people that can't sit still very long without saying, "I'm bored" while he has a physically demanding job that leaves him longing for couch time. Last weekend I was at a hunting competition and someone said, "shouldn't you be doing a marathon or something?" and then yesterday was my first century along with driving back home and doing a night ride at a local city park with a neighbor kid. At the last SAG stop of the century my friend (who also owns and competes with her Weimaraners and is "soccer mom" five nigts a week) mentioned that we still had to ride later that night when someone said this was our last stop. The look on another riders face was priceless when she said "you the kind of people we were talking about earlier - the insane ones! Oh well, I love both sports dearly and while yes it can be busy at times, I do both and hang out with both crowds and they respect my other sports!

[Dogmama]

Lack of money or lack of time, the outcome is the same. We have to make hard choices. Mine is training for a century. Time, along with a nagging shoulder injury, might curtail this year's El Tour de Tucson. I'm manipulating everything I can because I really want to ride, but work and life keep getting in the way...

Jeni - I used to show a Flat Coated Retriever in obedience, agility & confirmation. I sure loved it - it's an addiction.

But back to the thread - don't let your BF's lack of taste dictate your love! It's like the bumper sticker says, "Lead, follow or get the H*ll out of the way!"

[wabisabi]

It's also really hard to feel that you are ignoring a horse, a living thing that is pretty dependent on people for its exercise and general well-being. I often feel bad when I feel that I am ignoring my dogs, or not exercising them enough, because of training or kayaking, even though they are pretty old, still, sometimes I'll devote an afternoon's walk on the beach with them.

I spent a large part of yesterday at an ocean kayaking class, and felt that it affected the organized (100K) ride that I did today; it's amazing that you use thigh muscles to paddle!

[MomOnBike]

We all have various interests that compete for our time and dollars.

I haven't been riding as much because I was playing string bass for a Huge production of Beauty & the Beast. So life was a work, go to rehearsal/show, home, crash, work, etc.

All I can say is that we took some of the numbers at aerobic tempos, so I really got a workout.

And so now I'm out of the biking habit - but I have some cool bass callouses.

On the positive side, I just figured out how to haul my viola on my recumbent, and will ride (VERY uphill) to rehearsal this Thursday.

As for Smurf's bike? Actually, it sounds like you have made your decision. Right now, a road bike might be the best thing for you. And aren't we women allowed to change our minds?

MomOnBike
(trying to decide if she can still remember how to ride a horse...)

[Pax]

I feel for you, we were sitting around the house the other day trying to figure out if we could fit in a bike ride, a motorcycle ride, kayaking, going for a hike, and maaaaaybe fit in an overnight camping trip.

We all just need 5 day weekends and 2 day work weeks.

[singletrackmind]

Not being on your bike doesn't make you a bad person, we all know that's not what biking's about. Sometimes the bike has to sit a few out in lieu of the hot cowboy. Hey, the bike has no feelings and will wait however long you need it too, the cowboy maybe not so much. At least you're still excercising (and getting thumbs up from the horse) and sharing one of your passions with someone.

As for trading in your mtb for a road, that's your decision. Remember though, you can ride your mtb on the road but you can't ride a road bike on the trail.

Life is for enjoying, not feeling guilty when you aren't doing anything wrong- especially if it's fun and with a rovin' work of art!

(Awhile ago it was Agility, tracking, obedience, a tiny bit of herding, Belgian Tervuren and Malinut, er, Malinois, my now senior citizens)

[Trek420]

Queen suggests "We all just need 5 day weekends and 2 day work weeks. "

there's an idea! or just quit work entirely.

Smurf you're not a bad person! You're a good person! You care for animals, you have varied interests, guys in either type of saddle should be falling all over to get to you.

It's hard to balance different interests, mine include my dog, cycling, and Aikido (a martial art). My Aikido training partners don't understand why I whine when bikes go by. Our dojo is on a popular cycling route. They know without the bike my knees would not be fit to train and I'd have stopped by now. My cycle buddies don't get why I'd train indoors on a sweaty mat on a beautiful day except that it helps when I gracefully fall off the bike. My dog wants every moment with her and as a living thing that trumps all.

I'd probably have a Sandan (3rd degree black belt) by now if not for the two other interests especially the dog, I don't care, my humble 2nd degree black belt is just as black.

My dog would be better trained if not for the other interests, I just try to keep some balance.

And Smurf, just wait'll your 50 because at my age no one I date (so far) gets why I work out this way, as one gal said "I think you've got two screws loose to ride that far"

"check please?" ;-)

You will find the cowboy who likes it that you ride or at least digs the legs, or the biker dude who admires that you can ride a horse like the wind, till then try to keep some balance and ride what feels right to you.

[Trekhawk]

We all have various interests that compete for our time and dollars.

I haven't been riding as much because I was playing string bass for a Huge production of Beauty & the Beast. So life was a work, go to rehearsal/show, home, crash, work, etc.

MomonBike - that is so cool. I myself have zip musical talent but I admire anyone who can play a musical instrument. In Aust I have a lovely Piano which even after lessons I still play like a Preschooler .

Good on you for keeping up the music even when time is limited.

[smurfalicious]

Thanks ladies, I think I've made my decision to sell Pony and buy a road bike. It will be hard because she was my first love, but I have to just appreciate all she's done for me. I will be sad because I really wanted to save my first race bike forever, but if she can do for me what she did for someone else than that's cool. I never would have fallen in love for biking if it were not for Pony, and I never would have realized what was important to me were it not for her. She's a great bike, but I've realized that she isn't right for me, women's geometry doesn't work for me because I need a longer crankset, and her lower bottom bracket won't work for me. So I think road biking, which I can do all over the beautiful country roads around here is perfect. I can leave out the front door and still have time for my horse, I can commute and save a ton on gas. Sooo, if anyone needs a sweeeeet well loved hardtail, you know where to find one. There's a pretty two tone blue, '04 Gary Fisher Big Sur GS waiting to be loved. She's upgraded to a Syntace Force 99 stem, Easton EC70 seat post, EC 90 flat bar, and Fizik Vitesse saddle, and matching blue Wipperman chain. To a good home only, of course. And once she sells, I'll be buying a nice cross bike, gotta have the best of both worlds!!!!

I love you gals, thanks for the input!!!

-HillBill

[Trek420]

smurf, what size is pony?