They don't get it

[SouthernBelle]

From another forum (food and weight loss), do you have people in your life who just don't get it. Don't understand why you ride, or why you ride the way you do?

An example for me: When I broke my ribs last spring, I was telling a group of women about it. One, who happens to be a distant cousin, told me I shouldn't have been riding that fast. It was a freak accident. I was probably going 15 or less. Now if she had said I shouldn't have been riding that fast where I was in the park, she might have had a point.

My response was that there wouldn't be a point to riding otherwise.

What's yours?

[Geonz]

There are lots of people who seriously don't get it - they are locked into teh idea that CARS ARE THE WAY TO TRAVEL and that going anywhere without air bags and three tons of steel is foolish.

[Thistle]

spend more time here, amongst people who do get it

i have some seriously "dont get it" people here at work... and what i notice most about them is the have a constant hate fest with the world and wear a scowl on their faces 24/7.

People who dont get it arent worth the effort. Put your energy into encouraging those who do, or show some interest in maybe getting it. That's what i try to do. We have a newbie at work who is going to buy a bike and ride to work. I'm really excited for her, cos i think she's gunna love it . So i prefer to spend my time encouraging her than listening to the moaners!

PS Had the best ride in this morning... tailwind, warm, fast, storms in the distance... it was awesome ..how could you ever pass up the buzz of something like that and choose to be miserable and hate the whole world instead

[Bron]

Yes, I know people like that.

Whilst my mother is great, she is not an athlete. During one of my calls home during Uni, she asked how I was, so I told her that I was tired because of all of the training we were doing in our rowing team. Her reply...."well, just don't pull as hard, then you won't get tired".

Bron

[Squeaky]

Since I've started biking regularly, I feel better physically and mentally, and I'm much happier it seems (go endorphins!!). I'm having fewer migraines and since my cardiovascular strength is building, I'm having fewer heart problems. I was taking 3 preventive medications a day and now I'm down to just one for my thyroid. All that after only 2 months.

Not to mention the gas money I'm saving, as well as the wear and tear on my car. And, I don't sit in traffic with stress levels rising by the minute.

hmmmm, what's not to get?

[Tater]

I think Geonz hit it on the mark. Many people have this notion that the car is the only way to get to where one needs to be and those of us who choose to pedal are either too poor to get a car, must have gotten a DUI, is a student or a 'hippie' on the fringe. They don't get that we may do it for the health benefits, for the environment, for saving gas money to spend on more bike goodies (or photography gear), or simply for that rush of wind by ones' ears and the fleeting feeling of being a kid again.

Now that the morning temperatures have dropped into the low thirties, there are only three other bike commuters (all male. Only two other gals ride in warmer weather). Every morning as I walk in, the security guards will ask if I am still riding 'in this cold weather'. Well, yeah, got to get to work!

[kaybee]

Oh Susan, I can SO relate! None of my coworkers or my family members "get it." Fortunately (I think!) my family members are 700 miles away, so I don't have to constantly explain to them. However, my coworkers are a different story. Every Monday morning one of the men in the office, who is at least 100 pounds overweight, asks if I rode my bike over the weekend. When I smile and tell him that I did, he replies that I'm going to get killed on that thing. Of course, the women don't get it either, and think I'm a nut to be training for a half marathon, when I could be spending all that time shopping or having my nails or something equally fulfilling. I can't wait to hear the response I get from my boss in a few weeks when I tell him I need to be off a couple of days to go to Memphis to run my half.

However, my hubby does get it (and tells my regularly that he's proud of me -- what a sweetheart), and every now and then somebody else gets it. I was talking to a gentleman at the gym this morning, and he called me an athlete! Now, that may seem like nothing to some people, but to me it was a huge compliment.

So, as theav said: "spend more time here, amongst people who do get it." I agree.

KB

[Python]

Since I've started biking regularly, I feel better physically and mentally, and I'm much happier it seems (go endorphins!!). I'm having fewer migraines and since my cardiovascular strength is building, I'm having fewer heart problems. I was taking 3 preventive medications a day and now I'm down to just one for my thyroid. All that after only 2 months.

Not to mention the gas money I'm saving, as well as the wear and tear on my car. And, I don't sit in traffic with stress levels rising by the minute.

hmmmm, what's not to get?

YES!!! YES!!! and YES again!!!

I'm asthmatic and have noticed since taking up cycling I hardly wheeze at all and my lungs are so much clearer for many hours after I come home.

I find cycling a great stress reliever too.

Anyway ladies, I need to pop to the supermarket for a few things - by bike of course

[Trekhawk]

spend more time here, amongst people who do get it

i have some seriously "dont get it" people here at work... and what i notice most about them is the have a constant hate fest with the world and wear a scowl on their faces 24/7.

People who dont get it arent worth the effort. Put your energy into encouraging those who do, or show some interest in maybe getting it. That's what i try to do. We have a newbie at work who is going to buy a bike and ride to work. I'm really excited for her, cos i think she's gunna love it . So i prefer to spend my time encouraging her than listening to the moaners!

PS Had the best ride in this morning... tailwind, warm, fast, storms in the distance... it was awesome ..how could you ever pass up the buzz of something like that and choose to be miserable and hate the whole world instead

I agree with theav - I really dont care if they get it or not. Im just so pleased that I GET IT.

[Python]

Years ago we walked to school in all kinds of weather. If it snowed, we didn't get days off like they do now here. One snowflake falls and the school is closed. The usual excuse is the central heating's broken down. Well, that happened when I was at school too - frequently in winter. We just kept our coats on and classes carried on regardless. Kids don't get out to play enough nowadays. Some of that is due to them being glued to computers and video games, most due to parents not making them go out and play but there is another aspect too, and it's not a good one. There are too many perverts on the loose here and in the UK the criminal is put before the victim so kids aren't safe like we were 40 odd years ago.

As a kid I had my bike (unfortunately I didn't have it very long but that's another story for another day ), roller-skates and we used to play a lot of skipping games and ball games. In winter, as soon as the snow came we were out rolling around in it, getting very wet and very cold, but we didn't feel it. We had FUN

Perhaps this is one reason kids (and adults) go down with more serious illnesses than we used to 30 or 40 years ago.

I'll stick with my bike. I'm getting exercise, relaxation and fun all rolled into one and that has got to be good for me

[TerraNik]

My work thinks I am mad!! I have broken my arm twice in the past 6 months (different arm each time) and when I phoned them up to tell them about my most recent fracture my supervisor told me that I should just go and buy an exercise bike!! They don't understand...! Mtn biking is my passion and I don't care how many times I get hurt, I will still do it as long as I am able!

Thankfully my family and my partner's family are very accepting and understanding. We have many people in our family who ride both on road and mtn.

I just find it funny when someone asks how much my bike costs, and the response that I get usually is, "oh my god! you could buy a small car for that!" Yes, yes I could... But I already have a car.