Is the biking bug conagious?

[skhill]

...because it seems my brother has caught it from me!

He's had his Trek 7.3 fx for about 4 years, and he's used it for fair-weather jaunts around his neighborhood and occasionally for trips to the library and other places. But over the past few weeks, all of the sudden he's gone bike crazy! Late last week he called oh-so-proudly to tell me all about his first ever 25 mile ride, and about bonking for the first time. He was so excited, it was making me excited too...

And then he bought himself a rear rack and some panniers for his birthday last week. So Monday evening he did his first ever grocery shop by bike. He was just thrilled at his accomplishment-- and considering the route he took to avoid a really dangerous road, it was an accomplishment. (His alternate route involves a hole in a fence, a dirt path, and fording a creek). Last night we both rode down to a local coffee shop, so he could show off all his new gear. Looks good!

If the weather cooperates, we're going to go for a ride together this weekend. I promise to be on my best behaviour, and not drop him. No matter how tempting it is...

Isn't it great to see someone you care about falling head-over-heels in love with a bike?

[denda]

Cool!

[Bike Chick]

How wonderful, skhill! I would love it if my brother would catch the biking bug so we could spend time together enjoying a common interest. I can only imagine how tempting it would be to drop him--especially if he picked on you when you were growing up! Enjoy

[sgtiger]

That's really great!

[korora]

Yes, it's contagious, but the incubation period can be very long. DH and I commuted on our bikes in the Bay Area for years, mostly to the bafflement of his family. We left the country; now both his brothers are commuting by bike at least a couple of days a week, and both their spouses have recently acquired bikes.

The bug comes and goes, too. Until recently, I hadn't biked for months. Now I seem to be in some sort of acute phase of the affliction.

[tzvia]

Yes my brother saw me in the throws of this terrible illness, displaying it's worst symptoms, buying two bikes, back in 08. Well he started out dusting off his old Faggin road bike (old Columbus tubed Italian made bike) and riding with me. Then he got really sick, and bought a Specialized Tarmac and a Trek Fuel EX8. Now he is working on restoring the old Faggin (pronounced Fah-zhine). So not only am I dealing with the weight loss, not 'being out of breath' climbing stairs, better sleep, more energy, better mental clarity, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and better muscle definition, but he is too. We are both doomed .