Thanks, Mom!

**Owlie** · 09-20-2009, 07:50 PM

I think my mom has finally gotten over (mostly) the idea that I'm going to kill myself if I get on the bike. She'd given me about half the cost of the bike as an early birthday gift back in July. When I called her today, I asked if she had any clue where I could buy reflective tape. That led to an internet search, as well as a conversation about what I'd probably need for winter. She wound up getting me arm and leg warmers, a wool base layer, winter gloves and the reflective tape for the rest of my birthday present! Neither of my parents ever owned a bike, so I'm kind of shocked that she's been so supportive of my effort to get out and ride. (She's still freaked out about me riding on the roads, but I've made every effort to explain to her that this is a very bike-friendly area.)

**OakLeaf** · 09-21-2009, 04:44 AM

Yay for your mom!

On the reflective tape, I ordered from Identi-Tape several years ago and got good service and good quality pressure-sensitive tape, and I see they're still in business. Now they have sew-on tapes, too; I may have to order some of that!

**deeaimond** · 09-21-2009, 06:14 AM

hehhe, when my mother voiced those concerns I was much more practical. I bought myself life and hospitalization insurance. I don't wanna burden my parents financially if anything happens to me...

Last time when I had that accident, she didn't even give me a hard time about riding, she just said no more riding at peak hour coz drivers are paying alot less attention to the road.

**Cataboo** · 09-21-2009, 08:04 AM

Owlie, that's awesome! My mom sewed me some arm & leg warmers last year when I asked about them.

I don't tell my Mom if I have an accident or a crash. She's already worried enough. I just put on long sleeves & pants when I see her. She knows I always wear my helmet and such like that. But she'd very much like me to be on a bike path or a sidewalk instead of the road.

When I told her I got a road id, so that they could always identify my body for her - she was not impressed.

**deeaimond** · 09-21-2009, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Catriona

Owlie, that's awesome! My mom sewed me some arm & leg warmers last year when I asked about them.

I don't tell my Mom if I have an accident or a crash. She's already worried enough. I just put on long sleeves & pants when I see her. She knows I always wear my helmet and such like that. But she'd very much like me to be on a bike path or a sidewalk instead of the road.

When I told her I got a road id, so that they could always identify my body for her - she was not impressed.

guess yr mum is less morbid than mine...

**runningteach** · 09-21-2009, 10:47 AM

Your mom is the best. It is nice when family supports your passion. Happy Birthday!

**hoffsquared** · 09-21-2009, 11:33 AM

My mom doesn't like me riding either. I commute to & from work now.

When I told her that I started doing this, I got the "oh, I don't think that is a good idea!".

Funny --- I'm in my late 40's!

**Zen** · 09-21-2009, 02:12 PM

One year during the annual "what do you want for christmas?" ordeal I said a gift certificate to the bike shop.

My mother's response- "No, I'm not getting you anything from the bike shop"
Some mothers are better than others

**LaFemmeFlora** · 09-21-2009, 02:37 PM

My mom and dad have both bike commuted in their time. Mom had a pretty scary encounter with me (as a toddler) on a kid's seat in the back. A motorist ran her onto the curb and we crashed in the grass.
My dad commuted daily 15+ miles one way...and the worst he encountered was having to change a tire on the side of the road in a known drug market...while wearing spandex.

I think my folks still worry...but they loved their bikes...so they wouldn't try to keep me from it. But I can totally understand kow those that don't know the sport let their knowledge of traffic lead them to fear it, and call it extreme.

**short cut sally** · 09-22-2009, 07:33 AM

Owlie, it's great your mom is actually willing to buy you items for your cycling attire and "addictive habit". I think it's just cool!
I'm in my early 40's and my mom still frets when I'm on the road. She's paranoid about being clipped to the bike, "what happens if you have to react fast? how are you going to respond?" I used to tell her when I did century events, she would stay home by the phone in case anyone called her about me, so out of guilt I stopped telling her when i would do charity rides. I always told her after the ride was over.

**pinkbikes** · 09-22-2009, 01:37 PM

My Mum likes to buy me stuff that I would baulk at buying for myself because I have trouble overcoming the Scottish genes and stumping up the money! So she usually gives me some money to go and buy some expensive running shoes (well more expensive than I would *like* to afford but I really love them).

This year I'd already bought running shoes when I got them cheaply in Hawaii on holidays (shoes are SO expensive in Oz and so much cheaper in the USA).

So she gave me money towards a second pair of the Specialized Rbx knicks I really love but find it a bit hard to swallow the price tag of! Thanks Mum. Beats perfume any day!

**Owlie** · 09-22-2009, 04:09 PM

My mum's nice about my hobbies--if she thinks they're constructive, she'll buy me stuff for them. So while she rolled her eyes at my (minor!) video game habit, she bought me yarn (I knit), and bike gear.

Then, last Christmas, she bought a Wii. She refused to have a game console in the house while my sister and I actually lived there.

SpinSpinSugar · 09-22-2009, 04:45 PM

Happy Birthday Owlie!

My birthday was yesterday and my mom arranged a gift certificate for me from my favorite LBS 2 blocks away. This is particularly wonderful of her because she lives in Seattle and I live in Minneapolis, and she's never been to visit so she had to do a little 007 work to track down the right place.

It came just in time to help with the cost of the new Xtracycle kit we ordered....

Yay Mom!

SpinSpinSugar

**Maxxxie** · 09-27-2009, 01:04 PM

My mum owns a bike shop, so it's pretty much a given that any birthday or xmas gift will be bike-related. Sweeeeet!

Max

**Miranda** · 09-27-2009, 01:59 PM

That's awesome about the gift! How nice.

I'm sure your mom is still worried to death about you. But loves you enough she just wants you to have happiness--one of any mothers wish for her children. Bike = happy, then gear it is as the gift.

I held off on telling my mom about my recent crash. Even after telling her, I have not seen her because my face is so hideous. When the fm came to pick me up at the ER, DD started crying and just hugged me. When the people you love hurt, you hurt.

However, one can't limit their lives due to fear. To live is to chance. So, good for your mom on doing the hardest thing ever... letting go.

Hope you wear that gear on many safe and happy miles!

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