Who got you started on cycling?

[Geonz]

Sort of my mother - I said, "hey, I've moved to Richmond, it's flat here and a person could ride a bike!" and she put one under the Christmas tree.

What got me into club riding and down that long road of addiction was the guy I called to ask out to dinner to thank him for helping me teach a guitar class. His clearly no-longer-ex gf answered. I decided that it was time to meet new people, so it was the weekend I'd try that "year round all-level" weekend ride.

[Lise]

My dad. He put me on my first tricycle when I was 3. I promptly fell off.

I tried again at 7, on that classic blue Schwinn. Rode to school, rode all over. Got another bike in HS, rode to school, had some classic wipe outs on dirt and ice. Bike got stolen in college.

Really started riding again 4 years ago on a piece of crud Schwinn my mom's friend gave me. Mom had taken up road riding in her 60s, and had this whole group of biking pals. I wanted to do a tri, and "trained" on this broke-down rust bucket. Borrowed a friend's "good" bike to do the race.

Got hooked, and here I am, Bianchi and Larkspur in the basement, and more biking gloves and water bottles than any one person ever needs!

[DebW]

Guess I can really only blame myself. Started doing 15-20 mile rides alone on a single speed at about 13. Bought my first 10 speed at 15. Got job in bike shop at 16. My parents didn't ride, but it was always cool when my dad talked about his job as a teenager delivering telegrams for Western Union, riding 40 miles per day on a big balloon tired bike. Hmmm... maybe it was something in the genes.

[hurleygirl]

My story isn't anywhere near as cool as dropping a wine bottle on my toe.

My husband got me into the sport. Such a common story. We had just started dating - I was a poor grad student at the time. He mountain biked and road biked with his sister and her husband.

We first tried mountain biking. They loaned me a bike that would occassionally just freeze up in the middle of pedal stroke. They took me on a very technical single track. I hated every moment, and couldn't wait to get off of the bike. I spent most of that ride off the bike, walking around obstacles.

Then we tried road biking. I had my mother's 70's Schwinn LeTour, and they took me out for an 8 mile loop. I did very well, and actually enjoyed myself. They were amazed that I made it up one little hill - when my husband took up riding he was so out of shape he got up that hill, threw his bike down and collapsed on the side of the road. Heck! I grew up in hilly Bucks County, PA and used to ride my bike several miles to swim team practice every summer. I was also in reasonably good shape.

I was too poor to buy a bike, so I used the LeTour for a while, and for some reason bought a mountain bike instead of a road bike so I was forced to ride the mountain bike on the road for over a year until I could afford a road bike.

[Ashgarth]

my now ex BF got me started. He would bike 40 miles a day, and then come back and meet up with me to then go my 5 miles...it was all I could do at the time! LOL (he was very patient though...)
At least I have something to thank him for

[Tiffanie]

Last October, Brandy talked me in to a gym membership. Regular exercise was non-existent for almost 11 years (my excuse was having kids, not enough time, blah-blah-blah).

So, I ended up joining after a trial membership, starting going regularly. Began taking Spinning classes 4-6 times per week. About 3ish months ago, I started thinking how nice it would be to actually get out on the road and out of the gym (still go there regularly for weightlifting).

So, here I am! I absolutely love it and am thrilled that it has become such a big part of my life. I just can't get enough!

[Tiffanie]

Oh and I have to add that I still thank Brandy quite often for getting me off of my butt. I was way overweight, out of shape and had no energy. I was always very active before kids and I had forgotten how good you feel when you take care of you!

I have now lost many pounds, tons of inches and the low metabolism. I feel great and am in the best shape I've been in since high school!

Sorry for the novel, I guess I got a little carried away.

[bcipam]

Actually my mom got me started... OK so my mom's has never ever been on a bike and well, that's why it was great for me.

As a little kid, my mom and I didn't get along (she was physically abusive) and getting out on my bike and going for hours and hours was one way I could get away from her. To me it meant freedom and I've never lost that feeling. I had been riding as long as I have memories.

Now my seriousness about cycling comes and goes and some years I've only been a casual recreational rider, but I've never lost my joy and passion for riding. I hope I never do. To this day my mom (who is still alive and very well - I say meanness and nastiness keeps the spirit going - unfortunately) still can't believe I do all those long miles on a bike - she just doesn't get it and never will. Her loss my gain I say.