Who got you started on cycling?

[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

[Bikingmomof3]

Great topic.

My husband and sons decided I needed to join them and their love for biking. I resisted for 37 years (I had a fear of bikes-I do not know why). So, reluctently I let them get me a Giant Suede (Mode/Comfort Bike). I found this group-YAY-learned everyone was nice and so supportive. I gained knowledge and confidence. By the 3rd week I had done all my Giant was going to allow me to do. I went bike shopping and bought a manbike (sorry-love that phrase) Trek 1000. That was almost 2 weeks ago. The board has since convinced me (great enablers here) to buy jerseys, shorts, new saddles, shoes, clipless pedals, and my recent purchase (actually it will be in tomorrow) a CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer. I have learned the importance of an excellent bike shop, even if mine is a long way away. I love them! They are buyng the other bike off me-yippee-store credit!!

[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.

[mtbdarby]

I'm in the "me" group with a dash of "guy". Count me in on the generation of kids that rode bike every where. In college I continued - riding my bike to work. After I had my little guy, I was looking for a sport for me that gave me flexibility to do it on my own, with others, and from where ever I happened to be (work, home etc), with not too much investment (yeah, right!). My bf at the time was into mtbing but since it was winter we just talked about it. After he departed I started riding my old hybrid on and off road, and now I'm the proud owner of 3 - hybrid, road and mtb (I have a secret motivation to beat him in an annual 24 hour mtb race here he does as a 4 person team in the over 35 division. Think I could recruit some TE ringers to do this??? Sounds like an Amici Veloci team needs to be formed in Wisconsin!

[CorsairMac]

My parents: it was just a given that when we reached a certain age, we were taught to ride a bike.

[dingster1]

Mom and Dad. Have had a bike off and on since I was 3.

[Tiffanie]

I guess I should also add that as a pre-teen and teen, I rode a bike quite a bit. It was recreational though, nothing like it is now.

Ok I'll stop blabbing my mouth now!

[caligurl]

I guess I should also add that as a pre-teen and teen, I rode a bike quite a bit. It was recreational though, nothing like it is now.

(lol! i had the tricycles and 2-wheelers with training wheels... and then whatever speed bikes while growing up... but when i answered..... i thought you's all meant who/what got me started as an adult rider!!!!!!! soooooooooooo if you go back to childhood... then of course it was mom and dad who bought me my first bike!)

[Googlie Wooglie]

My doc. I wrecked my knees running, and he said cycling might prevent surgery. So I ordered a Trek the same day and can't believe I ran for so many years - cycling is so much more fun! My fiance ordered a bike too, once he saw how excited I was, and we have been on them almost daily since they arrived.

[Aggie_Ama]

Well if you are talking about the avid cycling... My old work and DH. My work was awesome and wanted everyone to be active (they paid all our insurance so it kept their costs down). I had been there almost a year and they offered to pay for the Shiner B.A.S.H. for employees AND spouses. I only signed up DH, but after seeing him ride 93 miles on a mountain bike I was inspired. He bought me a bike two weeks later for our first anniversary (May 2004) and two months later I did a 50 mile ride with my work!

It took about a year and my work sponsoring us in the 2005 MS150 to really get me hooked. Prior to that I was running more than cycling. The bug bit me hard last year and now I am shooting for 3,000 miles this year (and a new bike). I only run about 1-2 times a week. Sadly, we moved from the town with the fabulous company but they definitely helped get me started.

[hurleygirl]

[QUOTE=caligurli thought you's all meant who/what got me started as an adult rider!!!!!!! [/QUOTE]

Me too. As a child, I rode out of necessity. My bike was transportation until I got a driver's license and a car.

Ironically, I learned how to ride a bike late. Most of my peers learned by first grade, and I couldn't get my balance right until second grade.

I never thought of the bike for recreation or fitness until I met my husband.