Your Cycling Supporters

[Haudlady]

DH is #1 - he has been a cyclist for about 20 years (in one form or another - he used to freestyle {aka "flatland"} in Junior High ). He is really excited that I am involved in the sport, but keeps checking to make sure I am doing it because I think it's fun - not because he's happy to have me on two wheels! Yup - I'm doing it for me!

My Dad and Stepmom are very supportive, too - but they are that way about anything I do. My Mom is good, but has a habit of saying "that's nice, but are you (riding your horses, spending time with your husband...)?"

DH's cycling friends are good, too, and happy to include me! Of course, DH's main riding partner was funny... I was proudly announcing that I had hit 375 miles (I only started in July, and got my road bike on 9/24). He said "that's great! I have about 4000 miles so far this year." Um, thanks Rob. Ah well... he means well! Besides, there's always next year.

My poor Grammy, though, does nothing but worry. "Are you sure it's safe, deah? I hope you're careful of the cahs! Maybe you should stay in the yahd!" Yes, Gram, I'm careful (didn't she think that horseback riding was dangerous? I guess she just got used to that)!

[hsmpcycle]

Somehow I felt the need to share because y'all understand.

My DH supports me 110% in my obsession with riding (along with my dire need to stash yarn for my knitting fix). When we first met, he tricked me into dating him when he told me he loved riding bikes and did so all the time!!! Our first few dates included long Sunday rides to the coffee shop. Untill one day when I started questioning his riding habits when he stopped for a cigarette break. YUK!!!! Once we got serious, however, he confessed that his passion was for fixing and building bikes, not riding them. Needless to say, I lost a riding buddy , but gained access to a personal bicycle mechanic. Oh by the way, he quit smoking before we got married.

As with all of you, the majority of the people I know think I am nuts.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We must remember that our parents were raised in another generation, a very different time when bikes were old fashioned and vaguely unladylike, cars were modern and the preferred mode -a symbol of success. Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work. Improving yourself meant learning to sew, baking for the church bake sale, taking a shorthand course, or joining the PTA.
I can imagine how dismayed some older people might be at their daughter spending lots of money and energy focusing on a pursuit that to thme may seem selfish and frivolous. We should try to make some allowances for their outdated viewpoints, while still helping them to "get with the times".

[ace]

Good thread...

I have (had?) two main supporters- my recent ex-boyfriend got me riding, and really encouraged me (we didn't ride together that much because it was boring for him, but when we did, he was impressed by my mighty legs!). However, we just broke up, and that's part of the sadness. I just fixed my first flat, and I wanted to call him, but we're taking some time off, so it was hard ('specially since he taught me how to fix a flat a month or so ago). But actually I feel like even though our relationship hasn't ended too well, he really gave me a huge gift getting me back on my bike- I rode w/my local club all last summer, had a great time, and am planning a bike trip to Italy next summer with my oldest friend. I am hooked.

I also have a good buddy at work who's cycled for years, and I tell him what kind of rides I'm doing, and he always has good advice.

-Amy

[Haudlady]

Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work.

I don't know if this was partially in response to my comment that my mom says "that's nice but are you spending enough time with your husband." Oh dear! Can I just say that my Mom is only 53! It's funny, actually, but my Gram, at 74, is more modern in her attitude than my Mom is!

Boy oh boy... I am glad that the times have changed! DH does the cooking - I'm not very creative when it comes to food! (Okay, dear... do you want pasta tonight, or would you prefer cereal?)

[paigette]

DH does the cooking - I'm not very creative when it comes to food! (Okay, dear... do you want pasta tonight, or would you prefer cereal?)

LOL, my dad did all the cooking when I was growing up, he made sure to teach me! I actually like cooking, though, it's calming.

Oh, and my parents are 56(mom) & 53(dad).

[GLC1968]

We must remember that our parents were raised in another generation, a very different time when bikes were old fashioned and vaguely unladylike, cars were modern and the preferred mode -a symbol of success. Women were disapproved of if they spent a lot of time galavanting about for their own benefit. You were supposed to be there at home, hot dinner on the table when children came home from school and husband came home from work. Improving yourself meant learning to sew, baking for the church bake sale, taking a shorthand course, or joining the PTA.
I can imagine how dismayed some older people might be at their daughter spending lots of money and energy focusing on a pursuit that to thme may seem selfish and frivolous. We should try to make some allowances for their outdated viewpoints, while still helping them to "get with the times".

And in that 'other generation' my mom didn't quite fit the mold! I think you are making some assumtions here that don't necessarily apply to all of us whose parents don't get it. My parents definitely don't have outdated viewpoints at all. My mom is HUGELY supportive of my athletic pursuits, my career (in a male dominated field), my independence, my "late in life" marriage, my lack of desire for children...she just doesn't get biking. Neither of them do...it's so odd to me when they are so open, supportive and forward-thinking in so many other areas.

[Geonz]

Hmmm... my friends are pretty supportive, especially when it comes to making sure I've got safety gear Most of my friends are the ones I met in the bike club, though.
Work is at least tolerant- though da boss lady emphasized that she did not want to see my bicycle in the office (it's a big computer lab) once students were coming (not that I'd have parked it there then anyway). It is sort of a "well, we want to encourage diversity" thing, though... it's not *normal* behavior. There aren't any kind of facilities - a pretty basic bike rack out in the weather... and the gym showers ... I don't know, maybe it's me but I have never gotten hot water from them so I gave up.
There are lots of fellow cycling nuts around here... and in general, the citizens like the idea of people riding bikes instead of cars, even if they don't "get it." It's sort of like being a monk or yoga guru or something - they don't think they could do it, but they admire it . If only I could convince them that it's a very feasible conversion... and I try, one bike trip at a time...

[paigette]

GLC1968--

Rock on with the late in life marriage! To this day my parents' friends continually remind them that they married 'old'. Geez, they were only in their 30's, but a lot of their friends have grandkids my age!!!

[bikerchick68]

I'm pretty lucky... my brother is a cyclist as well, so he and I chat all the time and did our first big rides together... including our first metric, then our first 3 centuries! It's cool having that in common with a sibling... if we lived closer together I have no doubt I'd ride with him a lot.

My mom is supportive, I have friends I ride with regularly, and have met and got to ride with tprevost from this forum!

My best friend does not ride but IS a marathon walker, so she gets the physical effort and sense of achievement thing... for Xmas last year she had a sterling charm made for my charm bracelet.. it's a silver disc with the number "100" etched into it... she put a note with it saying she was incredibly proud of my accomplishments and this charm was in honor of my century's (I rode my first ones last year!)... now THAT is some cool support huh?

[Bad JuJu]

They are couch potatoes (I was raised as a couch potato)

LOL--it's like you've converted to another religion!

[Bluetree]

Love the new avatar Bad Juju!

My first supporter was my ex-BF. Having lived a few destitute years as a med student in England, he spent his free time cycling throughout Europe, including a climb up Alp d'Huez. Currently, my biggest supporters are the guys I ride with, and the gals here at TE... Inspiration a-plenty!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I guess I'm older than i thought! I realize that my own parents (if they were still alive) would actually be the same age and generation as many of your grandparents! Oh well.
Yes, I should not generalize. My own parents were real hippies, only back then they were called "Bohemians", and when I was young they were called "Beatniks"...(God I'm feeling older by the minute!!)...

As to my own biking supporter- well it's certainly my darling DH- he is my mentor, my personal fan club, my best friend, and my inspiration. I feel so lucky to have him. He's been quietly biking once and a while by himself for years, but since I got interested, my enthusiasm has infected him as well, and we share the raging biking fever now. He patiently shares his bike knowledge whenever I ask him, but never does it like he's "educating" me. He helps me learn to fix and adjust my own bike. He never feels we need to compete in any way, never speeds on ahead when we ride together, though I know he could. A truly wonderful person.

[Bad JuJu]

Think we must be about the same age, Lisa. My parents weren't Beatniks (too straight-laced!), but my uncles were, and they were my childhood heroes. Happy to say I grew up somewhat in their images.

They both had cool 10-speed bikes--called "English racers" in those days, which my brother and I used to lean up against the side of the house, climb onto the saddles, and pretend we were riding, when our feet didn't even reach the pedals!

[chickwhorips]

my BF is my greatest supporter. he has been cycing for years and was the one that got me into it. we were talking about it the other day and i get frustrated for how slow i seem to be because i compare myself to him, and he told me he's just proud of me going out there and doing it. thankfully he rides with me on his slow days and doesn't complain, just pushes me harder to make me better.

i have a new supporter since this summer. we had a retired refuge manager come up as a volunteer. super nice guy. well he's also into cycling and running. so now we email each other seeing what the other one is up to and "challenging" each other. its quite fun!

and of course i have all you girls here at TE to thank for keeping me modivated though it all. thanks!