Your Cycling Supporters

[SheFly]

Unfortunately I have no cycling supporters. In fact, I only know one other person who rides. She's a co-worker, but I don't know her very well. It makes it tough because I don't have anyone to ask to show me how to do mechanical things.

My friends know that I'm trying to lose weight, but they're indifferent. They think it's good that I exercise, but they're not going to start asking me how many miles I rode or something.

Not true - you have us !

Seriously, though, you should look into a local cycling club or group in your area. This would give you people to ride with, and people who understand your passion.

SheFly

[Tater]

My DH is my biggest supporter. He brags to the guys at work about the mileage I have, that I ride to work every day (even when it gets cold!), and that I rode over a hundred miles in one day (wait until the 400k brevet in May!). He loves to drive me to organized rides and has no problem waiting when I spend an hour in the bike shop comparing the stitching on two different messenger bags. He understands I need to be in motion, to be active or I will drive him nuts!

My family is pretty supportive, despite thinking I have lost my mind biking when there is snow on the ground. Well, a girl has to get to work!

My co-workers think I am fit for the looney bin. Yesterday the security guard was gobsmacked when I rolled up in 27 degree weather. What's the big deal? I was toasty!

[Crankin]

My husband and sons are my supporters, along with the one couple who are our "cycling" friends. My 'regular" life friends don't really get it. They don't discourage me or make fun of me, but they probably would faint if they knew what we spent on cycling stuff. They spend their $ on other pursuits, so I guess they would understand. I just find that it's getting harder to relate to a couple of people who are really good friends. I force myself, because you never know what could happen in the future. I think it's more that people don't get the addiction to living a fitness/healthy oriented life. One co-worker recently just rolled her eyes and said to me, "That's all you're putting on your salad?", in reference to how much dressing I was using. We spend a lot of time with our cycling friends, including all of our recent vacations.
My dad lives in California. He's never been athletic, but he does ask about what I'm doing, although he thinks I'm nuts. My mom, who would have been 77, would have been my greatest supporter. She was active in high school sports (girl's intramurals) and always walked, swam, did floor work stuff. She taught me to ride, and I was a hopeless 9 year old! We would regularly walk 5 miles or so when they would visit us. Right before she died, she told me that i would have to find something to "do" with my husband, since my kids were entering their teen years. Well, I guess her advice paid off...
Seriously, I always thank my son for getting me (and my husband) into riding. Even though he can't ride now because he's in the military, he always asks about it, and I ask about his running. When he was home a couple of weeks ago, he went into the new LBS where I got my bike and he told the owner that if it wasn't for him, "my mom and dad would have never started riding."