have you changed your life for cycling?

[mimitabby]

Man, i'd love to own a downtown Seattle Loft. I wouldn't have any trouble riding from home either!

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband and I just bought our first home and the major reason we picked the town we did was cycling. There was another neighborhood that would be closer to my work, but we could never ride from the house. It would have meant negotiating a new toll road!

That being said, if we could afford a place smack between our works we might have come to a different conclusion. The ability to be home in 10 minutes would be wonderful. Right now we are 6 miles from most things and 15 from the nearest malls and bike shops. It is really making Christmas shopping a PITA.

Can you take your bikes to work (do you drive?) and meet somewhere for a ride? I have throw my running clothes in the car and change in a bathroom at our local trail to enjoy running in the winter. Maybe there are some creative solutions to keeping the loft and riding?

[spokewench]

Well, I didn't change my house entirely because of cycling, but I did change my lifestyle - and part of it was because of cycling.

We used to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and I can't say that riding was ever a problem there. The road riding is spectacular and the mountain biking is okay.

But, about 10-11 years ago, my husband and I decided to downsize a bit and moved to Flagstaff Arizona. Part of the draw was the great mountain biking; not so great road riding. The other draw was that my parents lived just south of here. So, yeah, we made a big move and part of it was the fact that cycling is part of our lives.

It was the best move yet.

[limewave]

When we were looking for homes, one of our considerations was cycling. We had several towns we could choose from, but picked the one with the best cycling. I have to commute about 15 minutes farther each way to work, but it's been worth it. The other towns were locked in by highways and waterways. We're still very close to the Lake, but have plenty of room to ride North and East.

We have the best lot in a small town. It's about 1/2 mile from the school and a block from the pharmacy, post office, grocery, etc; but were also right on the edge of the town, so great cycling on country roads are just beyond our driveway. The front of our house is in the city, the back in the country . . . if that makes sense.

[RoadRaven]

Great to read these stories

I have changed my lifestyle and priorities, and my partner and I have long-term goals including that in 8 years time I am able to move to part-time work and we spend more time together - including cycling.

The number of times I have looked out my office window and seen cyclists cruuise by and just wanted to draft my resignation there and then...

[TrekJeni]

I discovered riding almost two years ago. Originally, it was just a novelty. My best friend and I were sick of going to the gym, and the weather was starting to get nice. We saw a flyer for the local MS150, bought bikes and were off.

My boyfriend and I had been living together for five years at the time. We started out the relationship with similiar likes. We were both young and going to the bars and clubs was fun. Somewhere over the years, I changed (okay he says I changed - I'd like to say I grew up). My idea of a Satuday and Sunday were not in your smoke infested bar, drinking beer, and watching sports. I wanted to be out enjoying life. It was getting to the point that if I wanted to spend any real time with him, it would have to be at the local watering hole.

I started riding more, a lot more. Okay, a lot LOT more. We started to not see each other than at night. We never even went camping this summer. Although my riding friends and I used our RV for getting to organized rides. This summer, he made the comment that I had to "stay home for the weekend". He had something planned with the boys (all you can drink fest)that weekend and I had an out of state ride. He wanted me to stay home "because you always get to do something, it's my weekend to go out". We have no kids and the dogs have a dog door so it's not like someone HAD to be home.

September was the last straw. I crashed my bike and got stitches in my face. My riding buddy called him to say I was going to the hospital to get stitches. He was concerned but chose to stay at the bar with the buddies to watch the football game. Sitting in the waiting room, I knew it had to end. We were living under the same roof but living totally seperate lives.

I moved out. Left seven years, the house, the 50 acres, the camper, one of my dogs, and most of the furniture. I now rent an efficiency apartment, where my two cats and my dog reside. But I'm HAPPY! VERY HAPPY!

We have spoken and visited on several occasions. We both know it was for the best. He's happy and I'm happy.

So, yeah I changed my life for cycling.

Jeni

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Way to go Jeni.