Cycling and your relationship.

[BikeMomma]

My totally unfounded theory is when you have that in your DNA so to speak it makes processes like Bikeomoma's DH journey back to fitness easier and maybe even dealing with injuries, illness. He's felt this before, likes feeling fit and working out. Hopefully it'll be like old home week "oh, yeah, I like that".

Sure it'll take a while but he knows the route.

That's what I'm hoping...and I hesitantly raise crossed fingers and say it might be true. Thanks, Trek.

BikeMomma, I just wanted to say that I thought your post was very well-written and I wish you and your husband the best of luck with his journey back to health... has he expressed any interest in cycling?

Thanks Kimmy, for the compliment...great name, btw.

We got him a mtb a couple years ago and I put slicks on it so that he could ride it on the streets. He's been on it maybe all of ten times. But, he has said lately that he may start using it in conjunction with the Bowflex as cardio (yay!). Actually, I think he's waiting on me! I have to change out the tube on the back tire (valve broke off). Guess I'm his wrench in addition to his wench!

~BikeMomma

[RoadRaven]

Well... its augmented ours...

We both enjoy it, and I've done it more and more as he and the boys got into it.

We don't ride much together because of our different levels and my work hours... but I relish the times we can... and its great talking cycling with him too.

[newbiechick]

I started cycling when I met my now-husband three years ago. He's an avid cyclist and I thought it might be something fun to do together. He said from the get-go that he did not expect me to ride and that if I didn't like it I should let it go. Fortunately, I really enjoyed it from the start.

I'm very fortunate in that my husband loves to ride with me, even tho' his abilities are FAR above mine. He says he's just happy to be on the bike. He's been a wonderful teacher and a great inspiration. He and I ride together once or twice a week, and I send him off to ride on his own once or twice a week--so he still gets in his hard, fast, challening rides.

We're doing a 4-day bike tour in the San Juan Islands (WA) in a week and a half. He's done several of these organized tours including some pretty tough ones; but he's happy to do this "easy" tour and enjoy it with me.

[anaphase]

Well, I'm a little jealous of those of you with cycling-positive partners. My partner thinks bikes are a public nuisance most days (commuting in Boston tends to show you the bad side of riding/riders). He is, however, very into fitness, so we run together several times per week, and it's fun to bond over that. I really wish I could get him into cycling though.

He might like mountain biking, and I've sort of been pestering one of his friends, who is really into it, to take him out on the trails one weekend. I figure that if he gets the bug in that way, then one day he might join me on the roads. Or maybe not, but I can hope!

[Skierchickie]

So, I met my DH in college, at a cycling club meeting. That was, oh, about 20 years ago. Our cycling lives have ebbed & flowed over the years, but when not cycling, we have running (which was really not my thing back then, but he got me into it), x-c skiing (my thing since I was 9, so I got HIM into that), etc. So even though he is 14 years older than I am, we have lots to share. I do sometimes beat him in races these days, but not biking!

One item of dispute all these years has been our first "date". I say "date", because I say it wasn't, but he says it was. He'd say "it's a date", and I'd say "no, it isn't". Anyway, we went biking together, and for some reason he thought he'd try to kill me. First, a ride out to find a big hill. Then, since the pavement ran out and we needed more distance, it was up to the airport (a HUUUUGE hill). Then, back to town. But no, we were hungry, and Pizza Hut is his favorite restaurant. Up a very long, very big hill! Then, after gorging on pizza, I realized there was an enormous uphill between me and my apartment! Ugh - I can't believe I didn't hurl! I was being tough, of course, not wanting to appear to be wimpy, plus I had never ridden any of these hills, and had only seen 2 of them before.

Early in our marriage, we made a pact that neither of us would ever do anything to prevent the other from racing/training/keeping in shape. So sometimes I'm lazy, and sometimes he's lazy, but we don't pull the "why don't you stay here in front of the tv with me, because my priorities are different from yours right now, and if you go it will make me feel like a slug for not going too" thing. I can't honestly say I haven't ever wanted to, or that I'm always the most supportive person in the world, but I try to refrain. And we don't always train together, but I guess we're pretty lucky to have similar interests and priorities, so we don't have the constant battle of "he loves that &%$# bike more than he loves me", like some people do. Hmmm - he is awfully crazy about that Trek Team Time Trial bike of his.....

[TrekJeni]

Most of you know my story already so here's the short version.

I was in a seven year relationship. Not married but had the house, camper, 50acres of dog training grounds (we owned bird hunting dogs), etc.

I always busied myself with something as the BF has a job that required 60+ hours a week. Along with myself working, I was a gym rat, then finshed my degree, and after graduation, went back to the gym.

His entertainment was the bar. Rough day at work equaled drinking and smoking on the back patio. I can't tell you how many fights we had about "counting his beers"....

Bought my first road bike as a way to get out of the gym along with a girlfriend of mine. BF and I started fighting about the time invested in riding and that I was gone all the time. (he was at the bar - what did it matter) He even told me that he was going out with the boys one Saturday and that I needed to stay home so I could see how it felt to be home all alone? Huh?

Started doing club rides and shop rides. Broke up with BF, leaving him with most everything. Another equally wonderful fight we'd get into. He made 3 times what I did so he always told me how I didn't "contribute" to the relationship and household. I now live in a studio apartment.

BUT I'M HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turns out, the manager of the LBS and I started riding a lot and we developed a mutual affection for each other. Fast forward to almost a year after the breakup and the NEW BF and I race road and mountain bikes for the same team along with leading a newbie ride for the club on Mondays.

He's a much stronger rider and we hardly ever ride "alone" as we're always with our friends but that's okay....

Hah! Didn't turn out to be so short, did it?

Jeni

[KnottedYet]

Your story always makes me smile. You did good!

[Starfish]

Most of you know my story already so here's the short version.

Ah! I had not heard it. Thanks for telling it again!