Anyone make fun of you?

[Aggie_Ama]

Doubt myself? All the time. But I'm pretty bull-headed. Not a natural athlete, but stubborn. Tell me I can't and I WILL! (DH learned that very early on--I don't respond well to NO)

Yup that is me. Not athletic at all (frikking DH is and it annoys me) but if I am going to do something and really tell myself I will, I do! Can't never could, man I hated my mom for saying that as a kid now I want to tattoo it on me for inspiration! Or as DH's stepmom said to him with her thick Missouri drawl "CAN'T DIED WHEN HE WAS A PUP, DO IT!"

[indigoiis]

I get it in winter. They all think I'm nuts in winter.

What I get more is my mother worrying about me. "I don't like to think of you riding on those dark, slick roads."

"Ma. 3/4 of it is rural and bike path. I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. I'm careful."

"Yes but I know Rhode Island drivers."

haha.

I worry about my own daughter riding. I guess it's a mom thing.

I think people are crazy NOT to ride, if they are able.
Call me judgemental.

[BarbaraAlys]

<snip>Or as DH's stepmom said to him with her thick Missouri drawl "CAN'T DIED WHEN HE WAS A PUP, DO IT!"

Alternately I've heard it as "can't died trying to eat soup with a fork"

I NEVER think I CAN, but somehow mostly I do, in one fasion or another.

No one makes fun of me for riding, but sometimes I think they are probably puzzled..."116.9 miles in one week-end? But she's so fat...."

Barbara

[NoNo]

I had this issue earlier in the year (started a thread on it somewhere). I used to be heavy, then I dieted and lost weight. For several years it was lots of negative comments and pointing out every time I ate something "bad". "OH! Look at Miss Diet eating cake! That's not healthy!" No, it's not, but you don't see me every other day of the week when I'm eating well. It was almost like they wanted me to slip up and go back to my old ways.

Last year I got into cycling. At first it was "You'll never be able to finish that ride." Then it progressed to "You're working out too much! You're too skinny!" This summer my entire family (parents and two sets of aunts/uncles) bought bikes Most of them didn't use them, but my parents have really taken to it and are looking into buying trainers so they can keep riding through the winter!

It was really hard to learn how to shrug off their negativity. You have to do your own thing and what you know is right for you. I think they're afraid of change and maybe just a little upset about their own weight/fitness issues and that I've done something about mine and stuck to it. That said, I'm as supportive as possible with my parents. I want them to keep riding, to be healthy. It's nice to know we have at least this in common.

[Wilda S]

Well! I don't feel alone now!

I'm gonna go ride my bike...maybe back and forth in front of their house a couple of times and stick my tongue out

Thanks for the encouragement!
Wilda S

[Brandy]

I don't get made fun of by family, but they just don't get it. I have my SO and my best friend who are as addicted as I am, so I save all of my babbling for them.

[bikerHen]

No one makes fun of me for riding, but sometimes I think they are probably puzzled..."116.9 miles in one week-end? But she's so fat...."

Barbara

I've had two complete strangers ask me about bike riding as I am coming and going from work. As the conversation progresses about how much I ride, where, etc., both have asked why I'm so fat if I ride so much. I've also gotten the comment, " gee your a really strong rider for someone so heavy" It does kinda sting. I just know they are looking at me and thinking no way she rides that much . . . It bugs the heck out of me that I am still so overweight and a bit of a mystery too. But I still keep plugging away at it. Although I sometimes get the whole "why bother" mentality. But, I'm hooked on cycling and my daily commuting. It's good for me. Even if I'm not losing weight, I enjoy it! bikerHen

[Grog]

I've had two complete strangers ask me about bike riding as I am coming and going from work. As the conversation progresses about how much I ride, where, etc., both have asked why I'm so fat if I ride so much. I've also gotten the comment, " gee your a really strong rider for someone so heavy" It does kinda sting. I just know they are looking at me and thinking no way she rides that much . . . It bugs the heck out of me that I am still so overweight and a bit of a mystery too. But I still keep plugging away at it. Although I sometimes get the whole "why bother" mentality. But, I'm hooked on cycling and my daily commuting. It's good for me. Even if I'm not losing weight, I enjoy it! bikerHen

Maybe one day if you need to shut someone down, you could tell them: "Funny that you ask. Actually I really struggle to keep the weight ON because I love going downhill FAST so much."

I've seen you ride. You're WAY fitter than a lot of skinny people.

[Aint Doody]

I ditto Grog on that score, Bikerhen. And you're a lot of fun, too.

[pardes]

At first everyone thought it was cool, an old lady lab manager riding her bike to work. They never expected it to last.

Then they got sullen when I rode in the rain.

They they snickered among themselves that I didn't ride the 50 yards from the bus stop to the lab door. (It took longer to put on the helmet, reattach the panniers, and dodge traffic than it took to walk the bike 50 yards.) Of course they assumed that meant I was tiring of biking....

Then they saw Amazon boxes arriving with winter riding gear.....

Some are still very supportive but even they think it's just very very very odd.

I shrug and ride on. It makes me feel good, no it makes me feel GREAT to ride a bike, to leave the car behind, to reacquaint myself with weather and day length and seasonal changes up close and personal.

I have yet to find a single down side to riding a bike but then, it's all in one's attitude.

So just smile like Mona Lisa with your secret that you've tried to share and which fell on deaf ears.

[GLC1968]

My parents used to worry about my riding "on the roads" as if that was so much more dangerous that riding on mountain trails! Obviously my family has never seen me on a mountain bike - that's the only time I ever get hurt! I'm a menance on studded tires!

No one I know thinks I'm weird for riding (at least, not that they've told me!). In fact, I used to get lots of people telling me that I was an inspiration to them at my last job. As word gets out how far I commute now, I'm finding that people are starting to think the same thing...I'm some sort of inspiration.

I think it's because I'm female, I'm overweight, and I'm just a regular person. I figure they are probably thinking that if I can do it, so can they. It pleases me to no end!