Saying Hello!

[SadieKate]

Danariel, has your husband checked out www.bikejournal.com? It is a very polite group and this forum even has their own team on it. The site gives you the ability to track your rides but also has a forum. Check it out.

[MightyMitre]

Hi Danariel - I have to agree with a few other posts. There are occasional discussions that might be a little too much info for even the most enlightened male. I'm not just talking about physical stuff, but sharing emotional stuff too.

I spend a huge amount of time with men, I've got 2 brothers, I work with 3 guys in a shop every day and lots of my cycling friends are men. In fact, I sometimes feel like I have to remind myself I'm a girl!!

What I'm trying to say is that I really appreciate this small, boy-free zone in my life and while I very much enjoy spending so much time with guys, I also need a soothing shot of estrogen every so often,to keep me sane.

Just my thoughts, and thank you for being so kind as to ask before your hubby just went ahead and signed up.

Liz

[bikerchick68]

Hiya and welcome! glad to hear you have recovered and made such huge and positive changes in your life...

also have your DH check out bicycling.com... the "Love Forum" is a bunch of nuts with some bashing etc but all the other forums are the serious forums... lots of knowledgable and nice people there too... I have met many of them now out doing rides!

[slinkedog]

Welcome Danariel! What a story! I'm glad you're okay and hope you have a blast riding and going to school! Looking forward to hearing more from you!

[Grog]

I too must say that I appreciate the girls' club atmosphere... I don't mind a DH/SO posting once in a while (usually using his DW's account) but I don't think it would be appropriate for a male to become a regular participant to this forum.

As for lurking: no problem!

[Danariel]

I thank all of you kindly for the wonderful welcomes!

In regards to DH, you all might be suprised at how little of the Macho Dude there is in Jon. Honestly, he's sometimes even better with the emotional stuff than I am! I've often said that I'm more masculine (tom-boy, former Army and all that) than most girls of my acquaintance, and he's much more feminine (not to say he's effeminate or "swishy," just REALLY in touch with his emotions) than any straight male I've ever met. As far as too much information, I've never found ANYTHING to be truely TMI for him, his interest in everything (including the differences between boys and girls) is boundless.

He is truely the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man I have ever met. We have been married for 5 years, together for 6, and he still gets doors for me, holds my chair, won't sit at table until I do. I've had lots of people tell me that I trained him right, but he was that way when I met him. And it's certainly not his father's training! He raised himself up right, as he lost his mother at 9.

I will, however, let him know that a few "test posts" might be in order, and since you can set your own Title here, I'm sure he'd be willing to put Team Testosterone or something else to make it plain he's a guy. And I can suggest that he might want to stay out of some of the more embarrassing posts until/unless you ladies become that comfortable with him.

You know how sometimes, a gay male friend can seem almost like a girlfriend? Well, he's almost like that. Except that I really don't think a gay male would honestly want to hear about period problems (having NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in female anatomy) where Jon would express sympathy, and perhaps a tiny bit of empathy (he's talked about there being a male "cycle" that kinda roughly corresponds with the female cycle, and sometimes he feels cranky, or headachy, when I'm menstruating.)

I'll let him read what you all have said, and if he'd still like to post here and get to know some kick *** chicks, he'll try very hard to win your friendship.

[snapdragen]

Sadiekate is spot on recommending bikejournal.com. You will both find friendly supportive folks over there. And when hubby has some "boy" questions (which he will!) there are lots of guys there to help.

I find Bicycling's site a bit of a snake pit, but maybe I'm just sensitive. cyclingforums.com has a lovely international feel, roadbikereview.com has a great beginners forum. All rbr members are under orders to be nice to newbies in the beginners forum . They're good people, if not a bit looney.

I don't mind the occasional post here, but I honestly feel he'll get bored after a while.

Welcome to both of you!

[Pedal Wench]

bikeforums.net is another good one with a good group in the general cycling and road cycling forums. Training and nutrition forum is good too. (Of course, the women's cycling forum is fun too, but off limits for him!)

[Danariel]

*this is Jon, Tiffany's husband, using her account to post*

Hello, and thank you to everyone for the warm empathic welcome to Tiffany. She has permitted me to read her thread to see your responses regarding my possibly becoming a member. Needless to say I'm blushing at her many compliments, hard as I've worked to earn them.

I'll admit to having looked in on the TE forums as an anonymous guest - not for prurient reasons of any kind, but simply for technical advice on cycling, espcially for neophytes (since that means me ).

I do appreciate the consideration for me as a potential member and the general supportiveness of this forum. Such an attitude of friendly cooperation and encouragement is of indescribable value to people of any gender! Sadly, in all too many communities, be they online or RL, it's lacking. For my wife's sake I'm thrilled she's discovered an environment of not only skill relevant to her latest pursuit, but also compassion and understanding. Sometimes that kind of encouragement can take you the extra mile... and maybe even one or two more.

It looks like there are at least a few folks who would really rather keep TE a true ladies' only forum. I completely understand and respect that, and am happy to just look in now and again - maybe occasionally heterodyning Tif's account to post like this, but always with notification as above. Again, thanks to everyone for your positive attitudes and support for Tif. Safe journeys to all - may all the skies you travel under be bright.