You know you're addicted to cycling when......

[denda]

Here's what happens to me: I work right across from the Post Office. I can see the American flag out my window. When I see it just hanging limp, I think, "Man, if I was home I would be riding my bike!"

[Lakerider]

Whenever I'm doing something that feels like wasting time, like waiting in a check out line I always think,
I could be biking!

[Miranda]

You're driving down the road and have to stop. You find yourself twisting your foot to disengage from the gas pedal "clips" so you can step on your break pedal.

And yes, I have done this more than once.

Your sitting at a road side cafe and a hot looking man/woman on a bike passes. Your head swivels to watch. You can name the exact bike they were riding, and even which team jersey they had on, but you did not see the person at all. (This drives my DH crazy! He thinks I'm checking out the hot young men - but I really don't see them - really )

OMG... the driving comment... that made me lol big time!

Umm, yea... on the cafe comment... that's caused some issues as well with the other half.

DH builds a shed behind the house, so he can move the lawn mower, kayak and motorcycle out of the garage--leaving more room for the bikes!

Or you throw the vehicles outta the car garage to make room for more bikes and a floor rack in the vehicle parking space. OH... then you use you kids' side-walk chalk to write on the garage cement floor "bike parking only"... just for clarification purposes.

OK... here's mine...
Part of your conversation with total strangers in store / biz parking lots has to include the words "...ummm, I'm not really a stalker, or a thief, I just wanted to check out your bike vehicle rack and / or gear... (as the owner shows up and busts you investigating their stuff) ...so, now that we have cleared that up... can we chat about it?".

[kermit]

You let your lunch get cold while talking to a total stranger at a rest stop when he sees your Specialized and you see his Giant(bike that is)!

[redrhodie]

when your co-worker asks if you're okay because you drove your car to work, and you say I'm fine, but my bike's in the shop.

[TrekTheKaty]

On days when I don't have time to ride or the weather doesn't allow it, I sometimes talk to my bike, "R.B, we can't ride today, but we'll go for a ride soon." I just like having her (R.B. - short for Red Bike) around.

I do that! Lightning sits right next to the door coming in from the garage--I have to "explain" when we miss a day (ie. rain or work) but promise "we'll go out tomorrow." I think the cat is teaching her the "guilt" look

[TrekTheKaty]

From Sarahspins bike rack thread:

You're not a car person, but you now car watch--looking for the perfect vehicle to accomodate the BIKES

[Jiffer]

When you are driving your car and hit your left window with your hand as you attempt to point out something in the road to ... um .... other "cars" behind you.

Also driving, you find you are on auto pilot and turn into your neighborhood the way you always do on your bike, but not usually in your car. (Cause there's more turns that way that you don't want to mess around with in the car, but is fun on the bike ... plus it keeps you from ever having to stop at the red light when you are trying to keep your average pace up as high as possible. Yet when you are trying to get your average pace UP a tenth and that light is green, you barrel through and ride that straight away as fast as possible, hoping for that tenth!)

When you plan a camping trip and immediately wonder if there's good cycling roads around and get all excited at the prospect of riding somewhere new and different.

When you actually let your husband bolt bike holding devices into the carpet of your beautiful new travel trailer, to make transporting the bikes on camping trips easier.

When your sick husband has to leave the camping trip early and you find yourself getting up alone at 5:30 and riding an unfamiliar mountain road with 4,000 feet of climbing, something you would have never dreamed of doing alone before. And then you feel so invigorated that you DID IT!!!

When you find yourself replying to posts about being addicted to cycling while you are camping instead of hanging out and visiting with your camping friends! (Who are all very impressed with your big ride that day and can't believe you actually rode a bike up the same rode we all drove up to town yesterday.)

[cylegoddess]

'You own more than 1 bike and are lusting after another. You pick up the latest Bicyling magazine, hold up a picture of a to-drool over bike and say to DP: "Isn't this sexy!" One room of your house is devoted to all things that are bike: trainer and mat propped in front of tv, drying rack strewn with bike shorts, jerseys, bras, gloves, buffs..., an entire dresser stuffed with bike clothes, spare tires and a wheel for the trainer hanging out and, of course, the prized bike taking center stage in the room', yep thats me!

Also, you get sick and think, laying there " hey, I might make it to the end of the street - if I can get up!"

People at work tel em they saw me riding( and sometimes, its not a day I rode!)

You get a injury (and cant ride ) and instead of worrying how it will affect your work, your sleeping patterns, etc you think - how will it affect my riding?!

Your thighs get bigger but instead of worrying if you should diet, you compare them to the pictures of female pro riders in their ads for compression shorts.

[lo123]

From Sarahspins bike rack thread:

You're not a car person, but you now car watch--looking for the perfect vehicle to accomodate the BIKES

So true. I just got a Ford Escape. Our test drive was to our house to see if we could fit both bikes in the back of the car with the rear seats down
(The answer is yes--it's tight with our 'cross bikes--mine's a 54 cm, his a 58--but do-able).

[TrekTheKaty]

When you find yourself replying to posts about being addicted to cycling while you are camping instead of hanging out and visiting with your camping friends! (Who are all very impressed with your big ride that day and can't believe you actually rode a bike up the same rode we all drove up to town yesterday.)

[Fontinalis]

You know you are addicted to riding your bike when you break down the grocery list in as many outings as there are items on the list, and go fetch those items, not at the store close to home, but at a store as far as you can think of, even in a different neighborhood.

You know that you are addicted when your daily commute - which is already close to an hour - feels like a disapointment because you get home too soon, you haven't had your fill. And you know you are addicted when that happens even in the worse possible weather (rain, head wind).

You know you are addicted when the best time of your day IS the commute back and forth.

You know you are addicted to your biking when you use your bike all the time, and use your car so little of the time that you forgot on which side to fill the gas tank, lost track of the price of petrole, and once in your car, you want to go when the green light for bike and pedestrians turns green.

At first, when I strated commuting by bike, I was constantly trying to put my flashers on when turning with the bike. I even put the break on once trying to put the flasher on. Which was NOT a good idea. When I'd see a police car, my first thought was : omg, i'm not wearing my seat belt. Duh! I'm not in the car, I'm on my bike! Now it is the reverse situation. Once in the car, I drive as though I'm biking. I want to glide down hills, and take shortcuts. lol

Biking as totally reacquainted me with the city I live in. I have fallen in love again with the quality of life that it brings, a life on a human scale.

[Trigress]

You know you're addicted to cycling when you on finding out that the Centaur brake levers that you already have are 9g lighter than the Chorus brake levers that you were contemplating buying for then to burst out in loud cheering based on a truly heartfelt joy over this amazing fact. For then to rejoice that you can leave the brake levers where they are and just buy new time trial levers for the time trial bike you're building.

Come to think of it - building a time trial bike despite being last in all time trials ever participated in, and this number only being one, is a good sign of addiction as well I suppose.

[papaver]

Sitting here for about an hour or so, enjoying a cool beer and then realise you still have your helmet on.

[cylegoddess]

'You know you are addicted to riding your bike when you break down the grocery list in as many outings as there are items on the list, and go fetch those items, not at the store close to home, but at a store as far as you can think of, even in a different neighborhood.
You know you are addicted when the best time of your day IS the commute back and forth.'
Yes thats me!!
Oh and, your husband( who isnt keen on cycling) tells you - must you wear your helmet in the grocery store - it looks dorky( and you secretly think, no it doesnt! I paid a 100 bucks for this!)

Also, you wear your padded shorts proudly with your clip clop duck walk shoes, and could care less that you get stares.