Bicycle dates

[emily_in_nc]

Just chiming in as an old married gal here - married 20 years. When we got engaged, I was just a little athletic - did aerobics and a little jogging, but my fiance and soon-to-be husband was much more so - played on a softball team, ran 10Ks, lifted, cycled some. A few years into our marriage, he gave me a road bike for my birthday, and I was thrilled! That didn't turn out to be the perfect bike for me (it was too big, go figure!), but thus began a multi-yeared love affair with the sport of cycling that Barry already loved. I've been on-and-off with it over the past 15 years or so, we've had many bikes apiece, tandemed for awhile, even tried recumbents, and now each have four single bikes and still love riding. He created a bit of a monster!

Over the years, we've evolved into a pretty sporty couple. In addition to riding, we both lift (not a lot, just enough for good tone) and walk, and just this year have gotten into kayaking and more serious hiking. We were never able to have kids, so having shared activities is very important to us in keeping our marriage strong. We both have a few activities that we enjoy alone, but we enjoy our shared activities very much indeed. It's so nice to have a riding partner right here at home! I think I'd have a very difficult time being married to a non-rider. But that's just me!

Emily

[doctorfrau]

Darby -- I too have wondered if my profile is intimidating or "psycho vibe"! Have tried different permutations of it too - just to see. Mostly I just have to be myself, and I think you should too.

Trek -- Ratings and "test rides" eh??? .... I give him an A for strength and flexibility of his frame, but performance was only a C, as he wasn't firm enough in the saddle....

So, here's the date report....

We met up at noon on Sunday. Parking near the trailhead was crowded due to there being a festival in town this weekend. Weather was cool and damp, but do-able. I took it a little easy at first, because his bike looked like it hadn't been ridden in awhile, and he had to stop on the way to where we met so that he could buy a helmet. He was right up there with me though and we soon settled into a nice conversation as we rode. I gave him a few opportunities to say that he wanted to turn around and go back, but he didn't. He had hot muscular calves too! We ended up doing the whole 40 mile round-trip, so I was really impressed and the conversation was great - made the trip go really fast. When we got back to the parking area......... both of our cars had been TOWED!!!!!

We had to find a restaurant to call around to see where they had been taken. Turns out that the other cars had parked in front of the "no parking" sign that we didn't see So we rode the bikes about another 5 miles across town to the impound place and stood around in the 45 degree weather for half an hour - sweated through and losing core temperature while waiting for the guy to show up.

We had to cough up $157.50 ..... APIECE........ CASH ONLY!!!!

By then we were so cold, that we proceeded to the Blue Moose to drink copious amounts of Hot coffee and talk for another hour.
Bit of an expensive adventure for a first date, but he seemed really nice and seemed to take it all okay..... we'll see if I ever hear from him again!!!


Thanks for all the great advice and commiseration!

[Rakekay]

By then we were so cold, that we proceeded to the Blue Moose to drink copious amounts of Hot coffee and talk for another hour.
Bit of an expensive adventure for a first date, but he seemed really nice and seemed to take it all okay..... we'll see if I ever hear from him again!!!
!

Hey, any guy who'll ride 45 miles with you (who hasn't ridden for a while), wait around in the cold to get your cars back and STILL want to spend more time with you drinking coffee and talking for another hour is well worth a second date. Don't wait around for him to call you -- you give him a call if you don't hear from him soon!

[Trek420]

cool, great "date review" ;-) we will stay tuned.

As for me, discretion being the better art of valor I will just say I do not see a U-haul in my car port in the near future.

[pkq]

Since I've worked in a predominantly male environment for years, many men have said independent, strong women intimidate them. That shouldn't be cause for any to change their profile. It's better for them to know long before than shortly after. It's better for you, too. Being strong and independent is something you can't hide and shouldn't want to either. Be yourselves and Mr. Right will come along. Hopefully Mr. Right will not want to change you either.

Above all, live life to its fullest and be happy regardless of relationship circumstances. Being in a relationship can be very trying and difficult at times so you need that stability and independence going into a relationship. You only have one shot at this so make the most of it. People, including men, are attracted to women who enjoy life, are interested in life, are positive, happy, and have hobbies. You can't expect a man to fulfill your deepest needs. Humanity is too frail for that kind of pressure.

People cannot make you happy but they can enhance your happiness.

doctorfrau, him taking the parking mishap and fine in stride is a good thing. That would tick some off and you'd hear the soap box lecture for 5 minutes.

[SadieKate]

Doc, great story! It's on par with Bubba's and my first date (involving a broken down car, turkey farm and a 13 hr first date). We've coming up on our 18th wedding anniversary and will have been together 22 years.

[shewhobikes]

As someone who's just lived through a 2nd divorce (both at my initiation) let me say that I'm in this boat because I "changed my profile." Not online, literally, of course, but I adjusted and accommodated myself to be more of a fit, and wound up very unhappy. And I really tried (13 years the first time, 10 the second).

So now, yes, sometimes I'm lonely. But lonely beats miserable hands down.

I'm really not bitter but I've learned my lesson. I'll be myself (best foot forward, of course) and if my real self attracts someone, it'll be for the right reasons.

Now, where are those cycling single web sites?

That said, I'm sure none of you are putting out psycho vibes because you are all great women and wonderful people. Doctorfrau, your date sounds great to me!

[Trek420]

shewhobikes asks "Now, where are those cycling single web sites? "

you mean this one?

www.CyclingSingles.com