Sharing an "ah ha!"

[NorCalGal]

Hi everyone,

I just had to let you know how much I appreciate you and your great, supportive responses to this post. As with other members of this forum, I live in a rural area and have no cycling buddies nearby, and not many people in my community understand the passion. It's so great to have this outlet. Thank you!

Hugs,
Karen

[Trekhawk]

Hi everyone,
I just had to let you know how much I appreciate you and your great, supportive responses to this post. As with other members of this forum, I live in a rural area and have no cycling buddies nearby, and not many people in my community understand the passion. It's so great to have this outlet. Thank you!
Hugs,
Karen

Hey NorCal - perhaps we can get together for a ride next year. Maybe we could meet somewhere in the middle or try a ride at each others location for some variety.

[wabisabi]

How far north are you? I'm way up here, in Arcata.

[NorCalGal]

Hello Trekhawk and Wabisabi!

I'm very near Chico, so planning a ride with either of you is certainly doable, especially now that I'm done with grad school and have time, blessed time.

I'm also on the mailing list for the Cinderella....what about you? Hopefully we can ride together before that...but it's also something to shoot for, as is the Chico Wildflower in late April.

KD

[Trekhawk]

Hello Trekhawk and Wabisabi!

I'm very near Chico, so planning a ride with either of you is certainly doable, especially now that I'm done with grad school and have time, blessed time.

I'm also on the mailing list for the Cinderella....what about you? Hopefully we can ride together before that...but it's also something to shoot for, as is the Chico Wildflower in late April.
KD

SadieKate just gave me the link for this (the Wildflower) and it looks great. If I can keep some fitness over winter I might manage a century by then.

If we both end up registered for this perhaps we can ride some of it together.

[SadieKate]

Here is another ride nearer you two. http://www.bikearoundthebuttes.com/Can't remember if we talked about it before.

Basically same course as the Rice Valley Tandem Rally but later in the year. A great first century. Read all about jobob's victory and chutzpah here.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=buttes

[Trekhawk]

Here is another ride nearer you two. http://www.bikearoundthebuttes.com/Can't remember if we talked about it before.
Basically same course as the Rice Valley Tandem Rally but later in the year. A great first century. Read all about jobob's victory and chutzpah here.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=buttes

Thanks again SadieKate - this does sound like a good one for beginners. Humm Im thinking maybe this and then the moonlight ride in May.

[Eaglewalker]

Cheers, all! Personally, I have the haunches of a quarter horse, and I refuse to be ashamed of it. When I was fourteen (long long ago), a exercise instructor wanted me to work more on certain exercises because, she said, I was (and am still) pear-shaped. I pointed out that the protrusions that formed my shape were in fact my hip bones, and no matter how much I exercised, they were not going to get any narrower.

Then, a few years ago, a friend introduced me to her water aerobics instructor. It was a social occasion, but the water person chose to seize an opportunity and invite me to join her classes. I thanked her, but said that my chosen form of exercise was cycling. She told me I really should switch to water aerobics, because then the water would hide the size of my butt. I stared at her for a moment. Then I said, "I realize it's asking a lot of the public to view the size of my backside, but they have dealt with worse things, and I think they will probably get over it."

[latelatebloomer]

She told me I really should switch to water aerobics, because then the water would hide the size of my butt.

Hanging is too good for her!!!

[Lise]

She told me I really should switch to water aerobics, because then the water would hide the size of my butt.

Stunned silence. Wow. In my most compassionate moment, I try to imagine how much self-hatred such a woman must have to say that to you. In the other 23 hr, 59 min of the day, I'd like to kick her with my really strong legs. IDIOT! Your reply was remarkably restrained.

I'd like to see you smoke her on your bike.

Lise

[Eaglewalker]

I'd like to kick her with my really strong legs.

I did rather feel like kicking her. I was then -- and still am -- fighting my way down from where the depression and the Zoloft put me, but I was damned if I was going to let a little popsie make me ashamed of my body just because it will never look like Alyssa Milano's body.
edit: I really didn't mean to write "licking her". Typing late at night...

[Lise]

Great picture! As I look at that horse's gorgeous haunches, and the stubby little legs of the dachshund above, I'd say, nah, you kick her! Despite my divine representation in the form of a doxie, I actually have pretty long legs (5'8"), and they're the most muscular part of me. Why would you want to do water aerobics, when you can fly on a bike?!

Best wishes,

Lise

[wabisabi]

NorCal, I'm definitely doing the Wildflower (with my local group also) , and will look at the timing for the Cinderella. Darn this having to work for a living, it so interferes with the many other pursuits of life!

[Eaglewalker]

Why would you want to do water aerobics, when you can fly on a bike?!

Don't you wonder? I once said to an acquaintance that I thought cycling had to be about as close to flying as you can get without leaving the earth. I knew she cycled as well -- what I didn't know was that she also flew gliders. She thought about it and said yes, I was right. They are a lot alike.

And you are more compassionate than I am. What I thought, angrily, was that this woman understood the average woman's vulnerability and knew exactly the right buttons to push to use that vulnerability to her own advantage -- i.e. how to make money by encouraging women's insecurity about their appearance.

[CorsairMac]

Gosh - maybe I"m the one that needs help coz I'm thinking, depending on just how deep and dark that water is, it could hide a LOT of things: like bodies!

My younger sister used to try and humiliate me in public situations. Unfortunately it was because she had such low self-esteem and feelings of inadequecy, she felt tearing others down would only make her look and/or feel better. All one can do for ppl like them is say a prayer they get the help they need and move on with our lives.