Dear So and So

[Anelia]

My colleagues also ask where I went or what I did after the weekends. Also they want to see pictures but after the third picture, they seem bored by watching people with helmets or green mountains. But I don't blame them, it's not their cup of tea. Still they are really supportive and they are very proud of me when they see me come to work by bike in rain or snow or the temperatures are low.

[Owlie]

My friends are mostly supportive, as is my advisor (he used to be a runner, so I guess he gets it). My family, on the other hand, is ridiculous. My parents aren't inactive, but they don't do much other than walk. They ask politely and that's the end of it. My sister, on the other hand, makes derisive comments about my needing a grown-up hobby.

[Anelia]

Oh, my parents are not supportive at all. I used to ride to the place they live (25 miles) while my husband and son go by car and they found it ridiculous. How can somebody use a bike when they have a car. Finally my father forbid these visits and he said he was not going to let me in his house if I came by bike one more time. I don't want to confront them so I ride BEFORE I get in the car for the visit. They ask me all the time when I am going to give up. I got used to it and I try not to pay attention. My husband on the other hand is supportive as long as he comes to races with me, drives me aroud and he rides, too. But sometimes he gets grouchy when I spend time on the bikie and I didn't clean the dust or vacuum. Also he was really angry when I called him to go and pick me up because I was badly injured and I couldn't take the train back home. It was about 4 hours drive in one direction and he was mad on the phone but when he saw me, I guess he felt a little sorry for me. Still, he didn't miss the chance to make remarks like "You are overdoing things" or "You are not being careful".
So, sometimes it's difficult to handle the things
Well, I went offtopic....I can write something like:

Dear drivers or pedestrians,
Stop making signs by your hands "Are you nuts" when you see me on my bike riding in the snow. If I stop riding in winter, it is a difficult start of season and it's difficult to make up for the lost weeks.

[lph]

Finally my father forbid these visits and he said he was not going to let me in his house if I came by bike one more time.

How can he tell the difference anyway? Stupid question, I guess you need a shower or at least a change of clothes, but I can feel my inner rebellious teenage daughter rising up at this one. I'd be standing at the door in full bike gear daring him to not let me in.

Ok, less confrontational: you could always meet your husband and son right around the corner, change in the car, toss the bike in the car, and turn up at the house "driving"

But honestly - how can he possibly think he has this kind of authority over you, to dictate how you should travel?

[Crankin]

I am not sure why what I said seemed to raise the ire of some here, yet when others mention their friends (or family) being negative toward their riding, I didn't feel the same vibe. Frankly, when people who are supposedly my friends do this, it hurts my feelings. I listen to them talk about their dogs, tennis, downhill skiing, jobs that seem boring to me, etc. That's part of being a friend. I guess I'm at the point in my life when I want to surround myself with like minded people, but I am too nice to cut the others out of my life at this point. My only concern is that I could really spend ALL of my time engaged in the activities I love, or with my DH, or our cycling friends. I know this is probably not healthy, so I try to continue my other connections. But, I admit, it's hard for me to be around people who live unhealthy lifestyles. I say nothing, though, and just go on.
Thankfully, my family is very supportive. My dad will tell me I am "crazy," but he does it in a kidding way. My mom, when she was alive, always encouraged me in this stuff. She was athletic at a time when women weren't supposed to be. And it was my son, who got me into cycling.

[Catrin]

.... Frankly, when people who are supposedly my friends do this, it hurts my feelings. I listen to them talk about their dogs, tennis, downhill skiing, jobs that seem boring to me, etc. That's part of being a friend. I guess I'm at the point in my life when I want to surround myself with like minded people, but I am too nice to cut the others out of my life at this point. My only concern is that I could really spend ALL of my time engaged in the activities I love, or with my DH, or our cycling friends. I know this is probably not healthy, so I try to continue my other connections. But, I admit, it's hard for me to be around people who live unhealthy lifestyles. I say nothing, though, and just go on...

I agree, it doesn't feel good when "friends" only refer to my activities with discouragement or to laugh at them, yet I've spent hours listening to them talking about some of their activities that I find quite boring - but I listen because that is part of what being a friend is about. Listening to and supporting each other. Of course I was already considered something of an eccentric...which seems to give them permission to talk about my activities as they do. Meh, I do get tired of this.

[lph]

I am not sure why what I said seemed to raise the ire of some here, yet when others mention their friends (or family) being negative toward their riding, I didn't feel the same vibe.

Oh, I certainly didn't mean to be critical, I was just commenting with my own experiences around the subject. I agree that anyone rolling their eyes or otherwise putting down an activity you love is not only annoying, it's also really rude.

[Crankin]

A DH who was mad he had to pick you up when you were injured? .

Get someone to clean your house, or better yet, have DH do it.

[Veronica]

My only concern is that I could really spend ALL of my time engaged in the activities I love, or with my DH, or our cycling friends. I know this is probably not healthy, so I try to continue my other connections.

I think it would be perfectly healthy! That's pretty much the way my life is. We don't spend time with family; they are all back east. Our friends are mostly people we cycle with. And really, we're happy to just hang out together.

Life is too short to do things that don't make you happy.

Veronica

[channlluv]

I'm with Veronica on this one. I had to go back and re-read your sentence: "...I could really spend ALL of my time engaged in the activities I love, or with my DH, or our cycling friends. I know this is probably not healthy..."

Sounds like bliss and the recipe for a long and happy life to me.

Roxy