biking and self esteem?

**bikerchic** · 10-12-2003, 10:50 PM

Wow this is a great thread, I've really enjoyed reading what everyone has written, and I thought I was the only one who felt so strongly about cycling.

Spokes asked:

so... anyone else feel better about yourself since taking up biking? any other interesting results? dump a jerk? get a better job? tell your mother to lay off? re-paint your kitchen? buy sexy underwear? share! share the stories,

Well lets see.......I started serious cycling at age 48, up till that time I was busy raising five kids. Watching my boys do BMX-ing was a blast and really gave me the cycling bug. I was so envious of them, it looked like so much fun! I was just overcomming fibermyalgia and if anyone back then had told me I could ride a bike a block let alone do century rides I would have never believed them. It made me physically stronger and helped me to heal even my doctor was in disbelief at my abilities to do that!

I've dumped a jerk.......(or two).

I moved/divorced the jerk and started a new life on my own, my own business and yes I think I did tell my mother to lay off.

LOL

humm sexy underwear......well I won't tell all but lets just say Victoria Secret and I are very close.

I recently married a wonderful guy and even though he's not a cyclist he loves the fact that I have something I like to do and supports me in it. He laughs at the fact that I insist on keeping my bike in the house he thought they belonged in the garage, LOL.

I started cycling when my life (as I knew it) was falling apart, it was cathartic, it gave me something to believe in, it made me believe in myself. I discovered I was a very strong woman inspite of being beaten down by my X. There was nothing more inspiring than being on a long, loney stretch of road becoming one with my bike to make me fall in love with life. It gave me purpose again.
Many of those reasons aren't the same for me now but cycling is something that centers me and keeps me humble and wanting to improve, not only in my cycling but in everday life.

Yes cycling has changed me, saved me even and made me a stronger person. I am certain that I will always known as a "bikerchic" a name I earned and was given to me by my cycling buds.

I do live to ride and ride to live!

Thanks spokes for the walk down memory lane.

Kate

**littleblue** · 10-14-2005, 05:53 AM

Cycling is new to me (less than one year), except for when I was a kid and used to bike all over the place on my banana seat

But when my hubby was overcome with everything cycling, I decided I'd better follow in his wake or I'd be missing out on a huge part of his life. It's been very exciting to share the sport with him and has given us a boost in our relationship. And when we go on long rides together it's way better than a date

I mean, most people go for dinner and a movie - nice, but not THRILLING! With four kids (ages 15, 12, 8 and 2) it's a fantastic escape. It's also great for the legs, but, back, arms, shoulders... As for the sexy underwear - My man would rather follow behind me and admire the "view" in my bike gear (of course, he'd probably rather see me in sugar shorts than attack shorts) than in cheesy lingerie. Well, OK - he still likes the cheesy lingerie...

Biking makes us women strong, and strong is sexy!

One more thing - biking is a great metaphor for life's ups and downs. Get over a really hard climb (bad day) and then coast down that same hill (good day). Just remembering how tough a particular hill was, and how I conquered it, is like therapy on a really bad day.

Can't tell you how much I've enjoyed these chats. My hubby even peeks on every once in a while to see what all the "chat" is about and he follows threads too! What a guy! BTW - he signed on as jfish a while back hunting for bike shorts for me

**Civa** · 10-14-2005, 06:54 AM

OK, now I'm the one sitting here all teary eyed. When I'm out on a big group ride I will often look at someone and wonder "now what is their story?". I love this opportunity to hear what other women think. Every year I do the Danskin triathlon because I love seeing so many different women in so many different sizes and shapes---and I know that they all have their own reason to be out there.

I started spinning after 9-11 as a stress reliever. That turned into purchasing my Gary Fisher Nirvana (hybrid) and riding all summer. It made me feel like the girl who saved all of her babysitting money to buy her first Schwinn 10 speed. I'm that girl again, not a 47 year old mom!

The next summer my husband joined me on his old Trek commuter, and this past xmas he surprised me with a Specialized Dolce Elite. He's since purchased the Allez and we have spent hours and hours and hours together riding this season. Its great.

And my self image has soared. I have a bright green leopard print jersey, and I just love it when guys ride past me and growl! This after noticing that after 40 I felt invisible to most men (except the ones REALLY older than me!) Oh, and the feeling when I leave guys eating my dust! PRICELESS!!!!

So for me it beats Paxil for anxiety, I again feel like that 13 year old girl that I once was, it makes me feel young, and strong, and helps me deal with being a parent to two teenagers and a pre-teen. It helps me walk tall!

**Trekhawk** · 10-14-2005, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Civa

And my self image has soared. I have a bright green leopard print jersey, and I just love it when guys ride past me and growl! This after noticing that after 40 I felt invisible to most men (except the ones REALLY older than me!) Oh, and the feeling when I leave guys eating my dust! PRICELESS!!!!

So for me it beats Paxil for anxiety, I again feel like that 13 year old girl that I once was, it makes me feel young, and strong, and helps me deal with being a parent to two teenagers and a pre-teen. It helps me walk tall!

Civa - great read. I agree about cycling and self image. I dont know if I actually do look any different but I feel like I do. Feeling strong makes you feel younger and happier and I think that shines thru to others.

**bouncybouncy** · 10-14-2005, 10:40 AM

My adventure into cycling has been an esteem lifting experience as well...I have always loved tooling around on a bike and was jealous of those screaming by me on the road or those gettin' all dirty (I have always loved mud-puddles)
For a while I was married to a very controlling, verbally abusive person (I do not say man cause he does not deserve that title...I use person with hesitancy *is that a word?) It took a year to crawl out from the hole I had allowed myself to bury myself in...I started riding a very old Diamond Back to the gym and to work, running, lifting weights, quit smoking, quit drinking...then he came into my life
We went on a MTBike ride and I was HOOOKED!!!! ....and after seeing me ride, he was too

He went out and bought me a Santa Cruz Juliana after dating a month

A few months later and many, many rides one day on the way home I burst out in tears (and I mean BURST!) Poor Chris had NO idea what was going on....and neither did I... I did know that I was extremely happy and it all just came out at once...LOL!

I had fully gotten over the X, but I had not completely renewed myself. Cycling has been a constant reminder that there is always something different and you must adjust to stay upright. It has also been a great challenge...as if getting older wasn't enough!

Yesterday I experience a slue of emotions (being hormonal doesn't help) but I chose to walk down a few drops that I have made in the past and after chickening out on one I started to get upset that I was regressing in skill (I won't mention the sections were extremely washed out since last ride cause of rain) until we came upon a climb that I have NEVER made up...I made it with NO PROBLEM!!!!

and Chris went at it twice with no luck

, but boy did that make me feel good....all my worries about lacking was gone!!!! I rode the rest of the trail with great pride and even made it up a few more climbs I have never made before!!!! WEEEEEE!!!

Needless to say I have gained so much from just being out on a bicycle....

**Trekhawk** · 10-14-2005, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by littleblue

With four kids (ages 15, 12, 8 and 2) it's a fantastic escape. It's also great for the legs, but, back, arms, shoulders... As for the sexy underwear - My man would rather follow behind me and admire the "view" in my bike gear (of course, he'd probably rather see me in sugar shorts than attack shorts) than in cheesy lingerie. Well, OK - he still likes the cheesy lingerie...
Biking makes us women strong, and strong is sexy!
:

littleblue - thanks for sharing its great to hear everyones stories. Boy you must be busy with your kids - phew - when Im feeling stressed by my kids I will think of you. (mine are 8, 6, 4 all boys).

**spokes** · 10-14-2003, 07:02 AM

i guess they don't start a discussion board for people who are *kinda* into cycling!!

if only they made sexy underwear suitable for sitting on a bike.. .damn scratchy lace...

it's true you know, if we could get people to feel like we all do when we're biking, the world would be a better place!!! something to dream for...

**Irulan** · 10-14-2003, 08:34 AM

spokes, you aren't supposed to wear underwear when you bike.

Irulan

**MightyMitre** · 10-14-2003, 09:26 AM

Knickers no, but I was on a cycling holiday in Itlay in May and one of the guides was a very slim, blond Italian woman. She used to wear a pushup bra under her jersey which had a long zip.

At coffee stops she'd open her jersey a bit to cool down and she looked great. So glarmorous, not at all tarty like it might sound. To top it off she was a totally fanastic rider....

The best I can do is a blue crop top

.....bring on the glamour

**Irulan** · 10-14-2003, 09:32 AM

silly, I meant underpants!!

The lace peek a boo thing sounds cute and like a great attention getter but I dont' like how regular bras feel when they get all sweaty.

Irulan

**laura** · 10-14-2003, 01:40 PM

Wow, these are some of the best stories I've read in awhile. Thank you all, you've brightened my day. It seems like a lot of women have been pulled out of their lows through cycling and even more, been propelled to heights they didn't imagine. I feel the same has happened for me. I never thought a middle aged woman like me would ever feel like wearing that sexy pair of tight jeans with pride. But cycling has given me a whole new outlook (and body). Here's to a long life of happy cycling!

**ChamChick** · 10-14-2003, 03:33 PM

I bought my first bike, a Giant Hybrid, last year and after putting over 900 miles on it I decided to step up to a "real" road bike. In August I bought a Trek 2200 WSD. At first my husband thought spending that much money on a bicycle was crazy, but he quickly figured out I was determined to get one anyway.

I have logged 800 miles on her and my family thinks it's great. My personal goal this season was to do a 50 mile ride and I am pleased to say I did it last Sunday. It was so cool to call my daughters, 28, 25, and 21, to tell them I met my challenge. They were so excited and proud of me. My youngest enthusiastically screeched, "Mom, that's so awesome!" It's so rewarding, at 47, to know that they admire me for doing something as physical as cycling.

Next May I gonna do the Horsey Hundred!

PS: I guess that my husband decided that if he was going to spend any quality time with me he needed to buy a bike. Well, he has about 400 miles on his Trek 7500 and is wondering if maybe he might need a "real" road bike. ...wonders never cease.

**laura** · 10-15-2003, 11:07 AM

Chamchick,

That is awesome!! You go girl! Isn't it cool when not only do you accomplish your own goal but you suddenly find you are a role model for others. That is a great feeling.

**rosie** · 10-15-2003, 10:40 PM

What wonderful stories! I'm pretty new to all this, but hopefully I'll have my own to add eventually. In the meantime, thanks for the inspiration.

- rosie the lurker

**paintgirl** · 10-16-2003, 11:00 AM

It is good to hear so many people talking about cycling in words I sometimes feel. My younger brother Pat, and I used to race each other home from school on our bikes, I still remember the smells and feel of autumn rides, rushing to get home when the gang of farmers were there bringing in corn crops. I was a farm girl, still am at heart. Pat died 2 years ago after a 10 year valiant battle with brain cancer. Sometimes when I ride, especiall at this time of the year, I can hear his giggle and laugh. Always, I feel his spirit with me when I ride, and thats one of the big reasons I will ride until I die. Freedom, vitality, strength, happiness, joy, all of these emotions cycling brings to me.

Thread: biking and self esteem?

Thread Tools

Display

Hybrid View

passionate people!!

Hears to all "Middle Age" bike chicks!

Posting Permissions