General Cycling Discussion - Sigh... having to justify your bike!

We all have people who criticize us for commuting by bike, but what about those friends and relatives who just rag on you for riding your bike- as if it somehow takes away from important things? I'm a grown woman and my father chews me out for riding a bike because I'm job hunting. It doesn't take away from anything! Don't you hate that you feel like you have to explain or justify riding a bike? I don't rag on other people for what they do! Gee....would it be better if I sat around boozing?

ignore them or justify by simple economics

try this - yo'll need to factor in the exchange rate though:

the notoriuosly extravagant british inland revenue service(irs) rate bicycle mileage at 20 pence per mile (45p for a car).

Anyway, 20p per mile, 10miles ea. way, 5-6 days a week(average at 5.5), riding approx. 47 weeks (allowing for mechanicals, sickness and necessity)

would give a grand total of

GBP1034.00 per year

I replaced the last bike after 5 years

so less approx. GBP1500 for parts, accessories and public transport on those sick days

that'd be around about

GBP3500.00 once every 5 years

My parents, siblings, have never been overly supportive of my riding. They are all pretty convinced that i will be killed or maimed on the bike. I have learned to deal with their negative comments, and they have softened as the years have gone by.

One thing cycling has taught me is to be my own person. I pitty them more than anything else.

My parents, siblings, have never been overly supportive of my riding. They are all pretty convinced that i will be killed or maimed on the bike. I have learned to deal with their negative comments, and they have softened as the years have gone by.

One thing cycling has taught me is to be my own person. I pitty them more than anything else.

pretty darn supportive family ya got there! ;)

my family are pretty darn supportive... my mother and father always worry about me getting hurt or worse but they know it makes me healthier and gives me a way to vent out the stresses of a very stressful career. my brother always gives me a few shots for wearing my "Man Bag Shorts" but overall he thinks it's a cool hobby. my friends on the other hand think it's a waist of time and money.

Well, they all know that I'm.....uh....gee, I'm....kinda......fa....well, no, I'm just a little................I'm perhaps a tad overw..................................................I'm an Athena!!!!!!! :D

I tell them that they'd better get used to it, otherwise they just won't see me.