how much info do you not share with your loved ones?

[yangmusa]

The Mrs cycles to work too, so she knows exactly what's what.

On the other hand, "back in the day", my mother wasn't very amused when I passed the bus taking her to work while I was biking to school... ;)

[holicow]

Near death experiences...were they caused from what put you in the hospital? Or by your wife?

Hmmm... hard to say. Definitely the busted neck and back, but nearly as bad was the guilt I felt from the the spouse and her stress, and having your kids crying in your hospital room will affect you just a bit.

[TCNJCyclist]

I usually tell my mom about the exceptionally stupid stuff. Example: Twice in the last three weeks someone waiting behind me at a stop sign made a left turn at the same time I did (without checking traffic first). I'd get through fine, but they'd have a close call with oncoming traffic.

Also, if someone's call for me to "get on the sidewalk" was particularlly noteworthy (there have been people doing 30+ mph in the oncoming lane of traffic who've stuck their heads out and yelled it), I'd share it.

[watchman]

My wife is so used to all the danger and injuries I have put myself through that it doesn't really faze her much. So if it makes a good story, sure, I'll tell her, but just the standard, boring "car almost hit me" or whatever, there really is no reason to relate it. It would be like telling her how much water I drank today. As for checking in whilst out, I will only do that on long solo motorcycle rides or other multi day events, but that is just to say hi more than for reassurance. When I go on all day bicycle rides, I'll be home when I finish. If for some reason I can't make it back before dark, I'll let her know and give a projected eta and how i'll be getting home if at all possible.

[iamtim]

Well, I kinda had to tell my wife when I got plowed by an Excursion last Monday. But beyond that? I've never had any other close call, no other aggressive drivers, nothing like that. Aside of the one wack-job that decided I shouldn't have been in her lane, I've encountered nothing but courteous, safe, understanding drivers. I tell her that I ride in traffic following the California vehicle code for bicyclists, and she knows that I'm safe and I take cycling very seriously.

On the other hand, there are some specific roads she doesn't like me riding because traffic is usually pretty tight and there is no bike lane or WOL, so I just kinda leave the fact that I rode those roads out of my report. 8^)

[jyossarian]

I don't bother telling non-cyclists, including my wife, about anything that happened while riding unless it was exceptionally noteworthy. Most times, I forget about stuff that happens like almost-doorings, buzzings, etc. I tell you guys cuz you'd understand.

[buzzman]

I 360'd in my car driving into Boston in the tunnel under the Prudential Building- I told my wife about that.

I can't believe how people drive their shopping carts in the Whole Foods Market near my house. They block aisles, cut me off, make it impossible to pass- I'm a very fast food shopper, I take my lane, keep to the right and come to a full stop at intersections but I move it. I have been known to come home from food shopping with a litany of complaints and market anecdotes.

And people are just as rude on the bus! I mean give me a break, move to the back! My wife gets an earful when I take the bus.

And on the bike, yeah, if something of note happens I share it. She commutes in the warmer months and it's worth it to share the car door stories, the cut offs and the near misses just so she stays real alert and doesn't get lulled into complacency- and neither do I. Cell phones have made a huge difference in reducing the worry factor either on the daily commutes or when I'm cycling back to Boston from the Berkshires- something I do with regularity in the summer. I'm lucky that I married someone who's pretty laid back. She grew up with older brothers and a father who were all pretty wild (and firefighters) so she only freaks when I've been incredibly inconsiderate and completely blanked on the fact that someone actually does care what happens to me.

[DCCommuter]

I can't believe how people drive their shopping carts in the Whole Foods Market near my house. They block aisles, cut me off, make it impossible to pass- I'm a very fast food shopper, I take my lane, keep to the right and come to a full stop at intersections but I move it. I have been known to come home from food shopping with a litany of complaints and market anecdotes.


A man after my own heart!

[oboeguy]

Heh, so much happens on a daily basis it's often not worth the effort to tell the wife. OTOH, I do specifically avoid mention of certain incidents from time to time. OTOH, I want her to be aware of the reality out there as she is a bit of a rider now herself so sometimes I will relate things out of context and long after the fact (which for some reason minimizes the "impact").

[SamHouston]

My wife and I don't talk about that aspect of my job. She's an ex-messer so she does know what it's like and there is no secret or anything. When she hits the road I tell her to be careful and she knows I mean it. She'll be careful anyway but as she doesn't ride each day it's a nice thing to remind her with a serious mention to be careful. It's not just an offhand remark as she goes out, the first thing she is considering when she hits the road is safety which is how it should be.
She tells me the same thing every morning in the same earnest manner, cause she wants me to come home in one peice.

The details of my day...well, I ride real safe so there aren't any that deal with mistakes I made to put myself at risk. Mistakes others make that put me at risk I treat with the No Harm, No Foul rule so whatever happens I'm not bothered by it unless I'm injured or have property damage. So if nothing happens that causes me harm, no details to tell the wife. If I'm injured or damaged she'd know about it anyway and would ask.

[scottmorrison99]

I can't believe how people drive their shopping carts in the Whole Foods Market near my house. They block aisles, cut me off, make it impossible to pass- I'm a very fast food shopper, I take my lane, keep to the right and come to a full stop at intersections but I move it. I have been known to come home from food shopping with a litany of complaints and market anecdotes.




Uh-oh, I hope we don't get a VC (vehicular carting) rant going now!!! J/K HH. :D

[Seanholio]

I'm a terribly hypocrite: My wife wants to start riding, and if she ever goes out without me, I'll worry about her interactions with motorists. When I'm out riding, I'm hoping she's not worrying about me because I'm pretty good at managing my commutes to and from work.

[Portis]

If you read this thread outside of this forum, you would think all of these posts were made by a group of suicide bombers.

I can think of about one hundred different car trips that i shouldn't have survived. Most of them involved alchohol, youth and stupidity. Oddly, nobody ever cringes when their loved ones head out in the car for some reason???

[Pink_Ninja]

well I think its healthy not to, at least with my family I wont tell them if a car comes within a meter of me, lol. :o

[SamHouston]

Oddly, nobody ever cringes when their loved ones head out in the car for some reason???

Not so.

[slvoid]

I don't bother telling non-cyclists, including my wife, about anything that happened while riding unless it was exceptionally noteworthy. Most times, I forget about stuff that happens like almost-doorings, buzzings, etc. I tell you guys cuz you'd understand.

BTW, did you tell your wife about your fall?

[MetalHead90]

If my mom knew what I did on my bike I'd look like a ninja turtle from all the padding she'd make me wear. Lets leave it at that.