Fifty Plus (50+) - I'm Brad & I'm a bike-aholic...

Not to belittle or demean the other 12 step programs, but my neighbor suggested to me last night that I consider joining a 12 step program to deal with my bicycling obsession. He caught me coming in from a ride at the tail end of a heavy rain storm, and commented that I must have been on quite a long ride to get caught in this particular storm. He shook his head in disbelief when I told him I left for the ride after the rain had already started. That's when he said, "You know there are 12 step programs that might help you." I seriously doubt if he's right. I get stuck with step one --- I don't think I have a problem! As I was drying off the bike I wondered how many of us 50+ers would give the appearance to the uninformed, non-riders we know that we are in need of such a program.

Luckily, no one saw this except my wife and daughter, but last night there I was all dressed in my biking garb, standing in the garage door with bike, waiting for the thunderstorm to pass so I could take off. I'm sure the people driving by that noticed probably thought I was a wee bit off kilter.

If they ever offer such a program for biking obsession I'll have to pass:) I enjoy every minute I'm out of the bike. I must enjoy it as I rode in rain Sunday and Monday and 20 mph winds last night.

Some of my "normal" neighbors need a 12 step program to get a life.....:D

Some of my "normal" neighbors need a 12 step program to get a life.....:D


You mean one without a remote control in their hands?

If they ever offer such a program for biking obsession I'll have to pass I enjoy every minute I'm out of the bike. I must enjoy it as I rode in rain Sunday and Monday and 20 mph winds last night.


It's why even while I write this and am traveling this week that I have a bike with me to ride tonight when I finish up for the day. Even have the ride scoped out. I never leave home without one (except in the winter of course).

If you are doing rides when there is a lot of lightning in those storms you would be giving the appearance to the informed riders we know that you are in need of such a program. ;)

If you are doing rides when there is a lot of lightning in those storms you would be giving the appearance to the informed riders we know that you are in need of such a program. ;)

Only rain....storms are a whole different situation:)

My Neighbours have stopped talking to me- When they see me getting ready for a ride- I can see the curtains move- but the Lights are out and the doors are barred. This stems from a couple of months ago when I managed to talk one of them into coming out for a drink one evening to a local pub about 5 miles away up a MUP. I think he must have been drinking beforehand so it was not all my fault. We got to the Pub after about 45 minutes and the last 15 minutes of the ride- he was all over the trail and when we got to the pub- it took him a long time to get off the bike. When he did get off it- He threw it on the ground and muttered something about never again.

He has told all the neighbours not to talk to me if I am anywhere near a bike or dressed in Shorts.

Maybe I'm already cured, because I stay home until the pavement dries.

Maybe I'm already cured, because I stay home until the pavement dries.

We've had a lot of "scattered showers" in the area the past few days. It can be pouring down rain but a mile or so down the road it will be bone dry with the sun shining. It really makes it tough to dress for these types of rides:)

my reply . It felt great. Rain washes all the pollutants and salts away. Maybe we could start up a bikes obsessives club and all ride together and never get past step one.

Now as to that rain--- Just rain and I will ride- Rain with Wind- Forget it.

Last year we went out on the Tandem and did cut a ride short. It was raining when we started and it rained right through the shortened ride. What made us shorten the ride was when the sky was suddenly very bright- continually. It was a night ride incidentally. The Lightning was almost constant and we did not need lights. Right up on top of the hills and the only metal thing to act as a conductor would have been our frame. Cut the ride short that night and missed out on our Sub. Had to make do with a pie (Steak and Kidney) and a pint of the local brew.

my wife believes that I have a problem or I should say she makes it a problem for me at times

My doctor and my wife both say my biking is an addiction. I get high from the exercise and the scenery adds to it. But they tell me there's worse....

When I'm on my bike I don't feel like I'm 65. I even rode with a 25-year-old the other day, and he was a lot faster. But all those aching joints and senior grumpiness disappeared.

Sure, city biking is dangerous, but I just can't stop.

It's not an addiction. Addictions are a cop-out for those with a weak character.

If I go more than two days without biking, I get goose-flesh, the shakes, start seeing snakes and spiders in my room, start talking to them. I get the Jones bad, ya know. But I ain't no stinking addict. Not me.

When I'm on my bike I don't feel like I'm 65.

When I'm on my bike I don't feel like I'm 65 either. Oh, wait a minute. I'm only 60. :rolleyes:

But you really are right. Exercise in general (and biking in particular) does make you feel younger.

I had my annual (well bi annual, maybe tri annual) physical yesterday.

Told the doc I biked 140 miles past week.

He just could not believe it, but did fess up that he had one other patient that rode like I did.

He did NOT recomment the 12 step bicycling addiction program, however.

I'm not bike-aholic, all I bought, so far, were 6 bikes and looking to buy another one. The problem I have, I keep giving them away. I just gave my son my Trek FX to make room for a road bike. Then I'm done, I hope, or my wife does anyhow.

"I'm Brad & I'm a bike-aholic"...

Hi! Brad (in unison).
I don't mind riding in the rain, I just take the turns a little slower. It's only water, it's not like there are rocks falling out of the sky. It's also less crowded on the rail trail (or anywhere else I ride in the rain for that matter).

It's not an addiction. It's something we enjoy.

I'm not bike-aholic, all I bought, so far, were 6 bikes and looking to buy another one.

And was that over a 40 year period? Or perhaps one just a wee bit shorter?

It's not an addiction. Addictions are a cop-out for those with a weak character.




Trust me, it's an addiction. Just probably not a bad one. If youtalked to my neighbors, which i don't, I am sure they think I am not only addicted, but also crazy. Here is a pic taken when it was -3F outside and i just got back from a 2 hour ride. (note the frozen perspiration.)

There have been much worse conditions than this, that they have seen me ride off into.
:D

http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07073/resized.jpg

Trust me, it's an addiction. Just probably not a bad one. If youtalked to my neighbors, which i don't, I am sure they think I am not only addicted, but also crazy. Here is a pic taken when it was -3F outside and i just got back from a 2 hour ride. (note the frozen perspiration.)

There have been much worse conditions than this, that they have seen me ride off into.
:D


Where's the bike???

Trust me, it's an addiction. Just probably not a bad one. If youtalked to my neighbors, which i don't, I am sure they think I am not only addicted, but also crazy. Here is a pic taken when it was -3F outside and i just got back from a 2 hour ride. (note the frozen perspiration.)

Here's an avatar (100x100) for you. Might want to lighten it up a bit.

Here's an avatar (100x100) for you. Might want to lighten it up a bit.

Thanks. But I already used that one once. :)

And was that over a 40 year period? Or perhaps one just a wee bit shorter?


Hey Tom, that was since I started riding 11 monthes ago.

Where's the bike???
Under the snow.:D

Bike addiction? Here is bike addiction.
I bike in South Central Wisconsin. This past weekend we had a humongous storm system coming in from the west. The Google radar looked awesome. The warnings chased all bikers of the MUP's I use. I biked every day, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Did I get hit by the storm? Hell yes. Did I have fun? Absolutely. Did my wife and friends think that I am addicted? Absolutely.
Just one observation: We are a rare breed. Very few of us out there.

Hey Tom, that was since I started riding 11 monthes ago.
I had to reevaluate the bikes and I only gave half away. In June of 2006 I bought 2 Trek Navigators. I took them back and bought 2 Trek 7300s. Took the 7300 I had back and bought an FX 7300. Went and bought a Giant for my wife and gave the 7300 to daughter-in-law. Bought a Giant hybrid for grandson. I went out and bought a Jamis Coda Elite. Just gave my son the FX 7300. Now I have to catch my breath and start looking at road bikes. I really like DGs, but I have to find some steel ones as well. I was leaning toward the Waterford, but I seen a picture of a Rivendell on the touring forum that I really liked.

Hey Tom, that was since I started riding 11 monthes ago.

Well, that's what I thought.

When you said you are not a bike-aholic and that you've only had 6 bikes, well, it would be true if you had 6 bikes over 40 years. But 6 bikes over 11 months ... time to see someone for your addiction.

No one seems to have discussed an appropriate rehab facility for bicycle addiction.

Seems to me France, near some of those famous passes and climbs (Ventoux, for example) , would be appropriate for good rehab facility.

Well, that's what I thought.

When you said you are not a bike-aholic and that you've only had 6 bikes, well, it would be true if you had 6 bikes over 40 years. But 6 bikes over 11 months ... time to see someone for your addiction.


Just one more, just one more.:D

Hey Tom, that was since I started riding 11 monthes ago.

I've got a lot of catchin' up to do. I've been riding seriously (well, if I do anything seriously) for 30 years, and I've only bought six bikes in three decades. Credit cards, look out!

I've got a lot of catchin' up to do. I've been riding seriously (well, if I do anything seriously) for 30 years, and I've only bought six bikes in three decades. Credit cards, look out!


Cash on the barrel head, that's why I have to wait a little bit:o

The 12 Steps of Cyclists Anonymous
1. We admitted we were powerless over cycling--that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to cyclists, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

It's that fourth step that trips me up. I made a searching fearless inventory, and decided I need more bikes.

"I'm Brad & I'm a bike-aholic"...

Hi! Brad (in unison).
I don't mind riding in the rain, I just take the turns a little slower. It's only water, it's not like there are rocks falling out of the sky. It's also less crowded on the rail trail (or anywhere else I ride in the rain for that matter).

Rain is fine, that's what fenders are for.
Downpours and thunderstorms and hail and sleet are a different matter (at least for me)

I'm on step 5. I never should have let that guy outbid me on the 1989 RB-1.

It's that fourth step that trips me up. I made a searching fearless inventory, and decided I need more bikes.
:beer: