Foo - Are all cyclists masochistic?

I'm going to do a bit of traveling and needed to get 5 shots today. The nurse asked me which arm was dominant -- apparently the hep and typhoid shots cause more discomfort, so she wanted to do them in the weak arm. I told her I'd just as soon have them in the arm I use more.

As soon as she was done, I immediately regretted not asking her to put all of them in that arm -- the main reason I didn't was she told me I definitely needed to use both arms.

I'm not saying that shots hurt, but it occurred to me that I consistently tend to seek situations which introduce discomfort. For example, I'll choose to pour alcohol on open wounds rather than H2O2, even if the latter works better for disinfection. I won't take prescription painkillers even if I feel really bad (the worst I had to deal with was 2nd and 3rd degree burns, and that's something I wouldn't wish on anyone).

Especially when I see what some roadies will do to themselves. I suspect I'm very mild compared to many. I was just wondering how many people actually seek a little pain from time to time.

I'm not saying that shots hurt, but it occurred to me that I consistently tend to seek situations which introduce discomfort.

Have you considered a career as a repo man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IzCyp-dwbs)?

Where ya goin'? Those of us above 5 or whatever the age cutoff was chose oral typhoid vax this past summer, can't remember the reason. Oh yes, it's supposed to last longer.

I've thought about this a little as well. Personally, I only find this attribute in road cyclists, and even in that subgroup, I've found it to be mostly confined with those in the racing scene. I don't blame them; the nature of the sport revolves around learning one's own threshold of pain...and then surpassing it every race. Nonetheless, we know that the "pain and suffering" that is experienced during training usually has a positive outcome -- our performance on the bike improves, our strength improves, and all of that which was crushed through hard training gets revitalized. Is that really much different than other physically demanding sports like track and field or swimming? (Watch a 1000m freestyle; I can feel the kind of pain they're going through.)

Those that just ride their bikes for pleasure don't have to endure any of that (at least not on the bike), so they don't have to be acclimated to that kind of lifestyle.

In short, I don't believe cyclists are masochistic at all. Some just have a higher tolerance for hurt than others.

I went through a divorce and now work retail.


I must be some glutton for punishment.

I never thought I'd undergo a dental filling without being numbed up. But I don't like the floppy lips effect afterwards and really wanted to go on a long ride a while back. Decided to forego any numbing and... it really didn't hurt that bad. Or maybe I was enjoying the pain? Anyway, my new preference is no numbing to start with and if it hurts too bad, shoot me up!

Giving blood without looking away or flinching... yep. No biggie on shots... yep. Spending many hours sweeping a 50,000 sq/ft parking lot with just a big pushboom... uh huh. It's either masochism, ignorance or being relatively young (if you can call 36 that... hmmm)

I don't mind inducing physical pain to myself for just treating wounds in general.

but working retail is beyond my limits. you've got to be some seriously self-loathing individual to work retail for more than 6mo. IMO.

Cycle racing is a sado-masochistic sport. If you don't enjoy sharing the pain around then your in the wrong place.

Anthony

Just because I realize how bad I suck doesn't make me a masochist. It makes me a realist.

Pcad, how many other sports are there where you train for years, go through pain and suffering, all to hit the goal of being merely mediocre. :p

Pcad, how many other sports are there where you train for years, go through pain and suffering, all to hit the goal of being merely mediocre. :p...Pretty much any of them?

Pcad, how many other sports are there where you train for years, go through pain and suffering, all to hit the goal of being merely mediocre. :pThat'd be the case for nearly all people in nearly all sports.

I went through a divorce and now work retail.


I must be some glutton for punishment.

I went through a divorce and then remarried my ex... I win?

I went through a divorce and then remarried my ex... I win?

I dub thee...King Idiot. :roflmao2:

I dub thee...King Idiot. :roflmao2:

Now you just sound like my Mom :notamused:

... and my Dad, and sisters, and brother.... and friends....

Where ya goin'? Those of us above 5 or whatever the age cutoff was chose oral typhoid vax this past summer, can't remember the reason. Oh yes, it's supposed to last longer.
India. I was given a choice on the oral with the typhoid and thought about it. However, insurance theoretically covers travel vaccinations, but I know for a fact it does not cover oral prescriptions and it's unlikely I'll be able to go again soon so the extra coverage won't really help me.

We'll see how the insurance reimbursement for the over $450 I spent yesterday on immunizations goes. I'm forced to buy this incredibly expensive stuff through my work, I practically never use it (until last year, I didn't even have a doc -- I went without for over 20 years), and when I do, they never pay squat. Effers... :mad:

The pain tolerance thing has worked well for me in recent times. Anyone who keeps most of their retirement in riskier funds is probably prone to headaches right now. However, cyclists live longer, so I won't want to quit working for a long time anyway...

Good luck. Our insurances pretty much didn't cover any travel vaccinations.