Recreational & Family - Getting dad on the bike.

After about 20 years of not riding, my dad rediscovered his love of cycling this year and started riding with me.

Sort of.

See, dad rides when I visit, but for the most part the bike hangs in his garage until I go to his house on weekends. He works ten minutes from his house by bike, but he doesn't relish the idea of riding to work. He drives to run errands, drives to work, and drives pretty much everywhere. When I'm there, he's enthusiastic about cycling, but when I'm not it's almost like he doesn't want to be bothered.

Any suggestions on how to help my dad find the same enthusiasm when I'm not there that he has when I am?

Sounds like he likes riding with you and not just riding. Solution is simple... visit him more :)

LoL

I'd have to say you're right.

LoL

I'd have to say you're right.

My wife is the same... if I take her for 15k (she doesn't ride much) on the weekend she'll go but she won't go by herself. The last time out I taught her how to draft and pulled her to her best ever time on the 15k loop :D.

lol. I wish my wife knew how to ride a bike. She's too scared of falling and won't even attempt it.

He might feel more confident if rides on well-established trails. Something close to home at first. Check out this link. It has a US map where he can find local trails.

Good luck and have fun.

http://visualsearch.dogpile.com

How old is "dad?"

You might let him browse the 50+ forum, if he is in that age category. See that lots of "dads" ride bikes and have a great time! There is a nice thread on "solo" riding.

Good idea. I'll steer him over there this weekend.

After a ride of course :-)

My dad says he doesn't have time to ride. He thinks the car is going to get him to work faster.

But with todays conjestion and traffic lights and speedbumps and petrol prices and elederly people in the way. (You know, all the things that you can just ride right through with a bike). Surely it is faster to cycle?

I should press my case.

...Or buy him a bike! An expensive one, so he'd feel awkward if he didn't use it

Simon

and elederly people in the way.

Simon

Life would be so much simpler if we could just get rid of all those "elederly people!"

Darn, we sure get in everyone's way! Sorry about that. If you toot your horn, I will move! :D

After about 20 years of not riding, my dad rediscovered his love of cycling this year and started riding with me.

Sort of.

See, dad rides when I visit, but for the most part the bike hangs in his garage until I go to his house on weekends. He works ten minutes from his house by bike, but he doesn't relish the idea of riding to work. He drives to run errands, drives to work, and drives pretty much everywhere. When I'm there, he's enthusiastic about cycling, but when I'm not it's almost like he doesn't want to be bothered.

Any suggestions on how to help my dad find the same enthusiasm when I'm not there that he has when I am?

since I'm 50+ I can relate to the need for company when I ride
those to quite miles. My wife doesn't like to bike like I do
so I ride mainly alone which is fine but I've found that
a radio/casstte player & speaker system I rigged up on the
bike does wonders to melt the miles away.

Since this system is easy & cheap to install suggest that you
gift your dad with his own tunes. It might be novel enough
to get him back on the bike........and keep him there.

It's illegal (although a common practice) to wear headphones on a bike in NYC. Not a bad idea altogether, though. Something he may enjoy...

It's illegal (although a common practice) to wear headphones on a bike in NYC. Not a bad idea altogether, though. Something he may enjoy...

I believe he has a speaker sytem in place of headphones! i think that would be legal.

Most of my non-bike riding friends are middle-aged or elderly (don't know how that happened - they were young when I met them). They are uncomfortable and intimidated by bikes with 24 or 27 speeds and a position that puts their nose down by the front tire.

Last year I gave a NBRF a single speed Trek beach cruiser. Coaster brake. Big, wide seat. Handlebars up high. Ultra easy gearing that make pedaling up a hill easy. She now enjoys relaxed rides around the neighborhood. So, next, I'm giving her a three speed which also is easy to ride - maybe someday she will want to ride a mega-complex bike - but if she sticks with simple bikes - so what?

lol on the friends that were young when you met them.
unfortunatly the friends that I had when I was younger I no longer really have anything to do with now.i think someone said we grew up and went our own way.
I refuse to believe that,I NEVER grew up