When Did You Realize As a Cyclist You Were ..... Different
07-30-15, 09:05 AM
#27
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When I was a young child, a guidance counsellor visited my classroom to talk about careers. One boy said, "I want to be a doctor, so I can make sick people better." A girl said she wanted to be a police officer so she could put "bad people in jail." That's when it hit me. I proudly stood up and said, "I want to be a cyclist, so I can tell complete strangers about my power output." That's when I knew I was different.
07-30-15, 09:19 AM
#28
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Basically, share a situation from your past where it became pretty obvious to you that you had fallen of the deep end as a cyclist - or taken that little red pill.
My example:
One day, I ran randomly into some friends at the beginning of my ride- casual "Sunday cyclists". We were riding the same route and happened to be at the "start" point together. It was about a 40-50 mile loop and I was going to going to be doing it full gas while they would leisurely make their way there and back. Basically I was going to get to the turn around point and probably see them still heading there as I was already returning again.
We set off together, after about a mile or two I said goodbye, put my head down and dialed it to 400W. I get to the turn around point and start heading back and eventually on my way back I see them sitting on some park benches basking in the sun and looking at the river. I pull over to say hi and they ask how my ride was so far etc etc ... after formalities they ask me if I want to join them for lunch and I was like "oh I already had some food to eat when I stopped to turn around..." and they responded with 'oh nice, what restaurant did you stop at, what did you get for lunch" ... puzzled, I looked at them I was like oh I ate the banana in my back pocket and had an couple energy gel cubes too.
They both looked at me and yelled "THAT'S NOT LUNCH! ... We thought you meant real food etc etc etc".
I didn't know what to say to them but internally I thought to myself "...but that is lunch!"
At that moment I realized ... I was different.
- So what's your story?
My example:
One day, I ran randomly into some friends at the beginning of my ride- casual "Sunday cyclists". We were riding the same route and happened to be at the "start" point together. It was about a 40-50 mile loop and I was going to going to be doing it full gas while they would leisurely make their way there and back. Basically I was going to get to the turn around point and probably see them still heading there as I was already returning again.
We set off together, after about a mile or two I said goodbye, put my head down and dialed it to 400W. I get to the turn around point and start heading back and eventually on my way back I see them sitting on some park benches basking in the sun and looking at the river. I pull over to say hi and they ask how my ride was so far etc etc ... after formalities they ask me if I want to join them for lunch and I was like "oh I already had some food to eat when I stopped to turn around..." and they responded with 'oh nice, what restaurant did you stop at, what did you get for lunch" ... puzzled, I looked at them I was like oh I ate the banana in my back pocket and had an couple energy gel cubes too.
They both looked at me and yelled "THAT'S NOT LUNCH! ... We thought you meant real food etc etc etc".
I didn't know what to say to them but internally I thought to myself "...but that is lunch!"
At that moment I realized ... I was different.
- So what's your story?
Now they can't keep track of howmany bikes i've gone through
07-30-15, 10:45 AM
#29
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^This.
For me, it was when I was a teenager. I'd run into the sister of a family friend, and she'd ask me what I had done today. I'd tell her of my adventures exploring some far-flung piece of NYC.....and instead of expressing envy and awe, she'd say "ALONE??!!!!". Me: "Yeah, I had a great time". Her: "But...you did it... ALONE??!!!"..... (Ah, those days of cutting school, and using my lunch money to hop a subway and go to the Rockaways or Coney Island or Bushwick, are some GREAT memories! And I've continued doing things alone for the rest of my life- including riding my bike!)
For me, it was when I was a teenager. I'd run into the sister of a family friend, and she'd ask me what I had done today. I'd tell her of my adventures exploring some far-flung piece of NYC.....and instead of expressing envy and awe, she'd say "ALONE??!!!!". Me: "Yeah, I had a great time". Her: "But...you did it... ALONE??!!!"..... (Ah, those days of cutting school, and using my lunch money to hop a subway and go to the Rockaways or Coney Island or Bushwick, are some GREAT memories! And I've continued doing things alone for the rest of my life- including riding my bike!)
07-30-15, 11:19 AM
#30
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different from non cyclists?
When I look around the cubicle farm and most people are overweight and sitting down all day
different from other cyclists?
When I started telling the guys I ride with to flip their stems down and take out all the spacers
When I look around the cubicle farm and most people are overweight and sitting down all day
different from other cyclists?
When I started telling the guys I ride with to flip their stems down and take out all the spacers
07-30-15, 11:26 AM
#31
I'm doing it wrong.
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When I dropped three grand on a bicycle and was like "what, it's not even high end" to the wife. That's when I knew I was different.
07-30-15, 11:32 AM
#32
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07-30-15, 11:41 AM
#34
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Because you are an expert fitter? It only matters how it looks, not how you ride it or how much pain you are in.
07-30-15, 11:45 AM
#35
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In college, when I started pedaling to campus everyday, no matter how bad the weather was.
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07-30-15, 11:57 AM
#36
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Different than what?
Where I grew up bike racing was a kid's sport too, like Little League.
I played soccer, ice hockey, raced bikes, baseball, etc. When we went for racing lessons it was only us...kind of like hockey. Of course, there the running joke was we could pick out the basketball player. They were the guys that could not skate. On a bike, too slow and out of breath too fast.
This thing that kills me today is this one sport structured, travel team yadda approach. Soccer...kids that play the sport in places where the men win World Cups (Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy, etc.) play all day long on their own, That's where they learn ball skills.
When we did bike workouts we had a coach. The rest of the time we just rode with each other doing simulated races, sprints, etc.
And I am off topic, but good grief...
Where I grew up bike racing was a kid's sport too, like Little League.
I played soccer, ice hockey, raced bikes, baseball, etc. When we went for racing lessons it was only us...kind of like hockey. Of course, there the running joke was we could pick out the basketball player. They were the guys that could not skate. On a bike, too slow and out of breath too fast.
This thing that kills me today is this one sport structured, travel team yadda approach. Soccer...kids that play the sport in places where the men win World Cups (Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy, etc.) play all day long on their own, That's where they learn ball skills.
When we did bike workouts we had a coach. The rest of the time we just rode with each other doing simulated races, sprints, etc.
And I am off topic, but good grief...
07-30-15, 11:58 AM
#37
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The only reason I got into cycling is because I'm handicapped with a very messed up lower back. I had to quit jogging 21 years ago because of it. Walking, standing and even sitting up straight cause pain. I can ride a bike because I'm bent forward at the waist and that takes the pressure off my back. Even when taking a shower, by the time I wash my face and hair my right leg has gone numb. I mostly sit through a shower anymore as it's just not pleasant to stand that long.
Yes, I've seen a couple of different specialists. My current specialist is a neurosurgeon who will fuse some of my lumbar discs together if I can lose some weight. He's already performed carpal tunnel surgery on both hands and the result has been fabulous.
I enjoy cycling immensely, however, given the choice of cycling vs. jogging, I'd take jogging. No question about it. I believe it's much safer too as it's easier to get away from cars. There are way too many idiots driving.
Yes, I've seen a couple of different specialists. My current specialist is a neurosurgeon who will fuse some of my lumbar discs together if I can lose some weight. He's already performed carpal tunnel surgery on both hands and the result has been fabulous.
I enjoy cycling immensely, however, given the choice of cycling vs. jogging, I'd take jogging. No question about it. I believe it's much safer too as it's easier to get away from cars. There are way too many idiots driving.
07-30-15, 12:00 PM
#38
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I'm not much of a cyclist off the bike, so people don't really notice unless they are close to me and know what I'm up to all the time.
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07-30-15, 12:07 PM
#39
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When I looked on Strava & saw that my best time was
more than twice as long as the fastest.
Sad, but I'm dealing.
more than twice as long as the fastest.
Sad, but I'm dealing.
07-30-15, 12:21 PM
#40
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+1. I made my peace with being different from everyone else long before I took up biking as an adult. That made the various goofy things about cycling easier to adopt.
I must say that doing RAGBRAI a couple times is what opened my eyes to what could be accomplished on a bike, so my trajectory went toward commuting and centuries and brevets not long after.
I must say that doing RAGBRAI a couple times is what opened my eyes to what could be accomplished on a bike, so my trajectory went toward commuting and centuries and brevets not long after.
07-30-15, 12:31 PM
#41
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I sucked at all sports, especially ones involving a ball or a team.
When we moved to where my parents live now, we had a pike path that ran through the area, so I got an old bike to explore it. Cycling ended up being the one thing (other than downhill skiing) that I didn't suck at.
When we moved to where my parents live now, we had a pike path that ran through the area, so I got an old bike to explore it. Cycling ended up being the one thing (other than downhill skiing) that I didn't suck at.
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07-30-15, 12:36 PM
#42
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When I was about 18 and testing for my drivers license. I had an instructor who, as we a proceed a speed hump in the road said to me "I always try to pull my legs up and hop like I'm on my bike" I looked at him and gave him a high five. I then explained I had recently started downhill racing. He then explained he was a pro cross country racer. Good times.
My senior year book picture shows me wearing a Spooky Cycles tshirt. My father wasn't amused but I explained "It's who I am. And it's all your fault for getting me hooked. So go on, be angry at yourself for helping me discover who I am." He wasn't so angry after that.
When I was about 15- 18 my buddy and I would spend all day riding, building jumps in his back yard and scouting new trails. We always got the last week of school off (we had good grades which gave us the option to skip our final exams or take them earlier) so we could race at nationals in Vermont.
That moment when you discuss cars with your friends and you realize your bike is worth more than your car.
My senior year book picture shows me wearing a Spooky Cycles tshirt. My father wasn't amused but I explained "It's who I am. And it's all your fault for getting me hooked. So go on, be angry at yourself for helping me discover who I am." He wasn't so angry after that.
When I was about 15- 18 my buddy and I would spend all day riding, building jumps in his back yard and scouting new trails. We always got the last week of school off (we had good grades which gave us the option to skip our final exams or take them earlier) so we could race at nationals in Vermont.
That moment when you discuss cars with your friends and you realize your bike is worth more than your car.
07-30-15, 12:40 PM
#45
Senior Member
The distance thing, the world wide network of tubes has changed what people see. Getting the questions of, "How many miles a week do you ride?" and answering with anything more that 20 to the a non-rider seems ludicrous to them. "120 miles!!!! Are you kidding? A week? NO WAY!!!"
Or try telling someone that you are going on a bike tour, that really made me realize I was different. "We take time off to relax, not work." Umm, lady, this is relaxing to me, I love it.
Or try telling someone that you are going on a bike tour, that really made me realize I was different. "We take time off to relax, not work." Umm, lady, this is relaxing to me, I love it.
07-30-15, 12:43 PM
#46
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I realized I must be different when I was a victim of an hit and run. Run over from behind and left laying in the road. I couldn't wait to get back on the bike to prove I could still do it. Two broken vertebrae, a smashed disc, a concussion that left me wondering who and where I was for a year. General cuts and bruises. Took a year to get back on the bike without pain. Stopped my racing career in it's tracks. People still say I'm nuts for riding on busy streets sometimes. Once you've been hit and see those nice soft glowing lights and peaceful tranquility in your mind.... you just kind of ignore fear and dive right in!
07-30-15, 12:52 PM
#47
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Long before I got into cycling I used to think I was different, until I realized that everyone else is too in their own unique way, which makes all of us pretty much the same. So now I just ride, mostly for the health benefits it provides.
07-30-15, 01:35 PM
#48
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In high school many many years ago I got my first road bike. Me and my buddy would ride our bikes to the beach while everyone else would drive their cars. We would all meet on the beach side of this pretty exclusive hotel. My friend and I would sneak in the hotel lobby bathroom and change out of our cycling gear and into our swim outfits. I think the other people we were meeting couldn't fathom while we didn't want a ride from them. Anyways, good times...I can't remember what we did with our bikes while we were there...hummm?
07-30-15, 02:44 PM
#49
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For me it was probably when I began explaining to my wife that one of my new personal goals was to complete a century and that I needed to up my weekly ride time. Her first response, "what's a century?" followed closely by "won't you get tired riding 100 miles in a single ride?" -this is the point at which I realized I had made the transition from casual fitness rider to cyclist.
Maybe next summer I can have a successful n+1 conversation to convince her of my need for another bike...
Maybe next summer I can have a successful n+1 conversation to convince her of my need for another bike...
07-30-15, 02:53 PM
#50
Senior Member
Probably sometime in high school when I paid off my Motobecane and couldn't stop staring at it. I practically begged my parents for errands to run.....any reason....to ride. Then my friends got matching bikes and we would ride from 8 am to 2 am only returning home for meals. And barely at that. Big gap when life took over of course. But thrilled to be riding again.