Though I have only progressed moderately in this activity/sport over the years, I have on occasion tried to encourage people who showed interest to take up cycling again, as I do believe it an excellent activity for both young and old, extremely fit to only moderately fit, and men and women. But, maybe it is a waste of time, as so far, I don't think my efforts to spread the word has resulted in a single non bike enthusiast becoming a bike enthusiast. (as a professional advocate, a 0% success rate is hard to accept).

I convinced one friend to actually buy a bike, but he hasn't really ridden it. I convinced an acquaintance to service his old road bike, but haven't been able to motivate him to actually ride it. After he replaced the wheels, tires, brake pads etc.. on his bike boom era 10 speed, he tells me yesterday, maybe I will just sell it now that it is in ready to ride condition. To which, I said, seriously? You just spent hundreds of dollars on a bike that is worth, maybe $125 to $150 so you would have something to ride this spring. To which he said, it is vintage, and worth much more than I put into it.

Is it that people are just polite, that when they say they want to get into cycling, they are just making conversation? Maybe Voltaire was right and we should cultivate our own garden.

Anyhow, I am volunteering at a local bike expo this weekend for a local cycling club, so will make my pitch to total strangers this Sunday.

Edit: I am not perfect either. I had stretches of years where my interest in biking waned extremely, and now amount of coaxing by others could get me back on the bike.