So, i've been riding centuries, commuting every day year round, and generally completly turned my sedentary life 180 degrees around. Loosing 30 lbs in a few months so im down to a nice lean weight, and now eat like a sumo and piss off all my friends doing it.

And every time i stop in to see my best friend, and he 'hints' that maybe he should try it too, i've always said "anytime bro ! give a holler, we'll go ride."

So last week he breaks the 200 lb barrier on the wrong side and calls. I take him out and we ride an hour or so. Then he calls the next day, and we ride. Then he calls the next day...

So im now doing 50k a day commuting, and as soon as I get home I go out for another 30k or so. And club group rides start this weekend !

I've always been a bitter old man, now I can add tired to it

You could throw the word "kind" into the mix as well.

Jaerery, you are THE MAN for helping get your friend on the ride train. way to go.

It's funny the mixed results attempts at encouraging cycling among friends, coworkers and aquaintences goes....

I have a friend, he's one of the 'wistful' bike commuters, he lives within a 30 minute comfortable ride to work ,but suceeds in doing it rarely even though he says he wants to and should, to keep in better shape.

So, he's always biatching and moaning about how he's not as fit anymore, and how a little ski tour always kicks his arse, so I've tried to rejuvenate his desire to ride. I even leant him my Trek 520 for over a month last fall (when he asked if he could!) so he could use it for his commute while he 'rehabbed' his ancient touring bike he rode across the country 2 decades ago. His bike is still on his basement workstand six months later.

And yet he continually complains about how he's not very fit anymore and how skiing whoops him now. We're going for a little backcountry tour this morning, I'm going to rub his nose in it a little.

He's the type of guy that makes 100k a year, will waste hundreds of dollars trying to fix his bike that's pretty much ready to be retired, instead of spending a little money and treat himself right with a stellar new bike. He bought a work stand, new gruppo parts, a whole bunch of bike tools, etc, but still has an unworkable bike.

Some people are not as truly enthusiastic about the ride, good work once again ,Jarery.

Nice work Jarery!

I love cycling, I've always biked to work, school and stuff, but the past 4 yrs I've really gotten into it. For me it was the best thing I could have done for my health and even sanity. I can definately tell the difference in mood if I don't ride for 2 days (1day rest day is hard enough!). Naturally I want to share this joyous passtime with my friends and family, but I don't want to seem preachy or try to shame people into it. I've chosen to convince by example...with a little prodding.

I got a bonus at work, it was unexpected so when my wife asked what I was going to spend it on, I said that I'd like to buy her a bike if she wanted one. I made it clear that SHE was buying a bike, she was buying the bike that SHE wanted and felt comfortable on. I helped her pick it out and decide between a couple different models. We bought it the next day. She now rides with me a couple days each week and she even rides the trainer a couple more days per week. I'm very happy that i can share this part of my life with her.

Last year and this year I've planned a bike tour and invited my friends along. 2 takers last year, 3 this year. I have also organized a couple rides to the local farmers' market, it's about 3 miles each way, but it's fun to roll down the street with 5 of your closest friends, even if it is at 8mph.

I know what you're saying though Jarery, while you have gotten yourself into more riding, I have gained maintence duties on a total of 7 bikes now. I just wish I was better at it. It's all worth it though.

Jarery,

Your the man. I know someone who is making 100 bucks an hour to run with her clients, surely you are giving at least that much away. Rest assured, in a few more weeks your buddy's body will be addicted and you'll be able to slack off.

So wait, you have an excuse to ride an extra 30km / day and you're complaining? Come to your senses, this is awesome! Anyhow, nice job getting your pal off of his behind.

I wish I had some local riding buddies. I'm good with motivating myself to commute but sometimes I have a hard time getting my rear off the couch to go on evening/weekend rides. I'm a bit wary of trying out the local clubs since in reading their websites and online schedules they seem more intersted in pace lines and vo2 stuff than in grabbing coffee, ambling around and lookin at girls on the beach boardwalk. Hey, I'm old, not dead!!

Wow, thanks for all the encouraging words.

If my being there is the motivational boost he needs to go from couch to actually getting fit and staying healthy, its a no brainer, im there. I'll drive to work a day or 2 a week to keep from overtraining if need be. And ya, having a good friend to ride with and bs instead of rethinking life every ride is a nice bonus

Just odd to finally have someone follow thru on the "i should try that" we all hear so often

And i can always use the extra miles, means more ice cream !!!!

Tagline-worthy material.

lead by example and have it work ... way to go!

Just draft him. At 200 pounds, he has got to be leaving a big wake.

Just kidding. Good for you.

LOL I would but right now hes going too slow !!
Its actually quite fun for me at the current time, although a huge time sink, its a very social and relaxing evening recovery ride due to the low speed and flat routes currently.

Actually its way more social for me since im the only one talking as hes busy breathing thru his ears

Heh j/k its not quit that bad

I stated commute to work (at Home Depot) last January. It's a 17 mile commute. And now there are 6 people at work that ride after work. They have seen me drop 20 lbs and I am more active at work so they stated riding as well.

Way to go Jarery.

Sounds like a wife, not a friend. I commute 28 miles then get home and have to take the wifey on her 20 mile training ride. You can bet I was happy when she said, I'm taking a day off tommorrow. Still gotta haul my arse to work and back though. We also ride 50-100 miles per weekend on the tandem, mostly.

good for you.

I guess friends don't let friends get fat.

I do that for Ms Huhenia ... 50km commute and 30km ride. ....

Keeps Ms. Huhenia nice and trim.

I think that is GREAT!!! I always say that and no one ever takes me up on it, but if anyone ever does hope I can handle it as well as you do!

I have a tale that's not directly related to commuting, but it's on topic. There's this woman I know who I used to ride with all the time. She was a nut for biking. A big group of us were out 5 times a week and she was always there, plus riding another couple of days on top of that. Anyway, she just stopped riding one day. She was still around, coming out to the bar, talking the talk, but not biking. We sent her everything but an engraved invitation, but no joy. We even made special "slow girl" rides built around her schedule, but she stood us up on every one. It was ridiculous.

Every spring, I hear the same thing, "How come you guys don't want to ride with me anymore?" This has been going on since 2000. Last weekend I ran into her at a party, and she was whining to be taken out for a ride. I kind of read her the riot act, but politely. Anyway, I sent her an e-mail saying that I'll let her know whenever we go on a ride, but there won't be any special treatment. I want to get her back out, but she's such a pain in the ass. <grumble>

Jarery congradulate your buddy for me. Then for me you can welcome him into the Two Hunny Club. I am unfortunately a founding member, but I'm dropping my charter membership this year.

Exercise is a wonderful thing.

I'm curious, is huhenia/huhenio a word in a non-english language? Where'd the name come from?

This thread has reminded me that 3 different coworkers asked me last fall about commuting. Unfortunately, it was just as the weather was turning and I knew I wasn't likely to convince them to commute in the rain and cold. If spring ever comes to NorCal, I'm going to offer to ride in with them. I'll map out a route and show them the tricks.

If it sticks, great. If not, well so what.

A good friend of mine from high school and I work at the same software company in a suburb of Minneapolis. Since I got him the (desk) job about two years ago, he's managed to go from just a tall stocky guy to having a spare tire that he complains about all the time. I've been trying to get him to come riding with me, but he has a million and one excuses. For starters, he lives in what he considers to be a rough neighborhood that's a whopping 8 miles from the office as measured along very reasonable mostly back roads and residential streets. His claim is that the neighborhood is too dangerous to be biking through (BS in my opinion), the streets are too dangerous (it's possible to pick good routes, and there are also plenty of off-street paved bike trails on the main county roads), and he would have to get up so early. The next time he starts whining about his gut, I'll have to get leaning on him again or just tell him to save it for someone that's not already trying to help him.

Tough love, man.