Pamestique 

I don't think I gave up anything for cycling. I still do alot of hobbies (photography, card making, home crafts etc) and other physical activities like hiking and walking.

Over the years by interests have changed. I use to run but can't anymore as I ruined my knees. I moved into volleyball and skiing and ruined my knees more and also both shoulders. Cycling just seems to be the easiest sport on this old body so that's where I've stayed now for the last 5 - 6 years and can see myself doing so for the rest of my life.

Red Rider

I don't Jazzercise much since I retired from teaching it for 15 years. It cuts into my cycling time.

Trsnrtr

I still have sex, but had to give up my porn star career.

stapfam

Was into Karting in a big way in the 70's. When I retired from this- I rekindled my love of gardening that still remains. Then the family came along and Running had to go- the knees gave up completely- Then I was into radio Controlled Gliders- Kept and showed Foreign Finches (Birds) and then the family grew up a bit and that stopped everything- except gardening. The gardening got to the extreme and I started showing Alpine Plants with the Alpine Garden society and became a champion exhibitor.

In 1990- I took up cycling as a way of retaining the fitness I used to have and found I didn't have it any longer. Still haven't got it but not dropping any lower in the fitness stakes- but am beginning to take it a bit gentler in defference to my aging body. This road riding is easier- till I get the funny ideas about Mountains.

Beverly

I gave up softball in my early 30's due to injuries. I started coaching my kid's softball teams.

In the mid 80's I quit riding motorcycles.....lost mine in a divorce settlement

I have put my sewing and quiliting on hold. I still own all the equipment and supplies and might take it up again after I retire.

donheff

I didn't give up anything to take up cycling - just added cycling. I have, on the other hand, lost interest in former passions or seen my interests fade and then resume:

Scuba - used to dive regularly in the 70s, including ice diving, wreck diving. Pretty much dropped it until the late 90s. Now occasionally dive on a trip. Warm water only.

Photography - lots of interest, darkroom, etc in the 70s. Largely dropped from late 70's to mid 90s. Now getting back in due to interest in digital imaging.

Windsurfing - regular participant from 1986 - ~2002. After that interest waned - only went out if windy and warm. Last year - zip

Roller Hockey - Every Sunday from about 1992-2000. Lower back issues caused me to stop.

Ski/snowboard - still at it but scaled back.

Cycling - strongly on the ascendant.

gear

Photography - too much watching; not enough doing.
Basketball - bad knees; gave up very reluctantly.
Float plane flying - too costly and I shared it with dad who is now gone.
Motorcycling - after 33 years stopped temporarily; when I'm too old to care about being hurt; I'll be back.
Young women - well I didn't give them up; they sorta gave me up.

cgallagh

Gave up Bull and Bareback Bronc riding in the mid 70s. I rode all through high school and then on my college Rodeo team. Other than the broken bones and judges that didn't like my long hair it was fun. Taught sea kayaking for a few years but got tired of dealing with the other instructors who were young, foolish and unsafe. I may paddle again but no more teaching. Used to roller blade a lot but sort of got bored with it. Still have the skates but haven't put them on in a couple of years. Downhill skiing petered out because I could never get RR interested and it just wasn't fun without her. Was fairly serious into photography for awhile. Now I use a digital point and shoot and gave all my good 35mm stuff to my son who has an interest. Didn't want the stuff to go to waste and didn't really want to sell it.

Tom Bombadil

Played a lot of baseball through my teen years. Afterward more basketball and volleyball. All of those are long gone now.

A time-consuming hobby/activity I gave up was fantasy/Rotisserie baseball. I was extremely good at this. Participated in this for 11 years, winning 8 championships and a few thousand dollars along the way. Was in a league that had 3 members who were on the staff of MLB teams, in their GM offices and a sports bookie from Vegas. I won that league 6 times in 8 years. But it was so, so time consuming. I not only knew every player on every MLB team roster in detail, but I could name the top 20-25 prospects in every team's farm system. Walked away cold-turkey after winning a title. Have never even been tempted to get involved again.

Artkansas 

Helping to run the local Soap Box Derby. When I moved to Arkansas, I decided it was time to focus on animation more.

solveg

Dog Sledding, because the dogs died.

Filmmaking. I helped out with some documentaries that were shown on TV, and then got hired to do a small documentary about teenage immigrant girls. That project sucked every bit of fun out of it for me, and the joy never returned. But I was paid, so it paid for the hobby.

I always try to make my hobbies pay for themselves if possible, so they've all turned into careers. Then they stop being fun. On the other hand, I've never (besides the film stuff) ever stopped enjoying the hobby/job, so I've had a very pleasant working life. And very low stress, since I never felt trapped by what I was doing. It was always what I "was into" at the time.

I did some test that Tom Bombadil mentioned months back, and it recommended about 10 careers that I would be temperamentally suited to do... lo and behold, I had actually done almost all of them!

Consularrider

I haven't given up anything to go cycling. However, I did give up running and soccer (playing and being a referee) because of knee problems.

solveg

Y'know, I suspected this of you, Big Paulie!

The Weak Link

Flew gliders long long ago. Wish I could do it again, but I doubt I will.

Ditto motorcycles.

Loved to ski, but can't go out west due to $ and miserable altitude sickness. Don't go to W. Va because of time and $. Don't go to Paoli because it's too icey. And I think I'd blow a knee.

Play the cello. I really ought to take it up again. I played it two or three years ago so I could play duets with my harpest daughter.

Play the piano. I'm a chopstick artist but I used to really enjoy it. It gives my wife migraines.

And jogging. Saw some young women marathon training yesterday. They easlily went 12 miles or more. It's great exercise, but when I finished my bike ride I had a smile on my face. These ladies looked like they were hurting.

Jet Travis

You might consider a digital piano or keyboard. Most have a headphone jack, so you can wail away while your wife watches TV in the same room. You can get good ones pretty cheap. (Digital pianos. Not wives.).

cranky old dude

Gave up Downhill Skiing back in '78. The wife tried skiing with me
for a couple years but just couldn't get to enjoying it. I miss it
a lot, though I'll never tell her that. We joined mixed bowling leagues
instead and bowled until we succeeded at procreation. Bowling was
good in that we could do it together, I could drink and bowl simultaneously
which was great fun. Sex, Beer and Rock & Roll...I had it all....oh, I still do.

The cycling has always been there to some degree and I've never had to
sacrifice anything for cycling. Other than a few low points, it's been a great
life so far....

Happy Trails

edit: oops, forgot about the used bike business. I used to sell used bicycles at
a local Flea Market for a few years. I started out with a truck full of curb
freebies. Rebuilt and repaired them over the winter and sold out the first
day. From there on out I bought garage sale bikes on Sunday afternoons
about the time the homeowner though they would never sell the things. The big
box stores made the used bike market go away in the late 80's. It was mainly a
hobby but for tax reasons I had to have the business license.

Terrierman

I swear this is the most interesting and revealing thread EVER.

Bull Riding?
Dog Sledding?
Rotisserie Baseball Champion vs. the PROS?

Lotsa motorcycles and surprised at how much flying/gliders.

Cool thread. Way cool. I wish I hada knowed all yall back then. An interesting group. But I suspected all that.

Digital Gee

I have given up my passion for chasing coeds. I have not given up glancing at them, however.

I have given up my passion for discussing how to save the world until the wee hours of the morning. I still care about it, however.

I have given up my passion for becoming the play by play announcer for the Cleveland Indians, after giving up my passion for becoming their star center fielder. I still follow them, however.

I have given up making music. I used to spend hours on my piano and keyboards, writing tunes and making "albums." No more. Keyboard is still there, but it gathers dust.

I gave up racquetball years ago. Kinda sorry that happened.

I gave up an interest in model railroading, woodworking, and architecture. I gave up an interest in becoming a journalist, a professor, and a novelist.

Leigh_caines

Too many things to name them all
But can we blame Bike Rideing?
Yeah I guess I'd have to say the last few years it's taken up most of my free time
Given up
My team {Oxen}
The farm
Carving wood
Water painting
Brewing
Bottleing
Wine making
Toy making
Rock work
Too name but a few

Still manage to go surfing
and get the kyack out now an then

BluesDawg

Motorcycles. I was totally obsessed with road and offroad motorcycles from high school until my first son was born. I looked out one day and realized my bike hadn't been ridden for a few months since he was born and I knew I wouldn't be riding it anytime soon.

Water skiing. Sold my boat and my house near the lake about the time ski-doos ruined the lake. I couldn't really afford it anymore anyway after the divorce.

Tennis. The back can't take the sudden changes in direction.

Playing in bands. I play harmonicas and sing - mostly blues and bluesy rock, but some old time country and folk music too, even a little bluegrass. Have played in or lead a few bands over the years and a lot of jams and open mikes. Forming bands takes whole lot of time. I could keep on reasonably good terms with the family while practicing and playing in a band and riding bikes, but when I started the bicycle club, something had to go. I miss some of it and am glad to see some of it gone. I still play at parties and such when I can, but not as often as I'd like.

Chasing women. I married the first time at 27, divorced at 35, remarried at 42. I spent a lot of time as a single guy. Had a lot of fun. But I'm not a cheater. When I caught the right one and got married, the chasing ended.

Fishing - bass, crappie, catfish, bream. Probably the only hobby that really was pushed aside by riding bicycles. I still wet a hook or toss a lure now and then, but the best days to fish are also the best days to ride.

dbg

GIVEN UP ................REASON (in chronological order)
Drugs......................got a job
Racketball...............lower back problems
Water skiing.............divorce
Softball...................team/league disbanded
Golf.......................married w/ children
Snow Skiing............married w/ children
Marathons..............lower back problems again
Cookies.................stay healthy

PLAN TO EXPAND FURTHER:
Biking and bike mechanics
Hiking
Cooking
Re-establish Golf
Learn Piano
Learn Spanish
Re-learn French
Welding (just because)
Paying for college (4 kids)
Wine
Coffee
Technology (I love it)

freeranger

Gave up guitar playing decades ago, but still have a Yamaha acoustic around in case I decide I feel like playing again. Gave up motorcycles around 30 yrs ago. Almost bought another this past season, but didn't. Don't know if I will ride one again or not. Although it's lots safer and less traffic here than from where I moved. Got into photography for a while-bought a decent Nikon SLR, with all the close up, and distance lenses, filters, and stuff-still have it, though most pics these days are from a compact digital camera. Still have some fishing gear, but doesn't get used much these days, though my neighbor across the street has some BIG catfish in his pond, and I have an open invitation should I feel like getting my old gear out. Used to water ski, haven't done that in ages. Also used to roller skate, and ice skate, when Md. winters were cold enough to freeze over ponds. Don't think I could count skateboarding-haven't done that since I was a kid (when only the hard "clay" wheels were available!) Think that does it.

fthomas

Mountain Biking - sold the thing after a crash. Wish I had it back!!!

Rock Climbing
Alpine Climbing
Classical Guitar

Haven't been backpacking in almost two years. Time to get back out there, but think I would rather tour.

gcottay

Gave up motorcycles because being self-propelled is so much more fun.
Gave up overeating to have less self to propel.
Gave up working long hours because life is too short.
Gave up water sports because their season conflicts with riding.

ken cummings

Body building, when I accepted that I was too old to keep stressing my joints so much, and switched back to cycling.