nicetry

A friend of mine is an alcoholic and his girlfriend and I are trying to get him to cut the bad habits and start new ones.

He has been slowing the drinking down but he still doesn't exercise or eat well.

I have been trying to get him to consider getting himself and his girlfriend bikes to go riding as road cycling is not a drag to do and easy to start.

He talks about considering it but he hasn't pulled the trigger yet.

I think a good video with some visuals would be more tempting for him, but I can't find any videos on youtube that talk about the fun of getting into road cycling.

Anyone know of any?

10 Wheels

Road bike riding is not for everyone.

memebag

A good bike got me to ride. I can't imagine a video doing squat.

Riding bikes also got me drinking more alcohol, so some folks are just bound to drink.

Hardrock23

I don't know that you'll be able to persuade him. Addiction is more than a "bad habit" to cut, also. I know, because I am an addict, although in recovery now. Cycling has helped me tons but its something that I decided on my own. And I went through a ton of things before I even found something that clicked. I do wish him and his girlfriend well...

Does his girlfriend even ride now? Will she stick with it if this did happen?

Hardrock23

memebag has a point as well. Even if he managed to pick up something like cycling, it doesn't mean it will help with his drinking. My brother is a perfect example of a life-long cyclist who is also an alcoholic and addict.

If you want to see if he likes cycling, take him out with you riding. Let him borrow a bike if one will fit well enough, if you have one to spare...but let it be just that. Not push it in to push out the drinking.

corrado33

Don't try to convince addicts to quit being addicts. It's a good way to lose friends. Let them deal with it how their AA meetings tell them to deal with it. Addicts have their own reasoning. They will NEVER see it your way. EVER. It doesn't matter how well reasoned your argument is.

From personal experience.

tyrion

caloso

Agree with Hardrock23. I don't know anyone who's gotten sober because they started riding a bike. But I do know several riders in recovery who have used cycling as part (a small part) of their program of self-care.

Your friend has some serious business to address first.

CrankyOne

He should first get involved in AA or one of the Hazelden programs. This has to be his decision though. And sadly, many people have to hit rock bottom before they'll change.

ClydeTim

I don't consume alcohol at all and never really have. Heck it takes me 5 years to consume the ounces amount that comes in one beer.

But honestly, when I sit down to watch cycling videos, it makes me want to down a case. So maybe having him watch cyling videos is not a good idea.

Moe Zhoost

Get him on a bike, any bike. Go a mile, maybe two. Either he will take to it or he won't. It won't change his drinking though. That's peripheral to the cycling diversion and has to be addressed as a primary issue.

dedhed

Well if these can't get an alcoholic on a bike, nothing can.

jefnvk

Agree with everyone else. It has to be his decision to stop, and unless he is strong willed (doubtful, if you have to be the ones to push him), getting involved in a hobby isn't going to displace addiction.

I enjoy my beer, and cycling doesn't stop that in any way. IN fact, my normal after work ride is a nice 16 mile loop to a local microbrewery. A couple of my long weekend rides are 40-50 mile loops that hit a few breweries on the way. There is nothing about cycling in general keeping you away from booze.

Keep the girlfriend's health in mind too. Don't let her stay in the situation if it turns truly problematic, as far too many try to do with folks they "know" they can "fix".

SquidPuppet

He won't find the joy in biking, or anything else, until he addresses the real problem.

Taking up biking won't solve his problem. In fact it could make it worse, as a long hard ride would introduce another "Reward Trigger".

If he kicks the booze a whole new world filled with many joys awaits him. It may or may not include biking. But that won't really matter.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefnvk

Agree with everyone else. It has to be his decision to stop, and unless he is strong willed (doubtful, if you have to be the ones to push him), getting involved in a hobby isn't going to displace addiction….

Dittoes to all the above, but FWIW to add another dimension to the discussion, I have previously posted on a few threads:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by FBinNY

…As far as the old gent coworker, I suggest you mind your own business unless asked. He's comfortable on the sidewalk, and making it work for him. If you convince him to ride in the street, it may be safer or it may not. Either way, you'll have bought into his risk factors and if things work out badly for any reason, you'll catch the blame.

Well said @FB...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

Frankly, I have posted that I would not be inclined to encourage, unless by example (nor discourage) someone to cycle-commute [or cycle in general], but if they so chose, I would freely and gladly give any advice...I would not want the recriminations of a personal endorsement if something bad happened….

FWIW, I’m not advocatin’ against, just sayin’

Just sayin’ that there is a difference between advising a new cyclist (hopefully correctly), and prompting one into a situation that they are not ready for, since there is unfortunately a terrible downside to our activity.

Milton Keynes

I think I need a drink after watching that. That first guy had to be in some serious pain.

Flip Flop Rider

LOL made my day thanks for that!

Zoroman

Agree with so many of the sage posts here.


Get him on a bike. Borrow a bike. Go for a ride on a nice day. Try to curb asking him every 30 seconds---"So, how do you like it? It's great isn't it!?!"


Let him decide if he wants to ride and also if he wants to stop drinking.


You state very clearly in the first post "he is an alcoholic". He has to be the one to choose to stop. Now, that said, I differ with what some of the others here, I think. It is helpful to say things like---"Can you try to see if you can not drink?" or "I think you have a problem with alcohol. Yes." ...I know for many people it took time but when others clearly say to them: 'I think you have a drinking problem or try not to drink' --- it does often work on that person that others see it and are saying the solution is NOT drinking.

Hardrock23

Just be careful you don't guilt him into drinking more by doing that and pressing things.

bikecrate

Have him watch Leaving Las Vegas.

Garfield Cat

Drinking and Driving Don't Mix:

Driving A Bicycle Under The Influence: When Can You Be Charged? | Kostman & Pyzer Barristers

italktocats

"give me a beer i can do that"

fietsbob

At least you will have them sitting around watching those videos on their phone using the WiFi at the Bar.

BKE

Yes, the addiction is a big issue but this in itself could be the game stopper. Riding isn't always "easy", lots of sweat and sore muscles, as I'm sure you know. So as already suggested, lend/borrow/rent him a bike and take him out before talking him into making a purchase he might be unhappy about afterwards.

Zoroman

...And, ignoring the problem or tip-toeing around the problem or being afraid to talk to the alcoholic about the problem are all well proven ways of helping to enable him or her or to passively sidestep the elephant in the room thereby all leading to NO CHANGE and just more drinking by the alcoholic.


Pretending the problem doe snot exist and being afraid to be honest about the problem are proven enablers.