How does your family feel about cycling?
08-27-04, 09:17 AM
#26
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I am amazed at all the negative reactions.
My wife thinks it's great, my parents think its great (but are amazed at the number of miles), my kids love to watch me ride off to work and love stories about bee stings, etc.
My wife thinks it's great, my parents think its great (but are amazed at the number of miles), my kids love to watch me ride off to work and love stories about bee stings, etc.
08-27-04, 09:21 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by koffee brown
My mom says it's too dangerous and begs me not to ride.
Code:
Motor vehicle occupant, pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle deaths by type per 100,000 people Motorcycles / Bicycles / Pedestrians / Passenger vehicles / Large trucks 1995 0.8 0.3 2.1 12.1 0.2 1996 0.8 0.3 2.1 12.2 0.2 1997 0.8 0.3 2.0 12.1 0.3 1998 0.8 0.3 1.9 11.8 0.3 1999 0.9 0.3 1.8 11.7 0.3 2000 1.0 0.2 1.7 11.4 0.3 2001 1.1 0.3 1.7 11.2 0.2 2002 1.1 0.2 1.7 11.3 0.2
Code:
means of death approximate deaths per year general aviation...................14 playground accidents...............15 dog bites..........................20 mountaineering.....................30 skydiving..........................35 skiing.............................35 lightning strikes..................85 insect stings.....................100 food allergies....................125 SCUBA.............................140 falling in bathtub................300 bicycling.........................750 recreational boating..............800 general aviation..................820 weather hazards..................1600 fires............................4000 drowning.........................4800 pedestrian-traffic accidents.....5500 food poisoning...................6500 suffocation.....................10000 accidental falls................12000 AIDS............................16000 drunk drivers...................17000 homicide........................22000 suicide.........................31000 firearms........................35000 automobile accidents............43000 heart disease..................750000
-murray
08-27-04, 09:27 AM
#28
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murray, you can't fight irrational fear of injury or death to a loved one with facts.
My mom is afraid to fly and no facts will change that.
My mom is afraid to fly and no facts will change that.
08-27-04, 09:32 AM
#29
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My kids (28 & 29) both think I'm da man! The wife? She rides with me!!
08-27-04, 09:42 AM
#30
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Originally Posted by LordOpie
murray, you can't fight irrational fear of injury or death to a loved one with facts.
My mom is afraid to fly and no facts will change that.
My mom is afraid to fly and no facts will change that.
Showing facts may not help, but how could it hurt?
Are they afraid every time you get in a car. You're taking a huge risk there. How about eating out? Nearly 10 times as many people die from food poisoning than cycling.
-murray
08-27-04, 09:58 AM
#32
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My whole family supports my sport and have been there for me always. From money to drives to races, to even cheer on the finish line when its super cold outside. I owe them a lot for what they have done for me, especially when starting at the age of 14 and still doing it.
08-27-04, 10:05 AM
#33
Twist of fate... peggy
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well, lets see... i have broke my back, 3 ribs, torn carledge out my knee, fractured bolth elboys and cracked my skull. My family is happy that i am still walking let alone still riding... They are pretty supportive since even though i have done all of those on a bike, i will never stay away from the ride of a lifetime.
08-27-04, 10:23 AM
#34
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Originally Posted by I_Have_No_Legs
well, lets see... i have broke my back, 3 ribs, torn carledge out my knee, fractured bolth elboys and cracked my skull. My family is happy that i am still walking let alone still riding... They are pretty supportive since even though i have done all of those on a bike, i will never stay away from the ride of a lifetime.
-murray
08-27-04, 10:37 AM
#35
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I had posted this in another thread but it is appropriate.......
I hear the doom lecture from my mother all the time. I have been married and had my own home now for almost 7 years and she still gives me this lecture. You know the "kidnapping, murder, missing, hit by a car, wreck and fall in a ditch and no one will find you" lecture.
I think it is funny, I always reply to her with, "You could get hit by a bus." She hates that.
I hear the doom lecture from my mother all the time. I have been married and had my own home now for almost 7 years and she still gives me this lecture. You know the "kidnapping, murder, missing, hit by a car, wreck and fall in a ditch and no one will find you" lecture.
I think it is funny, I always reply to her with, "You could get hit by a bus." She hates that.
08-27-04, 10:38 AM
#36
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In the 3 months since I bought a road bike, both of my sisters have bought bikes and have started to bike to work. My parents just worry, but they worry whatever I do so there's no real difference. My wife likes the leg muscles I'm developing and keeps on asking me if she can wax my legs!
Paul
Paul
08-27-04, 10:44 AM
#37
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Originally Posted by PaulBravey
My wife... keeps on asking me if she can wax my legs!l
08-27-04, 10:44 AM
#38
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Let's see...my mom doesn't worry out loud anymore, (since she knows it will not change anything), but I let her know that I'm properly equipped, safetywise. The older of my two brothers is a runner , but he took my old Fuji when I got my new bike, so he may come into the light (I've challenged him to ride with me in October, but we'll see). My other brother and sister have no real opinion one way or the other.
My boyfriend is very supportive...but made sure I had lights and reflective stuff to wear, since I ride at night usually. I always give him an estimate of how long I'll be (with a little extra) and I carry my cellphone, so he's less worried than when I first announced I was getting back into riding. (And besides, the physical benefits for him supporting my cycling are easy to see...and that helps too
)
, but he took my old Fuji when I got my new bike, so he may come into the light (I've challenged him to ride with me in October, but we'll see). My other brother and sister have no real opinion one way or the other.My boyfriend is very supportive...but made sure I had lights and reflective stuff to wear, since I ride at night usually. I always give him an estimate of how long I'll be (with a little extra) and I carry my cellphone, so he's less worried than when I first announced I was getting back into riding. (And besides, the physical benefits for him supporting my cycling are easy to see...and that helps too
)
08-27-04, 11:10 AM
#39
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My wife hates that I ride. She hates the money that I spend even though it doesn't have a real impact on the budget. She hates that I ride on roads with cars, she has the fear that I'll be injured or killed. She's in a wheelchair so she relies on my strong back and legs to lift her. I ride to stay fit but learned this summer that cycling and lifting her require different muscles so I can't rely on the bike for back and leg stregthening.
I think she's resigned herself to the fact it's something I enjoy and it's not going away
I think she's resigned herself to the fact it's something I enjoy and it's not going away
08-27-04, 11:20 AM
#40
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My parents are supportive, helped my buy my new road bike. They actually both own 2 bikes and are fairly active in cycling. My GF likes that it makes me happy, but worries I am going to run into the back of a car. Her family does not get spending a thousand dollars on a second bike and wanting more bikes and more expensive bikes. Actually my parents really want to get my GF into biking, as do I, and now some of her friends too.
08-27-04, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by LordOpie
That's cuz she's mad at you. Buy her some flowers tonight.
08-27-04, 11:58 AM
#42
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First it was rock climbing, basketball, tennis and hiking...one bad knee later still rock climbing, basketball and hiking. Other knee went south, so now its just hiking and cycling.
Wife is very supportive, she mtn bikes but my mother works in a hospital so you can imagine what I hear from her. But compared to rock climbing I think she is ok with it.
Wife is very supportive, she mtn bikes but my mother works in a hospital so you can imagine what I hear from her. But compared to rock climbing I think she is ok with it.
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08-27-04, 12:05 PM
#43
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Originally Posted by koffee brown
Vicious cycle.
anyway my families opinion on cycling is divided, I've been able to convert both sets of my grandparents to Tour watchers who are just about as mad as me about the Vuelta being cancelled. My dad likes me cycling but as most people do makes fun of the outfit, o well!
08-27-04, 12:50 PM
#44
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You know what is really sad??? My mother raised me (female) a real tomboy. I was always doing crazy stuff on my bike and just playing rough in general. She used to be embarrassed that my legs looked like "World War III" according to her. When I was 14, she had my only sibling, my little brother. I guess I had freaked her out so bad that she practically made him wear a helmet 24 hours a day. (And I don't mean on a bike) She would always say stuff to him like, "Don't do that, you'll get hurt!!!" To this day, he is 16 and does not know how to ride a bike, nor does he have interest in it. He really doesn't enjoy any physical activites. He likes to watch them on tv. GRRRRRR 
I don't know why, but it really irritates me.
I don't know why, but it really irritates me.
08-27-04, 01:17 PM
#45
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My wife is very supportive. She understands how important it is to my physical and mental health, especially since my main riding partner is also a new dad. She's very active herself and is an excellent skier so she understands the "need for speed." She enjoys riding herself but in a much more casual way. We're both looking forward to buying a bike trailer for the twins.
I try my best to harmonize my riding with family time and so right now I get most of my miles early in the morning when everyone is still asleep.
A lot of her friends' husbands are into golf or fishing so whenever she (jokingly) gripes about my gearlust, I can always say "Do you know how much a new set of irons costs? Do you know how much a new boat costs?"
I try my best to harmonize my riding with family time and so right now I get most of my miles early in the morning when everyone is still asleep.
A lot of her friends' husbands are into golf or fishing so whenever she (jokingly) gripes about my gearlust, I can always say "Do you know how much a new set of irons costs? Do you know how much a new boat costs?"
08-27-04, 01:31 PM
#46
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It gets easier when you're older. Because you'll be fit, and everyone in your age group will be obese. Then your family members, the ones that are still alive, will figure out that cycling is a kind of Fountain of Youth.
08-27-04, 01:39 PM
#47
Senior Member
Wow, I can't believe how many of your families are not supportive! I would love it if either of my teenage sons showed any interest. They don't even look twice when I walk through the room in sweaty lycra ... even their friends don't pay much attention any more Any future girlfreinds will either be supportive, or hopefuly ride with me or it will be short lived.
My parents love that I took it up on a regular basis again. In fact we went on several family rides when I was visiting in the mtns of Col last month. Of course they have done unsupported solo tours for 3-4 weeks every year for the last 12 years all over Europe. This year they did Italy in May and they are in their early 70's. I'm just glad I can still keep up with them!
Any future girlfreinds will either be supportive, or hopefuly ride with me or it will be short lived.My parents love that I took it up on a regular basis again. In fact we went on several family rides when I was visiting in the mtns of Col last month. Of course they have done unsupported solo tours for 3-4 weeks every year for the last 12 years all over Europe. This year they did Italy in May and they are in their early 70's. I'm just glad I can still keep up with them!
08-27-04, 02:25 PM
#48
Maglia Ciclamino
Other than the sticker shock, all of my family and friends always ask me about my bikes and rides. In high school and college, athletics were a huge disappointment for me (and family) because of freak illnesses and careless coaches I had. Cycling and hiking have been pure redemption the last couple years after I finished college. Nothing but me, the bike, and the road (or trail).
My mom frets a little, but she's always been the worry-wort. My dad is an avid motorcyclist, so he gets it.
I've set a goal to do the Bike Across Kansas, the BAK, next year so I'll have the motivation to get into and stay in shape this winter. When I told my parents of this idea a few months back while visiting in Kansas City, my dad offered to follow me for support and the like. At first, I wondered how he'd be able to do that as it is a weeklong endeavor. Then I remembered the dude is retired. Him following will make it all the more fun. I can't wait.
Unfortunately, none of my friends are into cycling. They're all married too.
My mom frets a little, but she's always been the worry-wort. My dad is an avid motorcyclist, so he gets it.
I've set a goal to do the Bike Across Kansas, the BAK, next year so I'll have the motivation to get into and stay in shape this winter. When I told my parents of this idea a few months back while visiting in Kansas City, my dad offered to follow me for support and the like. At first, I wondered how he'd be able to do that as it is a weeklong endeavor. Then I remembered the dude is retired. Him following will make it all the more fun. I can't wait.
Unfortunately, none of my friends are into cycling. They're all married too.
08-27-04, 02:47 PM
#49
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I don't think anyone I'm closely related to has been on a bike in 20 years, except maybe one uncle. The others would probably think I'm just being eccentric. (as usual)
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08-27-04, 03:39 PM
#50
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It's always been important to me to be fit and strong, so adding cycling to an established lifelong routine was natural. I was an avid cyclist when I met my husband 12 years ago and convinced him to begin cycling with me. Although we both have other interests in addition to cycling, it has remained a constant through the years. My family has always been supportive and just last weekend my brother expressed an interest in riding with us and the club we ride with. I told him he would need a helmet, which he didn't have, so he couldn't ride with us that day. The next day he called to say he had bought his "hat" LOL. Mostly my family is amazed at the mileage and concerned about the traffic. I just ordered a new bike today...Giant Cypress SL
