What Does Your Family Think???

What does your family think of your life as a cyclist?

I'm mostly a city commuter and I know my dad is nervous that I am going to get hit by a car while I'm biking. I explain to him that more people my age are killed in car accidents than bike accidents.

My 7 year old suburban nephew thinks I'm cool cause I don't use my car often. He is quickly becoming a bike fanatic too!

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 17, 2010 at 3:09pm

Because it's called a sidewalk, not a sideride. :)
Julie Hochstadter said:

If your family ever wonders why you ride on the street and not the sidewalk send them this video from CDOT. A number of Chainlinkers are in the video!

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Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on September 17, 2010 at 4:12pm

I used to bike from Milwaukee to Waukegan for a Mother's Day ride, camping out at Illinois Beach SP overnight. Mom was always happy to see me, and could tell her friends in the home where she lived that her son would bike from Milwaukee to see her.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on September 18, 2010 at 8:59am

When I came back "home" they were always offering me rides and I'm like no it's just 6-7 miles and if I need to I can catch a bus most of the way back.
Most people don't get it as cycling to them is a "drive to the park on a Sunday" thing to do.

Everything else I'm sure they think I'm crazy and cringe when I say things but hey someone has to be the crazy eccentric.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Newald on September 18, 2010 at 12:47pm

My parents keep trying to figure out way in the world I would want to commute. They seem to think there is something wrong with me. They will forward me every acticle they see about a bike rider being injured.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Bird on September 21, 2010 at 9:31pm

My parents worry very much about me getting hit by a vehicle when riding. On the other hand, they see how fit and in-shape I am and conclude that what I'm doing is worth the health benefits. Sure beats sitting in front of the Tube eating junk food, thereby contributing to the national healthcare crisis.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 22, 2010 at 12:05am

Hi Brian!

Brian Bird said:

My parents worry very much about me getting hit by a vehicle when riding. On the other hand, they see how fit and in-shape I am and conclude that what I'm doing is worth the health benefits. Sure beats sitting in front of the Tube eating junk food, thereby contributing to the national healthcare crisis.

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Permalink Reply by Leah Jone on September 22, 2010 at 11:27am

My family was really freaked out before my accident, now I don't think my parents accept that I plan on biking again when my ankle is healed.

When my dad was visiting to schlep me to work and doctor's appts, I thought I'd show him that it really isn't so bad and had him drive on Halsted to see the bike lane I took when I was commuting... bad idea. I'm lucky my dad didn't have a heart attack, he was so nervous and hyperaware of the cyclists.

I hope they can be supportive when I get back to riding, I miss it like crazy.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 21, 2012 at 4:24pm

I just got a call from my sister.... she rode 11 miles round trip from Deerfield to Northbrook to babysit my niece!!!!

Only problem she has was the intersection of Lake Cook and Sanders.

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Permalink Reply by Tim S on March 21, 2012 at 4:57pm

always nice to hear of a new convert.

Parents like to ride in the burbs for exercise and, aside from parental rights to worry, have no problem with brother and I and our enjoyment of city riding. We all grew up on bikes so it is natural to keep on doing it.

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Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on March 21, 2012 at 10:24pm

My dad keeps saying I Should get a car Just In Case, and especially now that I'm a single parent and so on, and since he was also a single dad He Knows What I'm Going Through, and I did not remind him that he wasn't the one who stayed with the kids, because well the holidays are stressful enough. So that's definitely oversharing.