Batshit for Cycling
Let’s get something straight. I do not jump out of planes. I don’t juggle chainsaws, eat fire, or party with Charlie Sheen on weekends.
I ride a bike.
And apparently, to some, that makes me batshit crazy. I’ve heard it enough times from enough people that I had half started to believe it, but recently I have come to the conclusion that it’s not me that’s crazy, it’s everybody else.
When I started riding outside this winter, friends (cyclists and non-cyclists) told me I was crazy. Yet, when I ride inside on a trainer or rollers, winter riders think I’m nuts. (And let’s not even talk about what people are saying about me doing a 130 km race in February).
Mountain bikers and cross racers can’t seem to explain how I could possibly enjoy road riding, other than perhaps some sort of horrible mental defect. But my roadie friends think that riding cyclocross is for the borderline insane.
The roadies I ride with think I am crazy for racing criteriums. Many of said roadies ride two or three hundred kilometre brevets just for fun. I’ve done that too – which makes my fellow crit racers think I need to have my head examined.
The other day I had an uncle ask me when I was going to grow up. Considering this particular uncle wears an earring and rides a Harley, I wasn’t too offended.
I’ve had girlfriends who’ve spent a small fortune on a white pouffy dress that they wore once – gasp at the cost of a carbon fibre bike. And guy friends chide me for spending a hundred bucks on a race licence, then blow thousands of dollars to WATCH OTHER GUYS play hockey.
And they call me crazy.
Does Tiger Blood come in a 6 pack?
I’d bet a lot of money that I was one of the few people on a bike in the park on Sunday. If that makes me crazy; then I’m just as nuts as you. We have lots of company !
“Passion does not blind. No. Passion is sanity, ….”
― E.M. Forster
Too defensive for the ‘winnipeg cycle chick’.
Shit. I was going for “pompously belligerent with a hint of sarcastic wit”. I’ll blame it on poor writing skills. And my period.
Being involved in a diverse range of cycling is what makes it so fun. I don’t get people who only like road, or only like mountain. They’re all fun! Except group training on rollers. Sorry, but that actually is crazy.
More people should be crazy like you. I ride my bike to work everyday. winter and summer. 130km bike ride in winter why not. How are you going to know your limits if you don’t test them? Most people would be shocked at would they could do if they tried. Once you conquer fear anything is possible. And you Cycle Chick have no fear. Including what other people think.
Happy New Year. And welcome to the world I’ve lived in for the past 3 decades. Heres to 3 more. Cheers. Great article. You aren’t crazy. Just you being you.
[…] like to say, I probably shouldn’t. Crazy is a very subjective and relative thing. In fact, I wrote a whole article about it. I will say this: “Passion does not blind. Passion is sanity.”― E.M. […]
Man!… I mean… Woman! You have more balls than I do to ride all winter in Winterpeg! I last rode on Xmas Eve to do last minute shopping at the mall in -20 C weather. It was fun and I am sure others thought I was crazy, but then they were sitting in mall traffic jams as I rode by. I need to get that bike back out there! Damn there’s more snow coming! Oh to live in Ottawa!
Ottawa, Arizona, Maui…. yes, that would sure be nice. But I figure you have to make the most of where you are. Vive l’hiver!!
awesome.
[…] and old ox cart trails. It also means I only have another three weeks to endure people telling me how crazy I am for doing […]