When some bike / cycling advice /your cycling love helped others

[shootingstar]

Over the years, I've been occasionally approached by ..especially some women who have expressed keen interest in cycling. I can tell they are envious of flexible opportunities, local adventure possibilities by the way they ask questions / look at my bike.  None of my bikes have dropped-down handlebars, probably contributes to aura of  "bike-friendliness" to future newbies.

I'm always glad to hear later of someone I chatted in person who got better on bike / spent more time on bike / bought a bike.

Today I met a retired, former boss after not seeing her for last 7 yrs. Now she's psyched to try lst option to ask bike shops that rent bikes, to see if she get a discounted used bike that is serviced by staff before sale and who will help find/fit bike for her.  Our city local bike co-op for used bikes was shut down 2 yrs. ago.

 She gave her car to daughter several yrs. ago.  Lives downtown (in different direction) close to stuff and bike lanes/routes. 

[Longjohn ★]

I inspired some people to bike the GAP and some others to do the whole Pittsburgh to DC trip.

[MickinMD ★]

I haven't gotten anyone interest in cycling, my helping others was in fixing/adjusting things like disc brakes for people in bike trail parking lots and giving a couple medicated bandaids to a pedestrian mother whose little girl had skinned her knee on a trail.

[Some Old Guy]

When my son wanted to get into cycling, he was strapped for funds, so I offered to help him out and lend him the money to buy a new mid-level aluminum road bike.  He agreed and was very appreciative of my advice on what to buy.  We went to the bike shop and got him fitted for his new bike.  I paid around $1500 for it about eight years ago.

He has never, ever mentioned paying me back.  Luckily, I don't really give a crap about the money.  However, his total lack of moral principles kind of pisses me off.  

[shootingstar]

42 minutes ago, Taylor said:

When my son wanted to get into cycling, he was strapped for funds, so I offered to help him out and lend him the money to buy a new mid-level aluminum road bike.  He agreed and was very appreciative of my advice on what to buy.  We went to the bike shop and got him fitted for his new bike.  I paid around $1500 for it about eight years ago.

He has never, ever mentioned paying me back.  Luckily, I don't really give a crap about the money.  However, his total lack of moral principles kind of pisses me off.  

Hopefully he is still riding the bike from time to time.

Honest, family member sometimes might mention the loan casually....especially to children. Each of us are probably guilty at some point in our lives..for taking parent's money for granted.  My mother had to casually mention for us to pay low rent to them when we started working after university, in a 2nd house they owned (and some of us lived in), was renting out and still had mortgage on it.

I loaned my baby sister a few paltry thousand $ when she started her medical doctor education and she asked for the loan.....  suddenly years later, I realized she still owes me the money.  I haven't chased her down ...because she's given back to me in different ways..as well as her physician advice. And I haven't given birthday, Christmas gifts to her and her family every single year since they are in a different province.  

[Bikeguy]

29 minutes ago, Taylor said:

When my son wanted to get into cycling, he was strapped for funds, so I offered to help him out and lend him the money to buy a new mid-level aluminum road bike.  He agreed and was very appreciative of my advice on what to buy.  We went to the bike shop and got him fitted for his new bike.  I paid around $1500 for it about eight years ago.

He has never, ever mentioned paying me back.  Luckily, I don't really give a crap about the money.  However, his total lack of moral principles kind of pisses me off.  

Does he at least ride the bike?  

[Longjohn ★]

I talked a couple people from the bike club into signing up for a century. They had never been on an organized ride, only club rides averaging 25 miles after work. I suggested they pace themselves, 100 miles is a lot further than 25. I rode with them the first 25 miles and when we stopped at the rest stop I told them to go on without me, I can’t do 100 miles at your pace. I caught up to them at the lunch stop at fifty miles. After lunch they were still hanging around. I asked them if they were ready to go. They said they were worn out and they called their spouses to come and get them. I did see one of them had signed up for the next ride. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them. I was riding with a noob that day and encouraging them.

[shootingstar]

• Different family members have tried cycling around town for awhile. Some find jogging is a better cardio workout for them.  I know a niece rode around on her bike as a university student, in another city away from home. But she doesn't now. She goes for long walks...3-6 km.
• A brother-in-law does occasionally ride to a branch campus, close to home, for certain days but drives to downtown campus. 
• Sister of mine, her hubby and 2 of his relatives joined dearie and I, on a 300 km. trip between Toronto and north cottage country area (Muskokas) over a 3 day weekend trip.  One person did drive all our gear along the way. Dearie planned the route.
• A nephew did work in 2 different sporting goods stores, where part of his job was bike repair and building bikes. Actually his summer job last year was putting together bikes for Walmart in Toronto.  Yes he doe bike, don't know how much.  He is fit from hockey, Ultimanum (frisbee) and soccer. So yea, interest feeds into 1 person (the parent), then to children.  

Another brother-in-law bought a tandem bike where his little son rode behind for 1-2 years.  Brother-in-law tends to jog and do several marathons.

 

[shootingstar]

• A niece has gone on several annual charity bike rides. Last year she rode 50 km. She was 18 yrs. old.  She has been competitive gymnast.
• All 7 nieces and nephews know how ride bikes. They all have their own bikes. Their ages range from 35 yrs. to 10 yrs. old.

[shootingstar]

48 minutes ago, Longjohn said:

I talked a couple people from the bike club into signing up for a century. They had never been on an organized ride, only club rides averaging 25 miles after work. I suggested they pace themselves, 100 miles is a lot further than 25. I rode with them the first 25 miles and when we stopped at the rest stop I told them to go on without me, I can’t do 100 miles at your pace. I caught up to them at the lunch stop at fifty miles. After lunch they were still hanging around. I asked them if they were ready to go. They said they were worn out and they called their spouses to come and get them. I did see one of them had signed up for the next ride. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them. I was riding with a noob that day and encouraging them.

For some newbie cyclists, all they need is an experienced cyclist to be with them first time for a decent safe route that is accessible for them later. Just a bike map doesn't necessarily work, especially if some bike route/path connections are convoluted..I'm like that.  So dearie has shown me certain things by cycling with me.  I've talked to experienced touring cyclists who didn't do certain routes...because on the bike route map it looked confusing/convoluted..in certain areas.  

Also I'm abit geospatially challenged.  It's just me.  Dearie is better. Also as someone involved municipal cycling advocacy he knows in alot more detail the infrastructure ....because he was involved in proposing it to the municipality. 

[Some Old Guy]

11 hours ago, Bikeguy said:

Does he at least ride the bike?  

Yes.  Not much lately, but he rode a lot for a couple years.  But he now lives in a congested community where just taking your bike out for a casual ride on local streets is difficult.

If he had asked me to buy him an early Christmas present and just give him the bike, I would have been happy to do so.  It's just the principle of the thing, or the lack thereof.

When I was young, I borrowed money from my Dad on numerous occasions.  I was always a fanatic about paying him back fully and on time.  For me, I could never have even conceived of stiffing my Dad or anyone else who helped me, but especially my Dad.  I could never have lived with myself.  But I guess for some people, the money means more to them than just doing the right thing.   

[Razors Edge ★]

1 minute ago, Taylor said:

Yes.  Not much lately, but he rode a lot for a couple years.  But he now lives in a congested community where just taking your bike out for a casual ride on local streets is difficult.

If he had asked me to buy him an early Christmas present and just give him the bike, I would have been happy to do so.  It's just the principle of the thing, or the lack thereof.

When I was young, I borrowed money from my Dad on numerous occasions.  I was always a fanatic about paying him back fully and on time.  For me, I could never have even conceived of stiffing my Dad or anyone else who helped me, but especially my Dad.  I could never have lived with myself.  But I guess for some people, the money means more to them than just doing what is right.   

His mom must have taught him poorly!

[Some Old Guy]

Just now, Razors Edge said:

His mom must have taught him poorly!

I get your point, but actually, this is true.  His mother and I divorced when he was young and she raised him mostly.  She never had any morals, so I guess what goes around, comes around. 

[ChrisL]

Funny to me that neither of my kids took to cycling or any endurance activity.  Both gravitated towards softball/baseball with a dabbling in Volleyball & Football.

I got the cycling bug early, 14 or so and was riding a lot from that point on.  My passion inspired my two cousins and they started riding in their late teens and both of them still ride. It really bums me out that we haven’t been able to ride. We try to get together a couple of times a year to ride.  It also inspired my brother who still rides.  

But it’s my wife who followed me into cycling.  She started riding before we had kids than took a break when the kids were young but has been full on roadie since the early 2000’s.

[Bikeguy]

2 hours ago, Taylor said:

When I was young, I borrowed money from my Dad on numerous occasions.  I was always a fanatic about paying him back fully and on time.  For me, I could never have even conceived of stiffing my Dad or anyone else who helped me, but especially my Dad.  I could never have lived with myself.  But I guess for some people, the money means more to them than just doing the right thing.

Maybe this is just part of how many young people seem to have a sense of 'entitlement'.   Many expect to be given just about everything.  

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-03-01/how-to-reduce-kids-sense-of-entitlement-in-a-me-generation

If I wanted something, I worked for it.  I have never asked my dad (or any other family member) for money.   If I couldn't afford something, I didn't buy it. (that's still true today)

I see my friends adult children from time to time and I'm glad they are not my children.  

[ChrisL]

18 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

Maybe this is just part of how many young people seem to have a sense of 'entitlement'.   Many expect to be given just about everything.  

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-03-01/how-to-reduce-kids-sense-of-entitlement-in-a-me-generation

If I wanted something, I worked for it.  I have never asked my dad (or any other family member) for money.   If I couldn't afford something, I didn't buy it. (that's still true today)

I see my friends adult children from time to time and I'm glad they are not my children.  

I think a lot of it is just how the person is wired.  My daughter will always pay us back without us having to ask for but my son won’t.  

I have dead beat siblings too but I always pay off my debts. When I was in college I had an odd semester where my Army College money was delayed and I needed to pay tuition. I asked my mom if she could spot me tuition and I’d pay her back when my Army money came.  When I went to pay her back she started crying, you’re the only one who offered to pay me back.  She then pulled out a book with unpaid debts she kept on each kid who borrowed money off her.  She noted paid in full in her ledger, then said keep it, it’s my contribution to your education. 

[Some Old Guy]

40 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

I think a lot of it is just how the person is wired.  My daughter will always pay us back without us having to ask for but my son won’t.

When my older brother's business was floundering, he asked my mother for a $30,000 loan to keep it afloat.  She gave it to him and told me about it because the money was part of her estate (savings) that she planned on leaving to the three of us sons.  My brother's business eventually failed and he never paid her back, even though he eventually became solvent again and could have.  I'm pretty sure he had no idea that I knew anything about the loan.

When she passed, I was made the executor of her estate.  I thought my brother might come forward and insist on deducting the $30,000 debt from his share of the estate, but he made no mention of it. 

People suck.   

[Ralphie ★]

Neither a lender nor a borrower be. 

[Bikeguy]

2 hours ago, Taylor said:

I was made the executor of her estate. 

I know what I would have done....

[Some Old Guy]

19 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

I know what I would have done....

He could have simply denied that the loan ever happened.  It occurred about ten years before she passed and there was nothing in writing to prove the loan was ever made.  And after just losing my mother, I wasn't eager to get into a family squabble about money.  

[Airehead]

I sagged in with a woman on the Erie Canal ride because she was tired and a little scared.  It isn't a race, I didn't care if we were last.  When i got in, Einstein had found our bags and put the tent up.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

During the summer I ride with a guy at work who is about ten years younger than me.

When we get to the hills I give him advice to go on up ahead without me.

[Longjohn ★]

16 hours ago, Thaddeus Kosciuszko said:

During the summer I ride with a guy at work who is about ten years younger than me.

When we get to the hills I give him advice to go on up ahead without me.

I would have guessed you to be a climber. Did you just let him set the pace?

[Ralphie ★]

13 hours ago, Longjohn said:

I would have guessed you to be a climber. Did you just let him set the pace?

I would picture shooter as the climber in this thread. 

[Ralphie ★]

My part to inspire other bikers is letting them pass me easily to boost their confidence!  Even the shirtless guy in flip flops on the rusty heavy beach cruiser.   But in my defense, he was a lot younger than me.