What has cycling done for you?

gb155

Saved My LIFE !!!! (SEE Sig)

Gaz

mikedobson

Hard to put into words but in essence it saved my life.

I was a smoker, a big smoker, unhealthy lifestyle, terrible diet. The sort of man who subsumed his own self-loathing by mocking those who took care of themselves.

A girlfriend was into cycling, just gentle sightseeing type, but also had a high quality threshold and therefore invested a lot of time and effort into buying the right kit. She filled the house with cycling magazines and books, watched endless reruns of the Tour highlights, furnished me with the history of cycling and its characters. By an incessant process of exposure and osmosis some of it eventually dripped into my own psyche and despite myself I found I was starting to organise my evening's viewing around the Tour highlights and even noticing the different types of bikes I saw each day.

Inevitably, and to keep us together, it became necessary for me to get a bike. It was an awful thing, dreadful. Custom made by a backwater outfit who supllied frames and kit to the cheaper end of the market, but - and it's a big but - it was a start.

Our first ride together (well guys you know what I mean) was a 21 mile flat coastal route in Norfolk. Couldn't have been flatter. I passed out at mile 17 and was only dragged back to consciousness by the swift administering of apple juice and malt loaf. I stumbled back to the car, half pushing half drifting while my girlfriend, all 8 stones of her, cycled besides me uttering kind words of encouragement, with nary a puff of breath.

When we got home she went on another ride and I went to the Co-op for 20 Bennies. I opened them up, removing the cellophane rapidly as ever, flicking back the box lid, removing the always beautiful golden flap to reveal them standing, sentry like, in their tight formation. Little tubes of pleasure. A quick flick of the lighter wheel and their promise of warm nicotine enhanced smoke would be fulfilled, tunneling into my greedy lungs.

But I couldn't do it. Something intervened. Some annoying, competitive, urgent thing had slipped into my head. Some desire I never knew I possessed had entered me somewhere inbetween Walsingham and Cromer and resides there still.

I threw the cigarettes horribly away, unthinkable in my previous universe, I watched them disintegrate and fall into a bin through eyes I could have sworn belonged to someone else. I looked at my ridiculous bike and my ridiculous stomach and things just slipped into place.

That was 14 years ago. I cycle every day (except when icy), I do about 300 mile a week in the summer and I have a small flotilla of bikes in various states of (dis)repair ala the most ardent "I can do that myself" wannabe bike mech>

The girlfriend vanished years ago, ran off with a millionaire financial adviser and now lives in luxury. I'm pleased for her, she helped in the revelation.

I'm most pleased for myself though. For that transcendant feeling each time I mount a hill I would have feared before, or when a warm wind catches me over a hedgetop and fills my lungs with a natural, free narcotic. I'm 47 now but fitter than a lot of people 20 years my junior. I have firm legs, a good arse, I'm alert, up for a challenge, just happier.

That's what cycing's done for me.

rhext

For me it's always been a sense of freedom. It's difficult to define or understand, particuarly given the fact that most of the time I'm cycling up and down the same route. But when I'm on my bike I feel free, when I'm in a car I don't.

Funnily enough, I get a similar feeling when I'm on a train, but not on a 'plane. But I can't cart a train around with me in the same way I can a bike.

And it keeps me fit.

UpTheWall

gb155 wrote:

Saved My LIFE !!!! (SEE Sig)

Gaz

Holy shit. That's impressive work.

Very well done.

Bikefotos

Just read Mike Dobson's post above. What a great piece of writing - thanks Mike, made my afternoon.

mikedobson

Bikefotos, that's very kind, thanks.

Stellite

I love cycling.

Ive learned to suffer in weathers normal folk would not even leave the house, never mind attempt to do 100 miles.
Id rather spend money on bikes than a new 3 piece suite or carpets for my house.
I spend most of the time in my garage.
I have started building frames and stems and all manner of custom stuff using the machines at work during my spare time.
Bikes litter my house, spare rooms, garage, and shed.

Its kept me off the streets, kept me out of trouble, and stopped the once excessive drinking.

That is all

mrwibble

Bad back and 5% body fat

prb007

Lightens my wallet, as well as my mood
Gives me an excuse to eat too much food
Made me friends that I'll keep for life
Kept me together with my beautiful wife

Seen the world on two wheels
Kept my life on an even keel
Gets me to work in less than an hour
Ready for anything after a quick shower

Keeps my weight down and keeps me fit
Blown thousands on lightweight kit
Taught my kids how to ride
Before long they'll whup my hide

Fitter than some, half my years
Faster than others with all of their gears
I'll keep on riding until I'm old
Plodding along, not going for gold

Tonymufc

Much of what everyone has said plus I also think its made me a better driver. Controversial I know but hey ho.

EKE_38BPM

UpTheWall wrote:

gb155 wrote:

Saved My LIFE !!!! (SEE Sig)

Gaz

Holy shoot. That's impressive work.

Very well done.

gb155 (Gaz) is well known over in Commuting and I have nothing but total respect for the bloke.

He has lost twice my weight.
Two of me!
His post on here is very modest. I urge everyone to have a read of his blog. An amazing transformation.

My sister is overweight and I've mention Gaz to her a few times and she has read his blog. She has recently asked me to service her BSO so she can go for a ride around the park in summer.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and all that.

Gaz and his weight loss should be nationally known. It would force all the fatties that think they're too far gone to change their life to put up or shut up.
Either they want to change (save) their life, or they are too lazy to. Gaz has proved by the 24 stone that he has lost that he is any thing but lazy.

Respect.

Bunnyman 5.5

Respect from me too....chapeau to Gaz!

mroli

It helped and is helping me and my wife through a terrible part of our lives.

We lost our little boy and were sinking pretty fast. I knew the only way I could keep sane was to take some sort of exercise and use the pain of that to try and forget even briefly the other pain that we were feeling. My wife started riding with me, but the difference in ability was proving too much - so we got a tandem. That also helped conquer the massive separation anxiety we had on separate bikes. We got up every day (which was hard) and went for a ride and that helped us get into a routine of getting up. We watched the tour de france highlights every night for 3 weeks and tried to put our minds into the heads of cyclists suffering a different kind of pain. We cycled to Bristol on the canal path and camped and that gave us a focus and something to do and some time away from absolutely everything. We cycled in France and saw the WW2 memorials and thought of the sacrifice of others. I rode sportives by myself and swore and cried my way through when it started hurting. I did a bike maintenance course and as a natural eejit when it came to these things found comfort in learning a new skill. I rode a JOGLE which kicked off our charity and raised £6k, my wife came with me and joined in parts of my ride. I ride in kit with my son's name on it and I think of him everytime I ride and it makes me a courteous and polite cyclist. I will be undertaking another cycling challenge this year for our charity.

Sure if it wasn't cycling, it may have been something else but it just seems to fit - we had a little seat on our bikes that our son used to sit on and he loved it and it feels on a bike that he is with us.

gb155

EKE_38BPM wrote:

UpTheWall wrote:

gb155 wrote:

Saved My LIFE !!!! (SEE Sig)

Gaz

Holy shoot. That's impressive work.

Very well done.

gb155 (Gaz) is well known over in Commuting and I have nothing but total respect for the bloke.

He has lost twice my weight.
Two of me!
His post on here is very modest. I urge everyone to have a read of his blog. An amazing transformation.

My sister is overweight and I've mention Gaz to her a few times and she has read his blog. She has recently asked me to service her BSO so she can go for a ride around the park in summer.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and all that.

Gaz and his weight loss should be nationally known. It would force all the fatties that think they're too far gone to change their life to put up or shut up.
Either they want to change (save) their life, or they are too lazy to. Gaz has proved by the 24 stone that he has lost that he is any thing but lazy.

Respect.

I'm touched, VERY Touched, THANK YOU !

I do agree about getting my story out nationally.......I'd love to inspire a nation !

Gaz

Squillinossett

It gave me a VERY nasty sore in my down below area last year...

dSIco

This is my first post on here. I have just read this thread and been moved to join up.

I thought it was just me but it turns out that lots of people ride to keep sane.

Having suffered from depression a few times in the last 7 or so years, I was advised that exercise would help keep the spirits up.

At 36, I took up kayaking with my eldest son. This turned my life around and I haven't looked back since. After a rather sobering experience on the River Dart (in spate) my ardour for whitewater paddling cooled a little. As a result, I haven't paddled in anger for over a year now. I noticed that my spirits were generally low and getting lower as the months went on, so decided after some gentle nudging from my wife that maybe I should dust off the 1990 Emmelle Dolomite XL in the shed and start riding to and from work.

At first I didn't enjoy it. The fact that Torquay is built on 7 hills means that there is no flat around here. It's either up or down. The ride to work is very nearly all downhill. Therefore, going home is a hard (for me), ride. Anyway, after a month or two, I realised that I wasn't so tired when I got home... I could speak!

I then took the plunge and decided that cycling around Iceland (one of my favourite countries) would be a good idea. One little dabble with the Cycle scheme and I now have the pleasure in riding a 2010 Felt Q620 hardtail. Wow, bikes have improved in the last 20 years!!

Me and a mate spent 2 weeks riding in Iceland in July this year. It was ace. Despite the fact that I hopelessly underprepared physically!

The riding bug has now well and truly bitten me and I love riding to and from work. I only live about 1.5 miles from work but I now ride 6.5 miles home (80% uphill) just so I can ride for longer. I even look forward to the ride home. I find myself plotting longer routes home now.

I feel so much happier because I ride. Ask my wife...

Cycling has given me back my self esteem, and taken away over half a stone...

Si

richk

I used to have a big problem with (work related) stress but haven't had a single day off with that since I started cycling - commuting by bike being a major part towards that.

753forme

Commuting to work led to a serious accident three years ago in which I smashed my left femur to pieces and have had to have major reconstructive surgery. So its not all positive sometimes. However what was the first question I asked the surgeons on coming round from the op 'will I be able to ride a bike?' I think most of us on here know we're a little prone to be the obsessive/complusive types and at least the bike gives us a positive focus for such potential destructive tendencies.

Pross

Loved prb007's poem! Gaz is an inspiration, I've been "trying" to lose two stone for the past year with little success due to laziness and greed so hoping his blog will give me the kick up the backside I need!

For me, much simpler than some of you but I've made some very good friends and indirectly met my wife through cycling as she was a friend of my cycling mates wife. Certainly helped keep me fit as can be atested to by the weight gain over the 12 years I stopped riding.

Anonymous

mroli wrote:

It helped and is helping me and my wife through a terrible part of our lives.

We lost our little boy and were sinking pretty fast. I knew the only way I could keep sane was to take some sort of exercise and use the pain of that to try and forget even briefly the other pain that we were feeling. My wife started riding with me, but the difference in ability was proving too much - so we got a tandem. That also helped conquer the massive separation anxiety we had on separate bikes. We got up every day (which was hard) and went for a ride and that helped us get into a routine of getting up. We watched the tour de france highlights every night for 3 weeks and tried to put our minds into the heads of cyclists suffering a different kind of pain. We cycled to Bristol on the canal path and camped and that gave us a focus and something to do and some time away from absolutely everything. We cycled in France and saw the WW2 memorials and thought of the sacrifice of others. I rode sportives by myself and swore and cried my way through when it started hurting. I did a bike maintenance course and as a natural eejit when it came to these things found comfort in learning a new skill. I rode a JOGLE which kicked off our charity and raised £6k, my wife came with me and joined in parts of my ride. I ride in kit with my son's name on it and I think of him everytime I ride and it makes me a courteous and polite cyclist. I will be undertaking another cycling challenge this year for our charity.

Sure if it wasn't cycling, it may have been something else but it just seems to fit - we had a little seat on our bikes that our son used to sit on and he loved it and it feels on a bike that he is with us.

That took guts posting about your circumstances, you have my admiration for what you are doing and my sympathy for the loss of your son. I wish the best for you and your wife in your endeavours.

pneumatic

given me back my mental health and guaranteed it for years to come.

1892

Stopped me from becoming a big fat bloater, given me time to think. Got to know the local area a lot better........... the list goes on

StillGoing

It gave me something to focus on after packing in racing motorcycles around, helps keep me from deaths door, lets me see more of this beautiful country and emptied my bank account by a fair old bit.

Gaz's feat is truly amazing. Tremendous willpower. There really should be more articles in the media on you to help inspire others.

allez24

Had a heart attack....was told that if it wasnt for the fact I was as fit as I was I would be dead........eight years on I am fitter now than I have ever been, am the envy of people half my age (I'm nearly 64) and enjoy life to the full and more. I go riding on the Purbecks with a guy exactly half my age and he has absolutely no problem keeping up with me!.




bet you thought i was going to say that i had no problem keeping up with him didnt you?

gb155

philthy3 wrote:

It gave me something to focus on after packing in racing motorcycles around, helps keep me from deaths door, lets me see more of this beautiful country and emptied my bank account by a fair old bit.

Gaz's feat is truly amazing. Tremendous willpower. There really should be more articles in the media on you to help inspire others.

Thanks mate, I appreciate that, TBH with regard your second point, I am trying, but it seems now im a normal weight. No one wants the story !

MikeWW

Started cycling 3 years ago to try and loose some weight(after quitting smoking) and hopefully to get at least some fitness

My sons were 11 and 14 at the time and started joining in a few days later. Since then we have been riding and racing(MTB/Road/cross) all across the UK and it has been a great way to spend some real quality time together. Infact just about to go out for a cafe ride with my now 16 year old son and some local riders. The oldest was riding for GB just before Xmas so its all been a huge change in our lifestyles. Even my wife enjoys going to the races these days and cheering us all on.

As well as this I have to say I feel so much better.. Reasonably fit now and at 48 can hold my own in a cat 3/4 race. Met a lot of people along the way and found it very sociable as well.

Spent a lot more money than I expected (haven't we all) but worth every penny

slowlanejane

What a lovely bunch you all are, big softies under the swagger and merciless humour of your posts on other forums. You've all helped me into the sport over the last year with your good advice and cheer-me-up-ness. SLJ.

Crapaud

slowlanejane wrote:

What a lovely bunch you all are, big softies under the swagger and merciless humour of your posts on other forums. You've all helped me into the sport over the last year with your good advice and cheer-me-up-ness. SLJ.

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone - it's a secret. Reputations are at stake!

ratsbeyfus

mroli wrote:

It helped and is helping me and my wife through a terrible part of our lives.

We lost our little boy and were sinking pretty fast. I knew the only way I could keep sane was to take some sort of exercise and use the pain of that to try and forget even briefly the other pain that we were feeling. My wife started riding with me, but the difference in ability was proving too much - so we got a tandem. That also helped conquer the massive separation anxiety we had on separate bikes. We got up every day (which was hard) and went for a ride and that helped us get into a routine of getting up. We watched the tour de france highlights every night for 3 weeks and tried to put our minds into the heads of cyclists suffering a different kind of pain. We cycled to Bristol on the canal path and camped and that gave us a focus and something to do and some time away from absolutely everything. We cycled in France and saw the WW2 memorials and thought of the sacrifice of others. I rode sportives by myself and swore and cried my way through when it started hurting. I did a bike maintenance course and as a natural eejit when it came to these things found comfort in learning a new skill. I rode a JOGLE which kicked off our charity and raised £6k, my wife came with me and joined in parts of my ride. I ride in kit with my son's name on it and I think of him everytime I ride and it makes me a courteous and polite cyclist. I will be undertaking another cycling challenge this year for our charity.

Sure if it wasn't cycling, it may have been something else but it just seems to fit - we had a little seat on our bikes that our son used to sit on and he loved it and it feels on a bike that he is with us.

Thank you for sharing this really moving story. I hope you and your wife continue tofind strength and comfort together.

ratsbeyfus

dSIco wrote:

This is my first post on here. I have just read this thread and been moved to join up.

I thought it was just me but it turns out that lots of people ride to keep sane.

Having suffered from depression a few times in the last 7 or so years, I was advised that exercise would help keep the spirits up.

At 36, I took up kayaking with my eldest son. This turned my life around and I haven't looked back since. After a rather sobering experience on the River Dart (in spate) my ardour for whitewater paddling cooled a little. As a result, I haven't paddled in anger for over a year now. I noticed that my spirits were generally low and getting lower as the months went on, so decided after some gentle nudging from my wife that maybe I should dust off the 1990 Emmelle Dolomite XL in the shed and start riding to and from work.

At first I didn't enjoy it. The fact that Torquay is built on 7 hills means that there is no flat around here. It's either up or down. The ride to work is very nearly all downhill. Therefore, going home is a hard (for me), ride. Anyway, after a month or two, I realised that I wasn't so tired when I got home... I could speak!

I then took the plunge and decided that cycling around Iceland (one of my favourite countries) would be a good idea. One little dabble with the Cycle scheme and I now have the pleasure in riding a 2010 Felt Q620 hardtail. Wow, bikes have improved in the last 20 years!!

Me and a mate spent 2 weeks riding in Iceland in July this year. It was ace. Despite the fact that I hopelessly underprepared physically!

The riding bug has now well and truly bitten me and I love riding to and from work. I only live about 1.5 miles from work but I now ride 6.5 miles home (80% uphill) just so I can ride for longer. I even look forward to the ride home. I find myself plotting longer routes home now.

I feel so much happier because I ride. Ask my wife...

Cycling has given me back my self esteem, and taken away over half a stone...

Si

Another wonderful story... I know that riding home from work is a huge destresser for me. When I was off my bike recently for a month due to a combination of snow, Xmas, and illness I found myself getting depressed again for the first time in ages. Doctors really should be able to prescribe free bikes on the NHS.