How has cycling indirectly changed something in your life ?

[The Ouzo]

19 years ago today I congregated in the basement of Pick n Pay Steeldale with a few thousand fellow cyclists as we waited to start what was then called the Pick n Pay Hyper to Hyper. 100km of flat fast tarred road that would see us finish at the Pick n Pay in Vanderbijl Park.

My family and my cycling buddies family would meet us there and we would picnic on the side of teh Vaal for the rest of the day.

 

Little did I know that on this day 19 years ago, next to the Vaal River,  I would meet the woman who would 2 years later become my wife.

 

My subconscious must have known as racetec says I did a 2h50m, I must have been in a hurry.

[JJDT]

I used to be a runner...but an injury put an end to that. For a year after seeing specialists, physio's etc. I decided to call it a day on my running. Seeing that I was always active I deceided to buy two mountain bikes (dual suspensions) one for my wife and the other for myself. Bought it at the then Hyperama (Checkers Hyper now) and just cycled every now and then.

August 2002 one of my collegues said I must do a race with him, I think it was race for Victory or something but it started somewhere in the South of JHB.

2003 did the Hyper to Hyper flat one, also started a Steeledale but the finish was at the old Vaal Technikon. Decided after the race that I will do the 94.7 race and bought some slicks for the MTB and finished the race. Two years later bought my first Road Bike.

I would basically only ride during the summer months and only do the 94.7.

 

2010 I was introduced to Mountain Biking, seeing that the MTB of my wife was still at home I decided to use it. I nearly died because never in my mind had I thought that it could get really difficult at tech sections and with a bike that weighs nearly a ton did not make it easier. Bought a 2nd hand bike which in hindsight I think I paid way to much because my knowledge was basically not existant.

 

In this last 10 years since my first day of riding a MTB trail, I discoverred BikeHub, my knowledge of bikes and components has improved very much, technical know how - still learning everyday something new.

 

I can not see my life now without bikes.

[Shebeen]

there is less money in my wallet available for beer and hookers..

 

or is that direct change?

[MTBeer]

there is less money in my wallet available for beer and hookers..

 

or is that direct change?

hookers don't usually give change

[No Hare]

what can I say

 

[intern]

there is less money in my wallet available for beer and hookers..

 

or is that direct change?

Amateur hour. Everyone knows for a good time it's hookers and blow.

[intern]

Cycling's been part of my life off and on since I was 13. As a schoolkid, it enormously broadened my horizons as we are from the wrong side of the railway tracks and were it not for the bike, would never have ventured past those tracks.

Then it's also rescued me from too much jolling, and periodically continues to do that. Made a ton of mates through bikes, too. And that's nice isn't it.

[mazambaan]

Cycling has eaten quite a lot of my time and money that I will never get back, and continues to do so.  But I have met some really great people I now count as friends.

 

Lots and lots of sweat and pain for very little downhill though.

[IceCreamMan]

Used to cycle to school and back, and jol around the east rand until at age 16 I bought my first motorbike. Fast forward 32 years and after swimming for a bit I decided to do a one off Olympic triathlon being the Germiston 5150 in 2013 bought the bike on Sept 3rd with event being Nov 3rd. Bought a second hand el cheapo with the purpose of doing one tri and selling it.

 

Well, that turned out well... fast forward 7 years more or less. Changed my life in gotten me off the couch, its easy on the joints but harsh on the wallet. Money well spent on health though. Now having done Audax events and multiple ironman events and being a committee member of local cycling club, cycling has given me a sense of belief in myself. Difficult to describe.

Edited January 22, 2020 by IceCreamMan

[Stoffel76]

I dated a girl once for a few months until she decided some other guy was a better option...

 

A week later her housemate gave me a call, "You cycle, don't you? Can you help me fix my bike?"

 

So I went round and fixed her bike... and the rest is history, as they say!  We'll be celebrating our 13th anniversary this year. 

 

(The funny thing is she literally only ever rode the bike twice after i fixed it. I eventually gave the bike away last year after i was tired of it cluttering up my garage!  )  

[BaGearA]

hookers don't usually give change

   

[Blokman]

I dated a girl once for a few months until she decided some other guy was a better option...

 

A week later her housemate gave me a call, "You cycle, don't you? Can you help me fix my bike?"

 

So I went round and fixed her bike... and the rest is history, as they say!  We'll be celebrating our 13th anniversary this year. 

 

(The funny thing is she literally only ever rode the bike twice after i fixed it. I eventually gave the bike away last year after i was tired of it cluttering up my garage!  )  

It's not about the bike.

[Larry King]

ya it made my wallet lighter....

[BenReaper]

Not sure if my experiences will count as directly or indirectly, but what the hell.

 

Baught my first propper mtb in December 2013, joined Bikehub shortly after. I was working as an installer at a company connected to the construction industry at the time.

 

In the following year I would spend a lot of time at my local bikeshop and on the internet trying to learn as much as I could about bicycles and building up a few, including playing with single speeds.

 

One day in August 2015 I got a call from my LBS asking that I came round as soon as I had a chance. I was offered a job as mechanic and salesman and I could walk over for the same salary, I grabbed the opportunity with open arms.

 

I enjoyed this job alot and I learned a boatload of stuff about different bikes and related products and I worked with a great bunch of people. But after 2 and a half years I realized I wasn't going anywhere fast in this trade and I decided to look for something else.

 

Worked in the steel construction industry for 9 months. My boss was a douche and the conditions were shite so I decided to get the hell out of Dodge.

 

Stuck my pride in my pocket and went to ask my old boss of 11years (before the bikeshop) for my work back. Best move ever.

Was offered a higher position as head of technical and sales for our residential department. Only downside is now I don't have so much time for cycling anymore with all of my work responsibilities.