It is Father's Day today so Lucy, my wife, kindly offered to write the Propello weekly blog this week so that I can take the opportunity to get up at 5am and go and do some hill repeats up Porlock Hill. Actually given the training week that I have just had, being my last full training block before La Marmotte, I am having a lie in and simply thinking about cycling. So here goes........
There’s been a phenomenal growth in the popularity of cycling over the past decade - we’ve all watched Bradley and Chris, we’ve urged on Cav, and when we wake up in the morning we are now faced with our very own version struggling into his lycra ready for a session with his bike. Forget golf weekends, it’s now all about cycle challenges, or ‘Sportives’, from one set of kit to another - men do love dressing up.
So what are the first signs that your partner is becoming one of the Cycling Obsessed?
So now that you realise you have officially lost him to cycling, what can you do about it?
Nothing. Zero. You are living with one of the cycling obsessed, you will have to adapt to survive...
If you can’t beat them join them - women’s cycling is now one of the fastest growing areas in the sport. Cycling is undoubtedly a fantastic way to get fit, and with the use of ‘turbo trainers’ you don’t even need to cycle on the roads, which is a good option if you are worried about traffic. Cycling is also better for your joints than running, and is also hugely sociable.
Another positive - cycling gets your partner out of the house (which can only be a good thing most of the time), it also gives you tons of birthday, Fathers’ Day and Christmas present ideas.
However, the main advantage of living with a cycling nut, must be that after all this time spent on his bike, he is more fit and toned, in fact, he’s starting to look a bit like he did when you first met - although maybe a little bit more ridiculous at times. (I forgot to mention teenagers particularly object to the sight of a Dad in lycra.)
I am ‘fortunate’ enough to be married to one of these cycling obsessives - he even took it one step further, and became a cycling coach, turning his obsession into a business.
Yes, I still object to tripping over all the paraphernalia, stock piling the fridge with enough kale, mackerel and avocado to feed the entire village, and washing his sweaty kit, but at least he’s looking healthy and happy, and I’m glad he’s decided he’s too young to play golf all the time. I’m actually guilty of designing more lycra jersey outfits for him to wear, and, dare I say it, I even get my bike out occasionally, although no clip in shoes or ‘Queen of the Mountains’...yet...