I am a cycleholic

Hello!  My name is Lee and I am a cycleholic.  It’s been less then 12 hours since my last bike ride.  This addiction to cycling started about eight years ago when I started training for my first triathlon and it has grown every year since then.

I have a pair of socks that say I heart bike porn.   When I bought my new bike about 4 years ago, I spent hours salivating over various models.  I would only buy a brand that was ridden in the Tour de France.  I went to site after site drooling over the beauty of the bikes and discussed gearing rations like they were chest sizes.  I read Bicycle Magazine for the pictures.   I can’t say the word Pinarello without drifting into some cycling fantasy world in my mind.

Sherry is aware of this addiction and her response ranges from ignoring me to being a codependent.  Once, as we were driving, we went past a beautiful blond all kitted out and cruising along for her ride.  As we passed, I found myself staring.  After we passed, I noticed that Sherry noticed me staring and as she looked at me with a frown she simply said - “you were looking at her bike weren’t you?”  If she catches me humped over the laptop late at night she just assumes I looking at the newest bike models hitting the streets.

When I first starting riding, anything pair of bike shorts and jersey would do.  Then they had to be somewhat coordinated.  Now, I only ride in full kits.  This is easy for me since I own so many.  I currently own matching kits for Fitness Journal, ESP Fitness Training (Coach Tim’s company), Team Revolution, 53x11 Coffee and Mont Ventoux.  And there are about a dozen other kits I would love to have but I am too busy spending money on the bikes to buy any more.

I have 4 bikes and each serves a different purpose.  I have my road bike, the single speed, my old road bike that is mostly used on the trainer, and my mountain bike.  I “need” at least two more.  I need a true cross bike and a time trial bike.  Why?  Because that’s just the way a cycleholic thinks.  What if I get invited to a team time trial event.  I can’t show up with a road bike.  Not even one with clip on aero bars.  In our minds, you can never have too many bikes.

You would think that being out on the bike with friends would be enough of a fix but not for the cycleholic.  While I am riding along with friends I always make sure the conversation stays mostly on cycling.  Yes!  I have the strong need to talk about cycling while cycling.  When I am riding solo I can hear the words of Phil and Paul providing commentary about my ride.

I will get up at up at 3:30 am to watch the Tour de France.  You heard me!  I gladly get up in the wee hours of the morning to watch cycling as it is being taped on the DVR.  Why?  Once again, it’s what us cycleholics do.  Why wait until later in the morning to watch the taped version when you can sit in your dark TV room and watch it live.  Of course, I will watch it again later in the morning.  And then again that night before I go to bed early so I can get up at 3:30 the next day.

As my cycling addiction grew stronger I began to wonder if there is a program out there that might help people like me.  I finally decided ef-it!!!  I am proud of my cycleholic nature and wouldn’t want it any other way.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to put on my socks and go say good morning to my bikes.

Ciao!