'Is that safe?'

[wafflycat]

Withering glances become easier with age. As I'm in the 'middle-aged matron of the parish' age group, I have mine down to a tee.

 

[Globalti]

Interesting discussion. Many years ago I took a GF rock bouldering for the first time in her life. She told me afterwards that she had found it quite difficult at first stretching and reaching for the holds because she had spent all her life being modest and keeping her legs together. I think assertive body language was something she'd never done.

Or maybe the fact that I was letching at her in her shorts had something to do with it!

 

[theclaud]

I believe you, thousands wouldn't.

Anyway, I'd say withering prose is far harder, look at how many do it badly here or just resort to plain old insults.

Just don't ask Crankarm. Anyway, if I'm in Norfolk, I'm going to call in at Waffly's for a lesson in The Withering Look. Ideally I'd like the sort that leaves errant motorists weeping into their Special K for a week.

 

[HelenD123]

I had some bemused looks when I went touring on my own. As a woman it's obviously not safe for me to be out on my own.

 

[Arch]

Yes I was a little surprised but I suppose they meant well. The husband, on the other hand, was miffed that nobody texted him to see how he was...! I managed to convince him that he was implicitly included in the texts that I received!!

I think, if I was your husband, I'd be miffed at the implication that I was incapable of looking after you and seeing that you were ok myself. I wouldn't dream of texting a female friend who was with her partner and asking if she was ok, it would imply I didn't trust him....

We need some guy input: do mothers and friends worry about guys going out cycling alone?

 

[Spinney]

When I'm touring alone, my Mum likes me to ring her each evening, which I guess is sensible. If only she could get to grips with texting I could just text her quickly.

You can send a text to a land line...
(but she might find the computer voice that reads your text a little off-putting!)

 

[postman]

"If you get injured while out cycling don't tell them i'm your next of kin"

Thats the wife.

Don't think she likes my cycling attire.Or it could be the 'spider' legs.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Withering glances become easier with age. As I'm in the 'middle-aged matron of the parish' age group, I have mine down to a tee.

My mum was a junior school teacher for years - legend had it she could stun a child at 40 paces using a withering look.

 

[wafflycat]

As a mum, yes, I worry, even though the offspring is adult. I have learned to control the cottonwool-wrapping tendencies though. When he was cycling competitvely I did not relax from the second he left HQ until he was back at HQ. The first time he cycled to and from school unaccompanied by either his dad or I, I was a nervous wreck. But these things have to be done and coped with.

Whenever out cycling alone, be it yours truly or MrWC, we let each other know our route, in case of emergency. That's all. It means that whoever is out cycling, if some emergency happens, we can call for assistance if required and the one coming out knows where we'll be. It's more of a precaution rather than a desparate worry though.

 

[marinyork]

We need some guy input: do mothers and friends worry about guys going out cycling alone?

I used to have a gf that worried a great deal about it. I'd get a "cycle safely" before every and often during rides (I ride nearly exclusively alone). I think it was caring and actually a quite nice and funny way of saying it.

My mother doesn't think cycling in general is dangerous although thinks night time riding (which I do a lot of) is. I have had friends worry about cycling (a short urban distance) back at say 10pm. Normally drowned out by surprise that I'd actually do it - rather than pay £4 to stand outside in the cold and get a bus instead (and all the risks associated with that).

 

[ChrisKH]

My mum was a junior school teacher for years - legend had it she could stun a child at 40 paces using a withering look.

I have to say some of my kids teachers are dead scary, especially one and she's definitely under 30 years old. It must come with the territory.

 

[Theseus]

I think, if I was your husband, I'd be miffed at the implication that I was incapable of looking after you and seeing that you were ok myself. I wouldn't dream of texting a female friend who was with her partner and asking if she was ok, it would imply I didn't trust him....

This is one thing that miffs me. I have come close to chucking MrsT's mobile in the nearest landfill with it's continuous warbling for attention while we have been on holiday.

We need some guy input: do mothers and friends worry about guys going out cycling alone?

Guys tend not to know what others are thinking. I can't say I ask myself what someone else will think about what I am going to do before doing it.

 

[Arch]

You can send a text to a land line...
(but she might find the computer voice that reads your text a little off-putting!)

That would utterly freak her out....

It would be quicker to just call, than deal with the aftermath...

 

[Arch]

Guys tend not to know what others are thinking. I can't say I ask myself what someone else will think about what I am going to do before doing it.

Well, no, neither do I that's the point, it never occurred to me that anyone other than my Mum (I've got used to her worrying in the course of 40 years) would think going out alone wasn't safe...

 

[Crackle]

No one worries about my cycling in our house, I've always done it so it is accepted. I think I had one, "you have to be careful on these roads, people tear along them" that was when I lived in the Highlands cycling on some of the safest roads I'd ever been on.

Conversely I don't worry about Mrs Crackle, though she doesn't cycle much now. I never used to bother about the kids in Scotland, though here I want them to do a proficiency course before I let them truly loose, both are very sensible though.