I've promised not to bike to work this winter...

[Stephenite]

The girlfriend is pregnant and due early february.

I've 'kindly requested' she doesnt climb up on chairs, not to get the tube late at night, to slow down a bit at work, not to lift anything uncomfortably heavy, and insisted she weasr spikes on her shoes when it's minus brass monkeys and there's been no recent snowfall.

All this because i care about her and the unborn child, and wish no harm to come to bear.

Unfortunately, her concurrence comes at a price.

I'm not allowed to cycle to work in the snow and ice!

All to do with maintaining the health of the main income provider, i'm told. But it's driving me nuts.

Today, i drove home the scenic way. Along the road i'd normally cycle in winter. It was eye-wateringly beautiful. A pleasurable -6. Weeks old frost-rime on the trees. Four to six inches of snow over everything. Frost-smoke on the lakes. And the road mostly clear. Bright-ish too.

I'll have to get some photos up.

Bugger she's just come in...

Thing is.. should i cycle to work, perhaps on the odd occasion only, just to satisfy my need? Pretend to use the car? Can i handle the deceit?

Just sharing my frustation, really. I know what i'm gonna do - keep the bike in the garage from now on and keep my mouth shut.

What should i do folks?

 

[Amheirchion]

Ask her very nicely, and explain what it means to you. Anything else will just get you in deeper shoot down the line.

 

[PaulSB]

<br />The girlfriend is pregnant and due early february.

I've 'kindly requested' she doesnt climb up on chairs, not to get the tube late at night, to slow down a bit at work, not to lift anything uncomfortably heavy, and insisted she weasr spikes on her shoes when it's minus brass monkeys and there's been no recent snowfall.

Hmmmm.....you have "kindly requested" your girlfriend shows some commonsense during her pregnancy, even insisting she wears spiked shoes (what's that all about?) yet you are moaning about doing the same yourself?

Women generally have a natural instinct about pregnancy. It will be interesting to read the response from the lady members to your attitude........

 

[Cush]

Stephenite
Thats exactly the way I would have done / did do it. Play by ear and be honest and you will both come through right as you sound like sound people.

 

[szygy]

If I were you I would imagine myself having either 1) broken bones and missing your childs birth, or 2) being incapable of looking after yourself and asking you wife to look after you and the newborn.
The two best options to me would seem to either get a turbo (boring and no scenery) or get some studded tyres and go out for occasional rides.
Also be aware she might be worrried about the 'bike widow' syndrome if you really love cycling.

Alternatively you try blackmail and say you fancy taking up free climbing or cave diving due to lack of cycling induced excitement.

 

[BlackPanther]

It's too late now, but next time you make a promise, you need to cross your fingers behind your back. That way, when you break your promise, you'll know that you didn't actually do anything wrong. It's worked for me with the Missus for 15 years.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

keep it honest. don't lie.

my compromise is I ride all the way in a couple of days a week in daylight but come home on the train in the dark (she worries herself sick, acknowledges it is irrational, but after 25 years of marriage what am I gonna do?) the rest of the time I go in and out by train and just ride a folder to from the station to from the office.

only exception was when the snow got so bad Southern Railway gave up running trains on our line so I did it both ways by mtb.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Is driving in these situations really safer?

And does it have to be all winter? What about just reserving it for the "bad days"...

 

[Dayvo]

Steve!

It takes me just under an hour to walk 5/6 km to work. Your job is a bit further afield.

I'm happy NOT to cycle when it's this cold (-16) and snowy/icy.

If I were you, I'd drive with a clear conscience, and we'll get some miles in in the spring (if it ever comes!).

 

[summerdays]

I think you should stick to it... but perhaps you could re-negotiate the deal a little so that you could take occasional trips on days when the conditions are better than normal. And find out if she has stood on any chairs.... I have to admit to doing that occasionally whilst pregnant. Mind you I remember buying my eldest child a scooter when I was 8 and a half months pregnant, I wanted to know what they were like so I borrowed it in an alleyway but got caught by a friend doing so. I was worried that if I had slipped and fallen off, explaining that one at the hospital wouldn't have looked that good.

 

[Vikeonabike]

My Mrs made me et rid of my motorbike because it was too dangerous......yet she lets me cycle to work, which is probably more dangerous (and ride a motorbike at work) Feminin logic?

 

[BentMikey]

My Mrs made me et rid of my motorbike because it was too dangerous......yet she lets me cycle to work, which is probably more dangerous (and ride a motorbike at work) Feminin logic?

Wrong way around - per mile, riding motorbikes is roughly 3.5 times more likely to get you killed than on a bike.

As for the OP, you could tell her that not being a regular cyclist is going to drop your life expectancy by up to 2 years and ask if she can live with herself over that. Buy some spiked tyres, or promise not to ride when there's risk of ice about.

 

[Origamist]

If this was me, I'd sulk something rotten, but that's not constructive advice.

I'd talk it through with your better half - explain how much it means to you, how you'd be selective about the days you'd cycle, maybe ice tyres if you don't already use them etc. If this strategy failed, I'd buy a set of rollers and tell the wife that the cot will have to wait

 

[mgarl10024]

not being a regular cyclist is going to drop your life expectancy by up to 2 years

She's not banning him for life, just during the worst of the weather.

 

[yello]

What should i do folks?

Imo, nothing. You've made the agreement now. Besides, I believe that your girlfriend's happiness is more important, given her condition, than yours at this point in time. Get a turbo trainer!