What's the best way to tell your family that you're ultralight?
12-02-15, 10:28 AM
#1
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What's the best way to tell your family that you're ultralight?
Just a bit of humor on a dreary Wednesday... I love the four simultaneous UL threads going on right now.
12-02-15, 11:27 AM
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Probably best to at least wait till after the holidays, I don't know about your family, but mine would be devastated, particularly my father. The thought that his son couldn't carry just those few extra pounds would be extremely emasculating for him.
12-02-15, 11:31 AM
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A typical ULA meeting (Ultra Light Anonymous)
"Hi everyone,
I'm Max and I've been Ultra Light now for 6 months"
Everyone in the room in unison......"Hi Max"
"Hi everyone,
I'm Max and I've been Ultra Light now for 6 months"
Everyone in the room in unison......"Hi Max"
12-02-15, 11:41 AM
#5
Prefers Cicero
My mom would probably have disowned me, until I explained that I wasn't talking about gliding. She never could abide people gliding. Said it wasn't natural.
Last edited by cooker; 12-02-15 at 11:57 AM.
12-02-15, 11:42 AM
#6
Drop subtle hints before hitting them with the big announcement. Then when you come-out they'll say "duh, we already new that!"
12-02-15, 11:43 AM
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Just don't tell them that you're married to ultralight.
12-02-15, 11:54 AM
#8
aka Timi
Don't worry, It's just a phase you're going through...
Last edited by imi; 12-02-15 at 12:08 PM.
12-02-15, 12:07 PM
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It would be easy to tell them I'm ultralight, they've come to terms with the fact that not everyone likes the traditional. But sometimes I go ultralight, sometimes I'm loaded. How do I tell them I swing both ways?
12-02-15, 12:24 PM
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Someone once accused me of being ultralight in the loafers. I stomped on his foot to prove him wrong. 
12-02-15, 12:30 PM
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Ha! now that's funny!
When you stop showering for 2 weeks at a time, when they see all you have in your kitchen is Ramen, and they see only 2 changes of clothes in your closet, they will figure it out. No reason to tell them.
May the lightness be upon you, and your family.
When you stop showering for 2 weeks at a time, when they see all you have in your kitchen is Ramen, and they see only 2 changes of clothes in your closet, they will figure it out. No reason to tell them.
May the lightness be upon you, and your family.
12-02-15, 02:01 PM
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Believe me they alway's knew.... 
But seriously with all of the UL touring threads how about a (BF) subforum? Maybe not necessary but I think it might be kind of cool. I've learned a lot from you guys and am enjoying the discussion.
But seriously with all of the UL touring threads how about a (BF) subforum? Maybe not necessary but I think it might be kind of cool. I've learned a lot from you guys and am enjoying the discussion.
12-03-15, 12:36 AM
#16
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maybe we need a secondary thread for the families "how to run an ultralight intervention"
or perhaps "traditional procedures for an ultralight exorcism".
we could also discuss whether "ultralightness" is a disease requiring a cure complete
with jerry lewis telethons, or is it a genetic predisposition. do ULBR's need and/or
deserve "safe spaces" in which to practice their particular form of devil worship...
or perhaps "traditional procedures for an ultralight exorcism".
we could also discuss whether "ultralightness" is a disease requiring a cure complete
with jerry lewis telethons, or is it a genetic predisposition. do ULBR's need and/or
deserve "safe spaces" in which to practice their particular form of devil worship...
12-03-15, 05:13 AM
#18
Senior Member
wow wow wow...! WOW! WTH!? Stop it right there! The amount of misinformation in this thread is staggering and frankly a bit hurtfult towards all the ultralighters out there.
People are born to be ultralighters! They don't choose to go ultralight! It's not some nature vs nurture thing, it's in the genes! You can't raise a person to be an ultralighter, just as you can't raise someone to be a heavily loaded tourer! There are a lot families with ultralight parents, where the kids end up with LHT's and four panniers and vice versa.
Some realize later than others after doing full loaded for a while, but once they realize they're ultralight there's no going back! And having seen it up close, it can rip a touring gear set apart when the person who realizes he/she is ultralight and decides to embrace his/her new lifestyle. And no one should be judged about that because they're just doing what's right for them.
Therapy my a$$! That's as ridiculous as trying to turn a fatbiker into a roadie! Pffft!
too far? Maybe a little bit too far... But someone had to do it...!
People are born to be ultralighters! They don't choose to go ultralight! It's not some nature vs nurture thing, it's in the genes! You can't raise a person to be an ultralighter, just as you can't raise someone to be a heavily loaded tourer! There are a lot families with ultralight parents, where the kids end up with LHT's and four panniers and vice versa.
Some realize later than others after doing full loaded for a while, but once they realize they're ultralight there's no going back! And having seen it up close, it can rip a touring gear set apart when the person who realizes he/she is ultralight and decides to embrace his/her new lifestyle. And no one should be judged about that because they're just doing what's right for them.
Therapy my a$$! That's as ridiculous as trying to turn a fatbiker into a roadie! Pffft!
too far? Maybe a little bit too far... But someone had to do it...!
12-03-15, 07:24 AM
#20
Senior Member
no more sleeping in bivy sacks, no more eating uncooked ramen noodles, no more cutting holes
in their underwear to save weight.
do your part! send your tax-deductible contribution today (*) and help save these poor saps from
a lifetime of misery!
call now..............1-800-FAT-BIKE, operators are standing by!
(*) 5% of all donations go to overhead and research, with the remainder funding my
"research" expeditions in bali.
12-03-15, 07:25 AM
#21
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My daughter came out ultralight and I was crushed . . .
. . . Quite literally I was crushed as she loaded all the heavy stuff on my bike . . . it tipped over and I was crushed.
. . . Quite literally I was crushed as she loaded all the heavy stuff on my bike . . . it tipped over and I was crushed.
12-03-15, 08:08 AM
#22
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I'm an equal opportunity cyclist... (fundamentalism isn't good for the soul, although it is good for simplifying certain aspects of gear...)
440 pounds (probably more like 480!) rolling weight... (daddy + bike + girls + gear)
Yuba Mundo by Mike, on Flickr
After the T-storm by Mike, on Flickr
Less:
QBP glamour shot by Mike, on Flickr
(my Pugs is the white one, left of center)
IMG_4989 by Mike, on Flickr
IMG_5092 by Mike, on Flickr
fargo at GMNF gate by Mike, on Flickr
Bike lost some weight, experimenting with panniers (hate them on gravel and rough stuff...)
IMG_4726 by Mike, on Flickr
Ahh, been awhile since I traveled like this, but I have my system dialed now with a frame bag on the IF:
IMG_9474a by Mike, on Flickr
440 pounds (probably more like 480!) rolling weight... (daddy + bike + girls + gear)
Yuba Mundo by Mike, on FlickrAfter the T-storm by Mike, on FlickrLess:
QBP glamour shot by Mike, on Flickr(my Pugs is the white one, left of center)
IMG_4989 by Mike, on FlickrIMG_5092 by Mike, on Flickrfargo at GMNF gate by Mike, on FlickrBike lost some weight, experimenting with panniers (hate them on gravel and rough stuff...)
IMG_4726 by Mike, on FlickrAhh, been awhile since I traveled like this, but I have my system dialed now with a frame bag on the IF:
IMG_9474a by Mike, on Flickr
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
Last edited by bmike; 12-03-15 at 08:14 AM.
12-03-15, 08:31 AM
#24
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The extra snugglies the girls brought, bathing suits, card game, along with my camp chair put me over the edge on that trip with my girls.
And I brought my BIG Ti pot... and large fuel canister.
I know. I know.
You can revoke my UL card...
Oh, and I love this thing, bought for camping with the girls / family, but it will make it into my quiver:
Untitled by Mike, on Flickr
(pic from a hike in camp trip with my girls and one of their friends)
Room for 4 at under 7 pounds. Yeah, thats heavy... but its mostly in the bug net - I'm scheming on how to lighten that up.
(2lb 5oz for the circus tent and pole, another 2lb 8oz or so for the bug net interior)
Its going with me on my next winter / shoulder season trip (no bug net, just the Mid and pole...).
Solo I can pull the bike in and I can sleep in luxury. With friends I can share, or have a camp spot out of the weather.
And I brought my BIG Ti pot... and large fuel canister.
I know. I know.
You can revoke my UL card...
Oh, and I love this thing, bought for camping with the girls / family, but it will make it into my quiver:
Untitled by Mike, on Flickr(pic from a hike in camp trip with my girls and one of their friends)
Room for 4 at under 7 pounds. Yeah, thats heavy... but its mostly in the bug net - I'm scheming on how to lighten that up.
(2lb 5oz for the circus tent and pole, another 2lb 8oz or so for the bug net interior)
Its going with me on my next winter / shoulder season trip (no bug net, just the Mid and pole...).
Solo I can pull the bike in and I can sleep in luxury. With friends I can share, or have a camp spot out of the weather.
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
Last edited by bmike; 12-03-15 at 08:35 AM.
12-03-15, 09:05 AM
#25
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The extra snugglies the girls brought, bathing suits, card game, along with my camp chair put me over the edge on that trip with my girls.
And I brought my BIG Ti pot... and large fuel canister.
I know. I know.
You can revoke my UL card...
Oh, and I love this thing, bought for camping with the girls / family, but it will make it into my quiver:
Untitled by Mike, on Flickr
(pic from a hike in camp trip with my girls and one of their friends)
Room for 4 at under 7 pounds. Yeah, thats heavy... but its mostly in the bug net - I'm scheming on how to lighten that up.
(2lb 5oz for the circus tent and pole, another 2lb 8oz or so for the bug net interior)
Its going with me on my next winter / shoulder season trip (no bug net, just the Mid and pole...).
Solo I can pull the bike in and I can sleep in luxury. With friends I can share, or have a camp spot out of the weather.
And I brought my BIG Ti pot... and large fuel canister.
I know. I know.
You can revoke my UL card...
Oh, and I love this thing, bought for camping with the girls / family, but it will make it into my quiver:
Untitled by Mike, on Flickr(pic from a hike in camp trip with my girls and one of their friends)
Room for 4 at under 7 pounds. Yeah, thats heavy... but its mostly in the bug net - I'm scheming on how to lighten that up.
(2lb 5oz for the circus tent and pole, another 2lb 8oz or so for the bug net interior)
Its going with me on my next winter / shoulder season trip (no bug net, just the Mid and pole...).
Solo I can pull the bike in and I can sleep in luxury. With friends I can share, or have a camp spot out of the weather.
My suggestion? Have someone make you a 1/2 bugnet. Then you have an open "garage" for gear, cooking, and the bike plus a bugnet interior for you to sleep in. If it sleeps four, then the half-bugnet should sleep two!