Commuting - Gettin' tired of being called "Crazy" for bicycle commuting

most folks, sadly, are *******.

most folks, sadly, are *******.

Abso-tively right...

Upon learning that I was a cyclist, the wife of a friend invited me to her spinning class. When I asked her why I would benefit from spinning instead of riding my bicycle, she said that I could come just during those times when it was too cold or rainy to ride outside.

She obviously hangs around with wimps... cold and rain keep me off of my bike?? That is just a silly concept!

Most people use weather as an excuse to avoid exercise... or any activity for that matter.

(Although I have to admit... I was tempted to show up at the spinning class on my bike!) :D

Perhaps she was just being friendly.

Anyhow, a good spinning class would kick pretty much anyone's rear. They can be a very good way to exercise. Boring as hell but tiring. That is unless you sit behind an attractive member of the opposite sex wearing lycra.

Right now I do not have the correct equipment for snow riding. Thus I am a wussie. Now if I can ever decide what I want to build so that I can commute in snow............

I am ambivalent about politics at best but where I work I have a number of co-workers who are vocal conservative types. Anyway one day one of these guys takes to calling me an eco-nazi/treehugger (joking in his mind) because I ride a bike year round. He did this in front of a group of people. Just to be clear, I ride because I like to and need the exercise. All of the "environmental stuff" if true is just icing on the cake. I told him that I was being patriotic in the best way that I knew how, by not sending additional oil $$ to countries that sponsor terrorism and are trying to kill our military folks. I then asked him how many mpg he was getting on his new supercharged Bentley?;) (i.e. questioning his patriotism) Boy did he go nuts!! I laughed and went back to my office. Some days it's not even sporting!:D

Exercise and Energy Conservation are both important reasons why I commute. What's disturbing to me is that when push comes to shove there is often all too little difference in the lifestyles of those who proclaim to care about the environment and those that don't.

Will Steager is an arctic explorer who has now made fighting Global Warming his life's mission. I heard him speak about a year and a half ago. After his presentation I walked out into the parking lot and was not surprised to find it filled with the same mix of vehicles you'd see just about anyplace else. A lot of people "care", a lot fewer change.

There are definitely more year round commuters here in San Diego but I work in an office of about 200 employees and I'm the only one who commutes regularly. People think I'm a little looney and I sometimes get some weird looks from people as I walk in wearing my lycra cycling outfit with my road bike.

Most are positive though and I've had a few people say how they admire me for riding my bike to work and I do appreciate those comments.

Loved brunop's answer! And agree, but will suggest adding "lazy" before *******...

I started riding to work here and there 2.5 years ago when I started my current job. When school started this fall, I started riding all the time due to the 35 bridge collapse. It completely changed traffic on my end of town to where it takes me the same ammount of time to bike in as it does to drive (pretty close anyway...). And I have not been able to compare it in bad weather yet.

I just kept going with it through fall and now in winter. I am trying to even out the cost of the items I buy to keep going vs. driving. I was ahead before Nokian tires. I have about 4 weeks left before the break even on those. Winter boots or heated inserts won't help that :D.

I also do it for health (20 lbs so far), the environment, saving money, and cause I like that people think I am nuts. They respect that I do it, but they think I am nuts.

This morning was the first one that my students saw me come in to unlock the door, and I could tell there was that kind of weird vibe from them seeing me dressed up. Whatever... LOL

I consider myself lucky because I have my own office to change in, and can put my bike in our lab area (to drip off in) or an extra office and don't have to worry about it.

Bad weather is a lot different in Georgia than it is here, I think. I will ride in cold, rain, and snow, but will not ride on ice. All of the bike-lanes and road shoulders around here have random and sometimes GIANT sheets of black ice on them until all of the snow and ice melts off of the road. It is just too easy to go down FAST on that stuff...I'm just not coordinated enough to try that sort of thing with cars zooming by at 40+ mph 2 ft away...

I also wimp out when it drops below about 5 degrees F, or when the 30-60 mph winds are coming down off of the mountains and it is below 25 degrees or so. Brrr.

As for spin class? I use it as part of my off-season cross-training, and have known some college race team, and some of the 30+ year old ex-racer types to come in there all cocky, and end up almost puking by the end of an intense class. That happens to a lot of runners and rowers that are in great shape when they show up the first few times too. Spin class can be as hard as you want it to be, especially if you are in an interval class. It can be boring, sometimes, but it does not have to be all of the time. There is a social and competitive aspect to it that is very similar to group outdoor rides. Only there is very loud music, and an instructor yelling at you with different "moves" all the time.

Right now I do not have the correct equipment for snow riding. Thus I am a wussie.

Now, now... you know what kind of person that I'm talking about. Those people who only go outside if it's between 65F and 75F and sunny.

It's easy for me to call people wimps for not riding in foul weather... but hell's bells... I live in Georgia! A quarter inch of snow paralyzes us. :D

If I had to ride in 10F and slushy white stuff, I may be forced to reevaluate my definition of wimp!

Your not the only one. I go to college and kids think its weird!!! Everyone acts all nice to me and I usually spark up good conversation. I am pretty good with talking to girls but once they saw me pull in on my bike they acted differently of me. They talked to me about it and I explained that I enjoy it and its my way of getting a good cardio wrokout. I also explained that I do have a car I just don't use it for transportation to work or school but for other uses and they still act as if I am not human. They all complain about gas prices also, but complain about parking more. I wake up later than they do I leave later than they do and in the morning I'm way more energetic than anyone else. I'll commute for a very long time regardless of how people treat me. Just remember while others are wasting money on gas and insurance I have already saved up 2G's while they have next to nothing.

I work as a weight room attendant. My boss says I'm crazy and she loves lots of outdoor sports. The lady that works at the front desk use to commute for 20 years. She has helped me realize how unseen I am without lights and lots of other things but even after I was well visible at night she asked if I wanted a ride home. Of course I said no without even thinking about it. I use to hate the rain, now I don't mind it as much because I just strap on my rain gear and I get to be like a 10 year old kid again playing in the rain.

There are too many pluses for commuting as most of the people who commute think so as well. I love commuting but once I get my college degree I'll probably buy a decent car and only use it for grocery shopping really and dates. :-)

Now, now... you know what kind of person that I'm talking about. Those people who only go outside if it's between 65F and 75F and sunny.

It's easy for me to call people wimps for not riding in foul weather... but hell's bells... I live in Georgia! A quarter inch of snow paralyzes us. :D

If I had to ride in 10F and slushy white stuff, I may be forced to reevaluate my definition of wimp!



Of course. :)

Just a tad cranky from sitting in front of the tv on a trainer. It's not like we have a ton of snow. I just refuse to ride my bikes with 23mm tires in anything more than a dusting.

I think more folks need to start taking being called crazy as a compliment. :)

Commuted to work for 16 years. Usual comments and question 'why'.
By the time I retired had a half dozen others pedaling to work on a fairly regular basis.
Most folks prefer to drive to the gym so they can excercise in air conditioned comfort!

"Is it the same around the USA, or is it just here in Gooberville?"

It's like that in Dallas, too, so not just Gooberville.

My suggestion: Take up unicycle riding and commute that way. After a while, people will be telling you to do something sensible like "ride a bicycle!".

Most folks prefer to drive to the gym so they can excercise in air conditioned comfort!


I find this quite perplexing. Inside is stuffy and unbearable even with the AC cranked. Nothing beats air cooling even if it is warmer than 90F. People are lazy.

I find this quite perplexing. Inside is stuffy and unbearable even with the AC cranked. Nothing beats air cooling even if it is warmer than 90F. People are lazy.

Yeah. That's not the only thing, though. I know hardly anyone who actually enjoys commuting. They don't enjoy driving, taking the subway, taking the bus. Well... who would? But I thoroughly enjoy my commute, even if it's cold out.

Most americans are lazy so why ask if they are the same way when you know the answer?

Abso-tively right...

Upon learning that I was a cyclist, the wife of a friend invited me to her spinning class. When I asked her why I would benefit from spinning instead of riding my bicycle, she said that I could come just during those times when it was too cold or rainy to ride outside.

She obviously hangs around with wimps... cold and rain keep me off of my bike?? That is just a silly concept!

Most people use weather as an excuse to avoid exercise... or any activity for that matter.
(Although I have to admit... I was tempted to show up at the spinning class on my bike!) :D

that is so true, I can find 100 reasons not to do something, but all i need to do is find the one reason to.
My wife wanted me to get a bike trainer thing for the winter or a exercise bike, f-that I will ride in the cold and rain before I do spinning or a bike trainer.

Amen to that!! I wish my commute was longer. I have to take detours to make it a 13 mile day 7 days a week. Not terribly long but I've been commuting for 6 months and love it. When I got to WSU Vancouver campus it will be a 14 mile round trip and lots of hills :-) can't beat that. Besides a new commuter for a longer ride sounds like fun for bike shopping.

I love it when people complain about working out, for motivation I always say well I have to bike home. That usually makes them think man that sucks my cardio isn't that bad. :-) Funny thing is that I work at a gym and everyone knows I commute now and I always lift weights in there. Almost none of the co workers of mine workout in the gym. I think it gives me added respect from the members.

I have 2 guys in the gym who bike too. One of them bikes pretty much every time. The other use to bike a lot but somehow stopped for some reason. I know it has to be hard for people in my area to get motivated to bike because 8 months of the year its nonestop rain.

My family has a bad history of heart disease and my uncle died at 52 last year. His sons are now starting to do cardio and one of them is a biker and the other a runner. I really hope the biker continues through the winter but its hard to say. I'll probably suggest some gear for him and we'll see what he does.

Someone called me crazy today. I've told people before that I don't feel like paying to register my car and pay for insurance because I don't use it as I enjoy the bike so much. Today in a conversation a colleague indicated he thought I rode the bike because my wife wouldn't let me register my car...surprised I asked him why he would think this, and he replied that it was because nobody sane would have ridden their bike 30 mi. RT in a snowstorm at 12degF in the dark!

I told him I actually like it, and he called me nuts. I like that, too.

Yesterday, I stopped by my friend's house after work. His 16 year old daughter said, "He bicycles while wearing a necktie? Is he crazy?!"

This now 16 year old girl USED to ride her bike everywhere until she was 13. Then one day, she passed by a high school and somebody said to her sarcastically, "Nice helmet". She refused to wear here helmet again and her mother refused to let her bike without a helmet. Net result; she hasn't ridden a bike since.


You know I started commuting when I was 19, still am but that was 6 months ago. Anywho I wore a helmet only when on long rides in the summer and never wore it when I went to work or started school. Man I was grilled, a lady who works at the front desk, 2 older commuters I talked to and every other biker I talked to said WEAR A HELMET!!! Well I finally decided to wear a helmet. I wear it every time I bike now, I don't take it to class with me though I lock it up with my cable chain :-)

I periodically reply to folks who simply deem it impossible to ride in winter: The only folks who think it's a big deal are those who haven't tried it. It seems to be pretty true as well.

The before and after looks are usually priceless.

I periodically reply to folks who simply deem it impossible to ride in winter: The only folks who think it's a big deal are those who haven't tried it. It seems to be pretty true as well.

The before and after looks are usually priceless.

+1

I just ask if they think cross country skiing is something to be amazed about..

I'm the about the only regular commuter at work and the only winter commuter. I had a friend who commuted in the winter and I was kind of amazed at his tenacity. I realized after trying really good lights, studs and layers of appropriate clothing, it isn't any big deal....my being 60 and staying fit also amazes them. Oh well...

If I go into some public government office with my bicycle helmet under my arm and gaitors on (winter), people just about jump under the tables.

Of course the government folks are scared. If you aren't driving some kind of enormous oil-sucking American vehicle with magnetic ribbons on the back then you are obviously some sort of freedom-hating terrorist.

I've tried all sorts of arguments and only three gain any traction at all:

1. I save $1.00 a mile for each mile I commute

2. I save time by combining my exercise time and my commute times

3. I'm better able to handle the stress of life and have more energy.

Biggest negative is the impression by all the news reports on bike paths of how dangerous it is to ride on the streets.

Is it just where I live, or the place I work, or do other bicycle commuters have to put up with being perceived as some kind of alien freak for bicycle commuting to work?
Face it Mike. You are a freak!

:beer:

(be glad you are.)

I've said that I use it for excercise, driving home takes 15 minutes and my cardio workout takes much longer. I get home 5-10 minutes later and get half of my cardio done that way. I'm a college student and only have a certain ammount of time to use sparingly. Being a weightlifting biking freak I have to lift and ride my bike a lot or I go nuts. I have thought of taking a cycling class at my gym with some coworkers to just show how good of shape I am in by commuting but decided not to. I could easily do that class, I think and then drive home but I just don't feel like it. I'm on winter break and I have gotten maybe 4 days where I didn't have to ride in 90 days so I think 2 days of rest are a necesity as much as possible to help my muscles recover and get ready for another 90 days of commuting constantly. As for being crazy, hell when summer time comes having the most cut up body out there will turn heads and change minds :-)

Old thread but a great thread...

I was riding home tonight and a few guys in a minivan pulled up next to me at a light and started talking...

They said "You must be freezing" to which I replied, "never" as I am almost always too warm.

Then there was "I don't have the balls for that..." :D

And then "You must be a hard core son of a ***** to be riding in this cold".

Hell... it isn't even cold out at -11 C / 12F and yesterday I was walking around wearing shorts and sneakers... cause I can.

I have not expierenced 12F while biking the coldest so far was 27F at which I didn't get cold at all but I don't have a cap underneath my helmet covering my forehead so yea it froze like crazy!! luckily it was only a 3 mile commute. I love it when its about 35-40F its not too hot or too cold and you don't even sweat a lot. This is a great thread because I'm sure every commuter has had some person ask them some crazy questions or looked at them differently. I think it shows heart and dedication. Often I"m at work and I don't do that much really I make sure people check into the gym and make sure that people obey the rules and that nobody has some weight accident. Many people ask me "aren't you bored?" No I'm taking a break. "from what?" Working out and my commute home" they reply "Oh, thats a good way to look at it"

I don't feel I do a lot of work per say at my job but I like to have a positive attitude. I work out a lot and lift a respectable ammount of weight. I like to be a positive force in my gym and help motivate people and help them to keep working out. I've created a lot of friends and helped a lot of people keep in the gym. All in all I think I am doing a good JOB.

I was thinking about why I ride 8 miles to work every day weather be damned. I was wondering do I do this so people will think "You must be a hard core son of a ***** to be riding in this cold"? No not really. Do I do this to prove to myself that I am a" hard core son of a ***** "? No. I do it because I enjoy getting out there in the cold and struggling against it. The cold is trying to make me take the subway and I am not going to let it win. So I don't really care if my coworkers think I am crazy. Maybe they are a little bit right.

Great thread! About as humorous as that "stupid comments from co-workers" thread lying around here somewhere. The "cold weather" crazy lessons were taught last year, but man, they think up some other stupid stuff...

Anyway, at work someone asked, "Are you crazy? The pollution level is really bad out there!" :eek:

My response, "So what should I do? Drive my stupid car, be sedentary, and run up the index some more? Not only would I have to deal with the lousy AQI(Air Quality Index) but also huff exhaust sitting in traffic." Now put your imagination to work and think dum-dum, dropped jaw look on my co-worker's face, "No thank you, I'll still ride the bike." :D

As a side note, the lousy AQI is something we're not accustomed to in the Twin Cities due to geography and the westerly winds keeping the AQI in check. This explains why everyone is making a big deal out of it around here. BTW, the AQI was 130, mid-moderate. I know it's worse elsewhere so don't laugh. :o

Hehe, just found this thread... every coworker i have *****es about gas, electricity... some of them discuss setting up solar panels, geothermal... all of them own cars... I am very very lucky I am a measly 2.5 miles over a bike-path bridge to work.... but still, biking in winter I get dumbfounded looks of amazement as if I'm some RoadWarrior wandering out of the wilderness doing a triathalon. Granted our current "winter" is a wuss 40 deg F no precip trek that hardly merits anything to be impressed by... but everyone is like "woah". Our metro subway is now jacking fares so I'm done with paying for crap service and the bottom line is I want to start excercising everyday, feeling self-reliant, and it's great. It's just funny everyone spouts green-isms and still lives pollution-enhanced lives. But yeah, we're the crazies. Yup.

Hehe, just found this thread... every coworker i have *****es about gas, electricity... some of them discuss setting up solar panels, geothermal... all of them own cars...

I've actually managed to put the bug in some of their ears and I think I've got a few on the road to conversion- but only after having car troubles for the last six months. We'll see if the first one pulls the trigger this weekend.

Luckily I'm not alone.. there are at least six semi-regular riders at my company, not counting myself. Nobody bats an eye unless it's the first time they've seen you.

Hell... it isn't even cold out at -11 C / 12F and yesterday I was walking around wearing shorts and sneakers... cause I can.

I love winter and all...but 12F is #@!%ing cold. :eek: I'd ride in it, but only when layered up and with thick gloves and a balaclava.

I get the same--aren't you freezing???

Yet people go skiing all the time and stay outside all day. Why not take a half hour or hour ride in the same temperatures? Plus, you work harder on a bike so you stay warmer. Geez--I wear half the clothing when I bike compared to when I ski.

I'm not sure I'd mind crazy so much I actually like going my own way whether it is with a crowd or not. Solar hot water heater, xtracycle commuter (soon to be speedy bent commuter), small cozy house, robotic lawn mower and soon to be geo heat/ac.
What I did mind was a conversation this morning that was completly odd.
Obviously not a cyclist guy: Pretty Cool out
Crazy Bicycle Commuter: Yeah makes me miss the snow back home in connecticut though. Riding in the snow was really nice.
O: How long is your ride?
CBC: Usually about 22 miles on the way in
O: So that takes you about half an hour?
CBC: (stunned silence when I realized he wasn't kidding)...... Naw for 22 miles it took me about an hour and a half this morning
O: Wow that is way too long. Have a nice day.

Yesterday at the coffee machine two guys were talking, and said " who is that dip#%it the rode the bike in this weather? I looked squarely at him and said......ME....

Wow. That would have seriously pissed me off. However, I have a fuse that is about 2mm in length.

Yesterday at the coffee machine two guys were talking, and said " who is that dip#%it the rode the bike in this weather? I looked squarely at him and said......ME....

that would make me fall over laughing :rolleyes:

I am a measly 2.5 miles over a bike-path bridge to work....

What a *****! Why don't you walk and get some real exercise!

Uh gee, maybe I don't want to get up earlier to walk to work since I already have to work a 9 hour day and consider my personal time precious? Thxkbai.

My commute is under 3 miles and if I walked to work I'd have to get up just after 4am. Then I wouldn't get home until 6:30 or so, and have to go to bed around 8:30 or 9. No thanks.

My commute is under 3 miles and if I walked to work I'd have to get up just after 4am. Then I wouldn't get home until 6:30 or so, and have to go to bed around 8:30 or 9. No thanks.

Hm.. To ride my bike I get up just after 4am and I don't get home until after 6:30 or so hmm.. Dangit I'm gonna go buy a car :D
Poor walkers I guess they are at the bottom of the commuting food chain.

My commute is under 3 miles and if I walked to work I'd have to get up just after 4am. Then I wouldn't get home until 6:30 or so, and have to go to bed around 8:30 or 9. No thanks.

Hm.. To ride my bike I get up just after 4am and I don't get home until after 6:30 or so hmm.. Dangit I'm gonna go buy a car :D
Poor walkers I guess they are at the bottom of the commuting food chain.

I have nothing against walking... but the most direct path to work is over a bridge that isn't walker friendly. The Brooklyn Bridge is a better walking bridge, but it's hell for cyclists... dodging gawking walkers aint fun. But it is more scenic, and more pleasurable to walk across... but it's also another 15 minutes of commuting I can't afford. Walking adds another hour commute, and the reason I pay ridiculous rent is to not commute for 2 hours... just not practical. If I want to "real" exercise I can do that on my own terms.

Poor walkers I guess they are at the bottom of the commuting food chain.

Nah, they're still being more thrifty and eco-friendly than us. But I'd probably still ride if my commute was only half a mile because I just love riding. :D I don't ride for exercise, that's just a nice bonus.

I'm known as a pretty hardcore guy, so it's all good ;).

When we had the first snow/slush/ice storm of the season here in Madison WI a few weeks ago (which practically shut the city down), I rode/walked home. It took 3 hours for a trip that normally takes 20 minutes. Granted, I stopped along the way twice, for coffee and soup, and also helped to push out stuck cars. When I got close to home (I could sense that hot bath I would take...), I passed a guy shovelling out his car that got stuck pulling out his driveway. He yelled out "What are you doing? It's dangerous biking in this weather!"

Sadly, I've heard of plenty of automobile fatalities already this winter due to our early freakish storms. I can't say that I've heard of any cycling fatalities.

I get called a lot of things. Being called crazy for cycling is the least of 'em.

I find it funny that people tell you you're nuts for riding in the cold. In Singapore, where we have sun all year round and fairly flat and well-kept roads, people here say you'd be nuts to ride in our heat and humidity. Haha!

Admittedly, the drivers here are not bike-friendly and there are hardly any bicycle lanes, but that's another problem.