General Cycling Discussion - the things non-cyclists say!!!

It never ceases to amaze me, the things non-riders say to you as you pass .
In winter, even though I may have a steady sweat worked up:
"You gotta be freezing!"
or the converse of that in weather like what we are having now ..."Aren't you hot?"

My personal favorite, with rain clouds in the west and me already running with sweat..."hey, you're gonna get wet!" Doh.



Let's hear em, I know you have some of your own!

Group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus:

"Getting your workout?"

Yes, and going to work, too...

(I gave 'em the thumbs-up.)

... Or when you sit at work, talking about your big plan to ride the Elephant Rock and one of your coworkers screams, "You're crazy to bike 60 miles through Douglas County!" (And then another coworker says, "But Douglas County is beautiful!")

My fave is when my landlord's wife pulls up when I'm just going out for a ride [her mother lives next door to me].

"Are you going for a ride?"

Let's see... I'm wearing funny blue shoes, tight lycra shorts, a colourful jersey with the logo of a bike shop, a helmet, half-gloves and I'm astride a bike, rolling doen the lane to the road...

No, I'm working in the garden.

"Did you ride your bike again today?"

"You CAN'T ride home! It's (starting to rain/getting dark/ too far/ insane)!"

"Can I give you a lift? Are you SURE?"

When you turn up at the office in lycra shorts and top, carrying your cycling helmet, wearing cycling shoes and holding a pannier and they say "Did you cycle in today?"

I always want to say "No I've got a lycra fetish and this is how I cope with it"

yesterday i got f-bombed out of nowhere. there was no one on the road. me & this old dumpy car - and he just yelled. it was shocking.

other than that, the most often comment i get from neighbors no matter where i've lived is either

-i used to ride a lot

-how far did you go today?

"Wow, ten kilometres, that's far!"

I like it when I ride by a group of youngsters (grade school ages) and they say "Hey nice bike mister" or "Cool bike - how much does it weigh?" or "How much does it cost?"

Kids are appreciative of cool looking bikes and are generally fascinated by an adult that rides to work or races. They haven't gotten that adult prejudice against people that are "different" built into their minds yet. - Just Wait.

I was doing some stretching in my office (toe touches) and was bent down when a co-worker passed, stopped and inquired, "What in the hell you be doing?". As if the appearance of someone exercising has become so foreign it can't even be recognized. Still bent over, I responded: "The boss is coming. I'm just assuming the position".

In the winter I ride early, with a light.
One neighbor woman asked my wife suspiciously "What's mike DOING riding around in the dark?" like I'm some kind of pervert or something.

Chewa, you stole my line!

The other day, as I'm standing in the foyer in full kit and holding my backpack and helmet, a coworker asks me, "So, did you ride your bike in today?"

I said, "I hope you don't think I dress like this to ride the bus."

Originally posted by LittleBigMan
Group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus:

"Getting your workout?"

Yes, and going to work, too...

(I gave 'em the thumbs-up.)
Dude that's a cool one, at least you gave the kids something to think about.

I would also hear girls saying you look gross?????, well maybe because I am an old gizzard on a thight fitting cycling short, but when I am cycling with my 21 one year old son I don't hear that comment, what gives????? , I only hear ohhs, and ahh with this teenagers,

The funniest thing anyone ever shouted at me from a car was... "Hey you know its illegal to peddle (pedal) ass in this town." I couldn't help but laugh along.
Coworkers and others upon hearing where I live and where I ride to usually respond somehting like... "You HAVE to ride THAT far!"
They simply cannot comprehend that I actually enjoy riding a bike... crazy.

A lady once asked me, "Can you see behind you with that little mirror?"

Carl

Oh yes, I forgot my other favorite...

"Gosh, you are really sweating!"

It's as though the concept of any physical activity that might actually lead to perspiration is totally foreign to these people.
"No really mister, I'm making those wheels turn ALL BY MYSELF..."

Last year I had this conversation with a lady I worked with:
"I passed you on the way home yesterday", she said.
"Cool", my reply.
"How fast do you go?"
"I averaged just under 26 miles per hour yesterday", I said arrogantly.
"That's why I don't ride,” she said walking away, "it's just too slow".
I just stood there with fully deflated sails.

"Why walk when I have a car?" My dad said this just on the weekend, I know its not bikes, but had I mentioned bikes I'm sure I would have got the same response with the work bike replacing walk.

Originally posted by Bikes-N-Drums
I was doing some stretching in my office (toe touches) and was bent down when a co-worker passed, stopped and inquired, "What in the hell you be doing?". As if the appearance of someone exercising has become so foreign it can't even be recognized. Still bent over, I responded: "The boss is coming. I'm just assuming the position".

:D :D :roflmao: :roflmao:

I always like the inspiring shouts from the smart-a$$ little kids in my neighborhood. "Come on! You can do it" "Pedal faster, faster!" "Can't you go any faster than that?" All of this when I am going up a huge steep hill!!!!

However, I love the little teenage boys that say, "Wow look at that chick on the cool bike!" I love that!!!!!!! I guess I don't look my age yet!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!:D

Gee that's weird, Redhead. The little wankers around here are suspiciously silent anymore. I assume it's respect, but it could be fear of the unknown. When I first started riding there would always be one or two sally forth to test me,you know how it is, a few kids trailing along behind for a few blocks giggling.They probably thought they had me Then they would see me coming back through later, headed for home with a ponytail absolutely PLASTERED with mud. That's just not something most kids can easily categorize, a grinning 32 year old mud-encrusted chick on a mud-encrusted bike.
I have to admit I do bask in it a bit when they come up and ask questions, like what the cyclocomputer does, or how you turn your headlights on.

Once a cop asked me after a decent into Hoggs Hollow... it is a fairly steep grade

"Hey how fast did you get going there.....?"

*grin*

I asked if He could give me a ticket, he said if I had a driver's licence he could...

I pulled a Sgt. Schults.... "I know no-thing! NO-THING!!"

Redhed, you're born in 73 and you're worried about looking your AGE? What is this, Dawson Creek???

Actually, a couple of times, kids have commented on my bike. Once this kid called out, Cool Bike! when I was on my mountain bike. However, I have to confess I haven't yet had too many clueless remarks from civilians. However, we have a friend whose conventional, european-born jewish parents don't really understand his passion. To this day they still say, "What kind of grown man rides a BIKE??" He says they don't say it as often anymore. He does have a car, however.

And my brother in law the couch potato, used to ride but seems to have lost interest. "Why bother?" He says of group rides. "It's just staring at someone's wheel." This from a guy whose idea of fun is spending entire weekends hanging out with his parents.

I hate Dawsons Creek!!!! :D I am almost 30!!!!!!!:eek: :eek:

The worst thing is I went to a wedding about a month ago and I saw 16, 17, 20 year old kids that I changed their diapers!!!! Then my age sunk in a bit. I don't even have my own kids yet and those kids are already having kids!!! Scary isn't it??

When I was a kid I enjoyed Speed Racer, Johnny Quest, Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo (Scooby has been around longer than those young-uns think). Does anybody remember Dr. Who? I used to watch Mash, Dr. Who, David Letterman, and the Three Stooges with my Grandpa. We also watched the Fugitive and Perry Mason together. Now I really feel old, Thanks Wabbit!!!!!!

"Are you going to the Olympics?" - Kid at Canungra, 2000.

"Can I have my photo taken with you?" Japanese tourist at the top of Springbrook, 1999 (a <1,000 metre climb).

Something totally incoherent while waving a blow-up rubber doll (I kid you not) out the window of a car - some idiot at Burleigh Heads, 2000.

Apart from that, just the usual "Get off the f---ing road!"

The guy that amuses me the most.
The sales-rep who pays a visit once a week, he always makes a beeline for me, to ask me without fail "cycle in to work this morning John", yeh sure I did , never miss i tell him every time.

It must have been kind`a cold on the bike this morning or wet or hot, never noticed it i usually reply.

He then proceeds to tell me of his own, either weekend cycle rides or that he has just purchased a spanking top of the range cycle, according to this tale he seems to change bikes more often than i change my socks.

I always look foward to this guy`s visit, it amuses me highly,
mostly because i don`t believe a word he tells me of his cycling exploits. I just go along with it to humour him.

How could anyone believe someone who must weigh at least 18 st with a huge stomach hanging over their belt and more chins than the Biejing phone directory.

Afterwards I always feel a little sympathy towards him as it is obviously wishfull thinking on his behalf.
That reminds me he will be in tomorrow :D

The funniest thing I've heard, from a couple of hitchhikers as I biked past them: "Can I get a lift".

Originally posted by yoda
The funniest thing I've heard, from a couple of hitchhikers as I biked past them: "Can I get a lift".

I've had that a couple of times in the past during "schoolies' week"

Oh I've got a few:

I taught you rode to work everyday?
I usually do, but I had to drive, have some errands to run after lunch.
Well it's nice to see you use a more mature way to get to work....



It's raining, want me to drive you?
No thanks that's fine.
You sure? I don't mind.
No really I have all the rain gear
You'll get wet.
Riding in the rain is fun!
It'll fit in my car no problem.
No it's a pain to take the thing apart and it's only 5km to my house. But I appreciate the offer.
It's on may way.
No I LIKE to ride.
I'd hate to see you get wet, are you sure?
I SAID NO DAMNIT!!!!!


Don't you get hot and sweaty?

How far was that again? Oh bullsh@@T!

Only kids and weirdos ride bikes.

Won't people think you're gay?

What if you get a flat?

Can't you get a little motor for that?


My all time favourite:
You paid how much?!!? I can get the same thing at Walmart for $100!!

Yesterday, I'm keeping to 30 km/h in a 30 km/h zone. A car comes up behind me and starts honking. I keep riding, but she swerves beside me and shouts through the open window "hey, I'm trying to pass," before she zooms by. Half a block and a couple of seconds later, she's at a stop light, and I pull up at her window. "You were speeding."

Her: "I couldn't have been speeding, I just passed you..."

One of my favorites is " so how many days did it take to ride a hundred miles?"

Originally posted by digger

My all time favourite:
You paid how much?!!? I can get the same thing at Walmart for $100!!

haha, funny you mention that, I heard it earlier today when I was showing a friend of mine my new bike :)

i rode 52 miles at a brisk pace in harsh winds yesterday. a friend came over and asked what i did today....i said 'nothing, just hung out' and my wife says "you rode 52 miles today...what do you mean you did nothing>"

I confess I have a weird fetish...to me there is nothing in the world like getting out on the open road ahead of a good storm system. The wind, the smell of the rain, the lightning. I know, I know, that's a potentially stupid way to die, but it's a rush nonetheless. In fact one of the few times I actually accepted an offer to give me a lift home was during a storm that got VERY bad. I had been doing ok until the hail started and then I was lucky enough to be near a church with a slight overhang on the front. I was thinking I could just wait it out when out of nowhere a neighbor goes flying past in her minivan.I don't know how she saw me in all that rain, but she whipped that thing around and came back. I was secretly rolling my eyes and thinking "here we go, the "don't you know it's raining?" lecture. " She didn't say that at all. Instead she just hollered "GET IN THERE IS A TORNADO."
Needless to say, the bike hit the bushes and I hit the minivan. Bet her seat was wet for a week. That was also the only time in ten years that I have come home without my bike.

Originally posted by digger

My all time favourite:
You paid how much?!!? I can get the same thing at Walmart for $100!!


LOL! Winner!!

Every time I ride to work my co-workers ask, as I walk in with my bike, "Did you ride to work to day?" I always respond with, "Na, I just felt like carrying my bike on my motorcycle, here's your sign."
Slainte:beer:

Uh, do you wear underwear underneath that?

Originally posted by velocipedio
...she swerves beside me and shouts through the open window "hey, I'm trying to pass," before she zooms by.
Reminds me of the comment I heard through an open window (which I ignored,) "Hey, you're not a CAR!"

Hey, that's what I call, "thinking on your feet!"

:D

I was doing some cyclocross with a couple of friends on Mount Royal the other day. We stopped at a water fountain near the Chalet to re-fill. A couple we had just passed ambles by; the man is explaining something to his mate:

"They shave them so that, when they crash, the injury isn't so bad." [Obviously talking about us...]

Enrico says, in casual voice, just loud enough so the couple might here: "Naw, we just like the way it looks."

Other possible lines:

"we shave so we can wear nylons. We're cyclo-crossdressers."

"It's because we like the manly feel of stubble."

Years ago I worked on grave shift, a new female co-worked noticed my shaved legs and said "Do you shave your legs because you ride a bike?"
"Actually", I replied, "Since I work grave shift, I don't get sleep with my wife much. And when I'm laying in bed, feeling alone, I just reach down and feel my shaved legs - it's the next best thing to her being right there."
She just stared at me while, with much retraint, I kept a straight face. "Oh", was the only thing she said and walked away.

Originally posted by sscyco
Years ago I worked on grave shift, a new female co-worked noticed my shaved legs and said "Do you shave your legs because you ride a bike?"
"Actually", I replied, "Since I work grave shift, I don't get sleep with my wife much. And when I'm laying in bed, feeling alone, I just reach down and feel my shaved legs - it's the next best thing to her being right there."
She just stared at me while, with much retraint, I kept a straight face. "Oh", was the only thing she said and walked away. :D :D

On my way to a ride, and wearing the jersey/shorts/shoes "do you race?"

When i forget my regular shoes, and walk around the office in my spd's "Are those orthopedic shoes?" " Those new bowling shoes?'

Parents
"You spend more on bikes than you do your truck"
"I just don't get it. Why ride 63 miles, when you can drive?"


I also get the "well my bike did not cost that much".

One of my favorites is, "Are you still riding your bike?"

I never get tired of that one, no matter how many times I hear it!

"No, not anymore. I parked it when I got inside the building."

:)

I guess people see me as "going through a phase," or a "middle-age crisis" of some sort and expect me to grow out of it eventually.

"Are you still driving your car? I expected you to grow out of that by now!"

(Just kidding, I'm not trying to be mean. It's just a little "cyclists' humor." After all, when no one else among the hundreds of people here cycle to work, where else can I let off the steam but BikeForums? Just think of me as a crazy, gradually aging cyclist.)

Along the lines of "it cost how much?" I had my bike (Colnago Master) in my classroom yesterday (this was one of the workdays for teachers before kids report back) and a colleague walks in and starts checking out the bike. Wanted to know if the shoes stayed in the pedals after you got off the bike. I told him no, you get to keep shoes on your feet when you're at a stop sign.

My ride is pretty sedate for a 'nago but it still stands out so I knew the inevitable was coming.

"Pretty expensive, huh?"

I just smiled as I really didn't want to get into the "cost" conversation.

"Musta been a couple of hundred bucks."

I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled. It would be nice though if he were right.

:beer:

Neighbor sitting on his porch with a beer, "hey you're gonna lose too much weight". :rolleyes:

Yeah, the cost thing really is the funniest part. Everyone thinks i'm nuts for spending over 1000 dollars on a bike.

One time a co-worker was standing over my bike, cigaret hanging from his lip, says "You gotta be friggen insane to pay over 2 grand for this!!".
I looked at him and said "If I'm the crazy one out of the two of us because of the way we spend our money, then sanity it waaaay overrated".

Standard stop-light exchange while riding on snowy or especially cold days.

Motorist (or passenger): "Are you #!&%ing crazy?"

Me (deadpan): "No, we just went out a few times".