Advocacy & Safety - "40 Year-Old Virgin": Commuting's latest media image

The main character's car-free lifestyle is also shown to be a serious impediment to getting laid (a central goal during the film). On the other hand, at one scene in the end of the movie his bike gives him a unique advantage over cars.

I am 40 and know 2 virgins, both are women (40+) and niether rides a bike. Kinda tells you something. And before someone tests the veracity of my claim, neither told me that they were virgins and they still are virgins. The movie suggests that cycling might be a good addtion to the "ring thing", teenage celbacy porgram's revirginisation treatment.

I am not sure what is worse. Being a 40 year old bike-riding virgin or an open toe-shoe librarian who gets some every once in a while.

Alan, I beg to differ, this happened to me yesterday:

I'm sitting outside work, I'm in my cycling spandex, and this incredibly gorgeous blonde, 20-something, with this toned body (especially her calves... uuuhhhhh), wearing a power suit and stockings comes up and starts chatting me up concerning cycling.

I'm trying to be helpful, authoritative, sagacious and all that, but really I'm smiling inside and out thinking "Yes! This is such a cool hobby! It has turned me into a babe magnet!"

Quite the opposite from the portrayal of the cyclist commuter in "40 Year Old Virgin" !

That's the second hottie who has chatted me up recently while I'm outside our office tower in cycling kit.

So she has my business card, she's going to email me to get more information on our corporate club.

This is just so entertaining. What fun.

Now, ask her out for a date Saturday night. Do you plan on showing up at her house with a tandem?

Now, ask her out for a date Saturday night. Do you plan on showing up at her house with a tandem?

I've never had an issue getting a date because I did or did not have a car; hell I met my wife car free and I wasn't even cycling then!

If you need 2 tons of metal to get a woman's attention, you have much bigger issues than a 40-year-old virgin who commutes on a bike.

They show him mostly riding on the street, though there's also a scene where he rides on the sidewalk and then, with some difficulty, crosses several lanes of traffic to get to his destination.

The first shot of him riding is on a sidewalk, then he signals a right hand turn and without looking before turning, makes a sharp 90 degree turn from the sidewalk across several lanes of a traffic-filled street narrowly missing being hit several times.

He does ride on the streets in a couple of other scenes, but it's when he's angry and breaking the laws (going through stop signs, holding up traffic) or to provide some slapstick and lets not forget, he has the big accident at the end. Message I get? Cycling is dangerous, even for experienced riders.

That's not good advocacy. Good advocacy for bikes presents bikes as being not an issue, something anyone will do for viable transportation and melts into the background. Like in the Japanese version of "Shall We Dance"

Hollywood seems to mostly present cycling as a quirky, fringe activity that odd people do, not something that anyone can do for viable transportation.

I liked the movie very much, but it seems to me, as seen through the eyes of someone who doesn't cycle much, the movie shows cycling as something that anyone, who has common sense, should avoid.

Anyone who's rode a bike at critical mass knows that a bike can be a serious prop to GETTING LAID.


Exactly. If the dude was really into bikes, he wouldn't need to be a virgin, unless he wanted to be.

another sign Hollywood moguls stereotype cyclists as minorities.
Remember Pee Wee Herman had a bike fetish.
Instead , the European model is that cycling gods/goddesses have groupies demanding autographs at every public event.And they still drive Beemers.
a more appropriate stereotype would be the pro's in the big tours not being able to get enough sleep because of being pursued by the podium girls..
Could be another type of European Vacation movie for American domestiques.

I also find the slapstick cliche' - "cyclist hitting the car and going flying over the hood" about as funny as the scene in "Meet Joe Black", where Brad Pitts' character was being hit by a car and flying over it's hood.

Although the character is endearing, he has many juvenille quirks--other than being a virgin, he also plays lots of video games and collects action figures. His bike riding is portrayed as just another sign of his refusal to grow up. At one point, another character says he gave up bike riding when he was six years old.

Actually, I believe the friend said riding a bike is normal, "if you're a six year old"

I also talked to my brother in law, who used to live with hard core bike couriers (one was so radical, his riding was used in television shows and commercials) and he couldn't distinguish between "geeky" cyclists (like the 40 year old vigin) and "cool" cyclists (like his friends).

Sigh. I thought I looked "cool" to everyone.

Instead , the European model is that cycling gods/goddesses have groupies demanding autographs at every public event.And they still drive Beemers.
a more appropriate stereotype would be the pro's in the big tours not being able to get enough sleep because of being pursued by the podium girls..
Could be another type of European Vacation movie for American domestiques.
Do you really believe anybody but bicycling fetishists see any parallel between American cyclists (especially commuters and utility cyclists) and a vision of cycling gods/goddesses with adoring groupies? Outside of those captivated by Lance's unique comeback story, and those US sports chauvinists that are overjoyed with ANY US victory in ANY sport, who but bike racing enthusiasts have the slightest interest in, let alone a positive impression of, cycling pros?

Better find a better stereotype for establishing a positive image for US cyclists to adapt. I would suggest Northern European adults who cycle everyday on bicycles adapted for commuting (not racing) and city streets (not trails in the Alps), wearing everyday clothes (not racer-StyleMan outfits) cycling at a comfortable pace (not against a clock) . See the piece on Bicycle culture at: http://slate.msn.com/id/2124561/entry/2124562/ for a view of a positive image to emulate.

omg carbon fiber kickstands...

lol 40 y/o virgins lurking on BF...

Koffee wants them all!! (not sure of the carbon fiber kickstand, tho)

What is it about this movie? The trailers didn't spark any interest for me. Maybe I should get out and watch the movie @ Clinton theatre about the giant squid who falls in love with a woman. Or maybe I should watch this. whatever... somebody (besides my landlord) will be acquiring my hard earned cash this weekend. *sigh*

whoa... wtf did i just write??


Two questions:

Is the squid hot?

And does the squid get nekkid?


Heh, just foolin.

I've pretty much given up on hollywood. All tehy will do is spit cliche after cliche. Actually I found two horror flick that came out this year that use the EXACT SAME STARTING SEQUENCE....not as in the same style, the exact same film was used, exact same actors, etc. Just shows hollywood doesn't care about quality, just quantitiy, so it's really not worth getting too upset over.

Aside from that none of the recent movies have gotten my attention. I'm mostly surfing the DVD racks at target/"sears essentials" (WTF is essential about it?) to find anything decent. Other than finally buying silence of the lambs, and will crack open ring two tonight (I got a feeling I wasted my $14).

I've pretty much given up on hollywood. All tehy will do is spit cliche after cliche...none of the recent movies have gotten my attention.

Yeah, mostly Hollywood doesn't get ir right but sometimes, they do.

It's hard to think a movie is going to get it right if the producer, writer, director and actors don't get the cycling culture like most don't get it in America. There are movies that do get it right, like "Bejing Bicycle" from China, "Shall we Dance", from Japan, "IL Postino" from Spain and "The Bicycle Thief", from Italy.

"Breaking Away", "The Man With One Red Shoe", "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin" are all about nutcase/oddballs.

It's too bad "The Yellow Jersey" didn't get finished, it looked promising and we can only cross our fingers for the inevitable movie about Lance.

Do you really believe anybody but bicycling fetishists see any parallel between American cyclists (especially commuters and utility cyclists) and a vision of cycling gods/goddesses with adoring groupies? Outside of those captivated by Lance's unique comeback story, and those US sports chauvinists that are overjoyed with ANY US victory in ANY sport, who but bike racing enthusiasts have the slightest interest in, let alone a positive impression of, cycling pros?

Better find a better stereotype for establishing a positive image for US cyclists to adapt. I would suggest Northern European adults who cycle everyday on bicycles adapted for commuting (not racing) and city streets (not trails in the Alps), wearing everyday clothes (not racer-StyleMan outfits) cycling at a comfortable pace (not against a clock) . See the piece on Bicycle culture at: http://slate.msn.com/id/2124561/entry/2124562/ for a view of a positive image to emulate.
I like to bike...Yeah..Commuting around the block to work is one thing.Don't need cycling attire to keep your rear comfortable..But, why cycle if it is not a cardio work out..I cycle 1. for cardio fitness. 2- NOT to drive a car. that gives me my motivation.
1- bCycling gets your pulse up so you sweat. You need Coolmax to be comfortable. 2- Saddles over the miles are just not like sitting in bench seats of your car. which is ok with me..Chamois, keeps my rear from not being raw.
Since cycling is a serious event to me.. I ride seriously . My commute to justify a bike would be at least 20 miles round trip. ( The average American lives like six miles from work I believe..If it was around the block , I would walk over drive a car.
So my point..I don't care a flip what the American motorist thinks of our cycling attire or our cycling needs. I wear what works..
Cyclists are amongst the most fit people in the world..So cyclists are god/goddess' regards of Joe Smoe thinks.

Dude, I'm married !!!

But my wife really likes that I'm a cyclist (wink-wink) :D



Now, ask her out for a date Saturday night. Do you plan on showing up at her house with a tandem?

And I have never been car-free so I have no clue. But I can say that riding a bike has its advantages to getting laid. Or maybe that is just being in shape. Or is it that being in shape is a confidence booster?
My wife says "girls like guys with bicycle thighs"! :D

I'm sitting outside work, I'm in my cycling spandex, and this incredibly gorgeous blonde, 20-something, with this toned body (especially her calves... uuuhhhhh), wearing a power suit and stockings comes up and starts chatting me up concerning cycling.

I'm trying to be helpful, authoritative, sagacious and all that, but really I'm smiling inside and out thinking "Yes! This is such a cool hobby! It has turned me into a babe magnet!"
Finally, the real reason to wear spandex! Now it makes sense... :)

another sign Hollywood moguls stereotype cyclists as minorities.
Remember Pee Wee Herman had a bike fetish.
Instead , the European model is that cycling gods/goddesses have groupies demanding autographs at every public event.And they still drive Beemers.
a more appropriate stereotype would be the pro's in the big tours not being able to get enough sleep because of being pursued by the podium girls..
Could be another type of European Vacation movie for American domestiques.

From http://en.wikipedia.org (Paul Reubens is the comedian who played Pee Wee Herman):



While on a Warner Bros. set, Reubens noticed that most of the people rode around on bicycles, and asked when he would get his. Warner Bros. presented him with a refurbished 1940s Schwinn; Reubens then abandoned the Pee-wee Herman script he was writing in favor of one about Herman's love for his bike and his efforts to locate it once it's stolen. Hartman and Reubens co-wrote the script for Pee-wee's Big Adventure and in 1985 the film, directed by Tim Burton, was released.

So I don't think that the Pee Wee Herman movie counts as Hollywood Moguls stereotyping cyclists, since the script was written by a guy who loved his bike.

Finally, the real reason to wear spandex! Now it makes sense... :)
I am told..A guy does Cycle Oregon..Better get out of cycling gear fast...Great meeting spot for single or even married cyclists, who go w/o their spouses. So you miserably married cyclists, wanting a new cycling mate. sign up.

But, why cycle if it is not a cardio work out..I cycle 1. for cardio fitness. 2- NOT to drive a car. that gives me my motivation.
1- bCycling gets your pulse up so you sweat. You need Coolmax to be comfortable. 2- Saddles over the miles are just not like sitting in bench seats of your car. which is ok with me..Chamois, keeps my rear from not being raw.
Since cycling is a serious event to me.. I ride seriously . My commute to justify a bike would be at least 20 miles round trip. ( The average American lives like six miles from work I believe..If it was around the block , I would walk over drive a car.
So my point..I don't care a flip what the American motorist thinks of our cycling attire or our cycling needs. I wear what works..
Cyclists are amongst the most fit people in the world..So cyclists are god/goddess' regards of Joe Smoe thinks.
Why cycle if not a cardio workout? Easy - to get somewhere WITHOUT a cardio workout and WITHOUT getting in a sweaty lather, if possible. You may not value cycling less than 10 miles at a time, but understand that there is no requirement for others to make every cycling trip into a serious event/cardi workout because you don't appreciate or understand the pleasure of a relaxed ride.
I suggest that you consider broadening your vision of cyclists/cycling advocacy beyond the "needs" of fitness buffs and racer aficionados.

Like to bike. You make a point...I can understand cycling a couple blocks for errands or to work if close enough..
Just never lived that close to work, so it just did not occur to me..But, I am a sweater and my noise works tooo well..So, just a couple blocks would cause me to need coolmax and a shower..Sorry, just don't relate
Heck..I even ride a couple blocks, I get pretty steamed up, even if not intending to..So might as well go for a real ride.

Why cycle if not a cardio workout? Easy - to get somewhere WITHOUT a cardio workout and WITHOUT getting in a sweaty lather, if possible.
Yep. Everyday I ride the 18mi RT route to work and ride hard, good for my heart, lungs and muscles. But I also make regular 1-2mi trips to the store, cruise around my neighborhood to enjoy the sunset, etc. Unfortunately in the summer here even a 1mi very slow (less that 10mph) ride will get you hot and sweaty, but so does a walk, but the concept is the same, ride for pleasure, ride to get somewhere. Me, I've never even been on a 'training ride' since I've nothing to train for. ;)

Al

Like to bike. You make a point...I can understand cycling a couple blocks for errands or to work if close enough..
Just never lived that close to work, so it just did not occur to me..But, I am a sweater and my noise works tooo well..So, just a couple blocks would cause me to need coolmax and a shower..Sorry, just don't relate
Heck..I even ride a couple blocks, I get pretty steamed up, even if not intending to..So might as well go for a real ride.


With the right diet, and enough daily sweating, your sweat becomes less pungent.

Whether 3mi in a heat index of 107, or 65mi in 80 degree heat...I do use my bike for everything...so learning to conserve energy is crucial at times....especially tomorrow...I may be putting 30+ before work.