Commuting - Call in sick to work on the bike?

Now everyone knows that bike commuters are never sick. Is it ethical to use the "sickdays" to work on the bike? It is a sickness after all, isn't it?

The reason is that I went to the LBS this morning and got stuff to build my first wheel over the weekend. But now I can't wait to get home to start the work, and it's not even noon yet! Should I go home "sick" or start the wheelbuilding at my desk?

i have taken em to go mountainbiking.

it IS a sickness afterall, just ask my girlfirend....

If you're already at work, it might be too late. You can tell your boss that you're too sick to work, but then you'll have to get on your bike and ride away. Everyone will be thinking, oh, he can't work but he can ride a bike?

I say, stay at work and do the wheel tomorrow. And that's not for ethical reasons, but because a good wheelbuild should not be rushed. Call in sick on Monday, and take the new wheel for a long test ride!

You must have eye trouble...can't see going to work.

Now everyone knows that bike commuters are never sick. Is it ethical to use the "sickdays" to work on the bike? It is a sickness after all, isn't it?

The reason is that I went to the LBS this morning and got stuff to build my first wheel over the weekend. But now I can't wait to get home to start the work, and it's not even noon yet! Should I go home "sick" or start the wheelbuilding at my desk?

Hmmm..this is a tough question. The title of the post implies you want to work on the bike itself. That can easily be done in an office or cubicle. Replacing cables, toeing brakes, adjusting chainlines, or all sorts of other routine maintenance.

Wheel building is a whole different game and same time's got a point. Wheel building really requires a comfortable chair, a rockin' stereo, and a cold beer to be done properly.

no way - my "sick" days are reserved for those shiny bright not a cloud in the sky days that i start to develop a *cough *cough

these days are perfect for a solo century :D

no way - my "sick" days are reserved for those shiny bright not a cloud in the sky days that i start to develop a *cough *cough

these days are perfect for a solo century :D

And on those day, remember to put plenty of sunscreen on. Really bad to get a sunburn on your "sick day". And just hope you don't ride up past any news cameras.

I've emailed this thread to your Boss so I hope you went to work.











I keed, I keed! :D

i am lucky that my boss and co-workers in OUR department have no problem with us using our sick days as personal days or, "mental health days" as we call them.

i'll use them for a ski day, or tack on to the end of a vacation week - and if for some reason i get sick with no time left i'd just take an unpaid day.

luckily i haven't been really sick in a few years, had the flu for a couple days a few years back - but if i am working to hard (or biking to much) and feel myself running down a bit i'll make sure i drink tea, relax, get a good long night's rest and i'm fine. - and i know bike commuting and lifting weights helps my immune system kick butt.

I called in 2/28. Because I had a blow out and did not have a tube with me. So I had to walk it back to the house and then walk around to find a tube. All the stores where out of 26"x1.75" tubes. So I bought a Huffy Techtra lite for 25.00 from a pound shop and got new tires and tubs for it. Now I make it to work in half the time and never will have to worrie about not finding 27"x 1 1/4" tubes for it. LOL

I called in 2/28. Because I had a blow out and did not have a tube with me. So I had to walk it back to the house and then walk around to find a tube. All the stores where out of 26"x1.75" tubes. So I bought a Huffy Techtra lite for 25.00 from a pawn shop and got new tires and tubs for it. Now I make it to work in half the time and never will have to worrie about not finding 27" tubes for it. LOL

I have called in to tell my boss I'd be late while I'm riding on my bicycle. Regarding, showing up to work, I think it's important for cyclists to be more reliable than drivers. It demonstrates to all that cycling is a viable means of reliable transportation.

I've always thought there is a karma problem with using "sick" days when not sick. But I suppose it depends on the culture of the organization.

Not really, but I have called in late and scooted out early to extend the commute.

Once, when I had a bad bike day (4 flats on 3 different bikes, and a thrown chain), I called in with a broken-down vehicle.

I once showed up to work after I got clipped by a car only 1 block from the office. Got a good dose of road rash on my left leg (don't worry, the bike was 100% OK :D ) I walked in with blood streaming down my leg, sock soaked red, torn lycra with red patches showing, the whole show! ofcourse everyone was freaking out, some wanted to call an ambulance, I insisted that I was OK and did my day's work. After that, nobody ever questioned me when I took a sick day, they figured that it would have to be something more serious that getting hit by a car for me to not show up. :)


P.S. Nothing gets you a reputation at work as a 'tough guy' like walking in bleeding from a car accident and going about your day like nothing happened. ;) :D

^^^^^^ Wow.


But anyway, I've never had a problem using a "sick" day for whatever I feel like. I just don't do it often enough to be considered to be "abusing" the system, unless it's made perfectly clear that "sick" days are just personal days off for any purpose.

But yeah, I've taken a sick day when I had a new toy I couldn't wait to play with ;).

I once showed up to work after I got clipped by a car only 1 block from the office. Got a good dose of road rash on my left leg (don't worry, the bike was 100% OK :D ) I walked in with blood streaming down my leg, sock soaked red, torn lycra with red patches showing, the whole show! ofcourse everyone was freaking out, some wanted to call an ambulance, I insisted that I was OK and did my day's work. After that, nobody ever questioned me when I took a sick day, they figured that it would have to be something more serious that getting hit by a car for me to not show up. :)


P.S. Nothing gets you a reputation at work as a 'tough guy' like walking in bleeding from a car accident and going about your day like nothing happened. ;) :D

So how did that heal up? I got just a tiny bit of road rash on my elbow and just stuck some gauze over it, and the skin never healed up properly... I'd have recommended a trip to the ER just to get some proper medical advice to reduce the scarring.

You Aussies are a tough breed!


I once showed up to work after I got clipped by a car only 1 block from the office. Got a good dose of road rash on my left leg (don't worry, the bike was 100% OK :D ) I walked in with blood streaming down my leg, sock soaked red, torn lycra with red patches showing, the whole show! ofcourse everyone was freaking out, some wanted to call an ambulance, I insisted that I was OK and did my day's work. After that, nobody ever questioned me when I took a sick day, they figured that it would have to be something more serious that getting hit by a car for me to not show up. :)


P.S. Nothing gets you a reputation at work as a 'tough guy' like walking in bleeding from a car accident and going about your day like nothing happened. ;) :D

So how did that heal up? I got just a tiny bit of road rash on my elbow and just stuck some gauze over it, and the skin never healed up properly... I'd have recommended a trip to the ER just to get some proper medical advice to reduce the scarring.

Some deeper bits took longer than others, I just hit the first aid medicine cabinet for some gauze and wrapped it with packing tape, cleaned and re-packaged at homw. It's only skin and a little flesh no need to go to ER :rolleyes: .... and why would you want to reduce the scarring? Scars are cool! I have all sorts of varying depths on various parts of my body, and each of them bring back fond memories of foolish adventures. :D I wouldn't be 'me' without them.

You mean there are people who are really sick when they use sick leave???

Yup. I used one day last month for a stomach flu and one yesterday for whatever is kicking my arse right now. I hope to be on my bike tomorrow (weather willing and all).