What do you say to... "Are you riding your son's bike?"

[maunakea]

My reply is ... "Yeah, he's six feet two inches."

[anklebiter]

what bike were you riding? a visual may be needed ;).

[maunakea]

A 20" folder. orange. the famous DT FS.

The political question of the day: Do BMX bikes give adults on folders a bad public image?

[14R]

Depending on the individual asking, here are my answers:

"No. Actually this is an adult, folding bike, really good actually, wanna try?".


"No, not my kids. This one I actually got from your mom".

[CrimsonEclipse]

This is when I'm happy that I'm small.
I look normal on my Dahon to the unenlightened (non-folders).

Honesty is the best policy. If they make an additional snide comment....
SQUASH them like a grape!!!

CE

[james_swift]

Fortunately, where I live, most people are up-to-date with scary-new stuff like folding bikes. Only once have I gotten a similar comment that actually went "Hey, that's a child's bike!". My response: [while quickly whipping the rear wheel under the top tube] "Transformer bike...ACTIVATE!"

[bookishboy]

Heh. I thought your reply was going to involve flipping your bike around and giving them a "Swift" kick in the arse.

[maunakea]

james You are in a with-it neighborhood. The guy who asked me the question this a.m. would not know what a Transformer, the anime variety, was.

[amitkulz]

Heh. I thought your reply was going to involve flipping your bike around and giving them a "Swift" kick in the arse.

hah hah that would be a apt reply for a Swift bike owner.

I have gotten strange looks on campus. The only comment was by a guy who knew a lot more about bikes than me. I started talking to him (he is on a tough looking BMX), and he commented that he felt I was riding a strong bike (I have a 2005 Orange Downtube), and would I mind swapping for a few minutes. It was my second day on the DT, but I hid my jealousy and picked up his bike. Wowww, that BMX was built like a rock!!! He also said that the DT is better than many bikes he has ridden other than the BMX style bikes he has. He did some of the tricks he does on his BMX on the DT, I was praying nothing happens to the DT. Fortunately, nothing happened!!!

A kids bike? No freakin way.

[james_swift]

what bike were you riding? a visual may be needed ;).
http://corkdorks.com/swift/

Hey, hey, wait a second....that's a frickin awesome fixed/ss Swift you have there! Why have you been hiding this beauty? Where'd you get the custom wheels? What's that paint job? It looks metallic silver. Did Peter build/paint this rig? What chainring cogs(s) are you running? What chainline measurement do you get with that rear hub? That's a nice headset. Wow...:eek:

[14R]

Usually, here in Central Florida (Orlando - Tampa Bay area) the most popular coment I get is something like "Hey, that's a Bike Friday, those that you can fold to travel".

Somehow they never say a Dahon, or a folder. The most savy ones believe if it is an adult bike with a 20" wheel set, it must be Bike Friday (lol)

Humans, so much to learn you have.

[r-dub]

The only person who makes rude comments to me when I'm on my friday is my wife...

[EvilV]

I usually rode a rather nice moutain bike before I got into folders, then one of my neighbours had the nerve to say, 'Trading down then,' when I whizzed up on my Merc. I nearly spat in his eye!

[Crankypants]

Nobody can imagine that my wife's DT is used for touring. All the LBS have said that it is a bike that should only be used for "city" riding. They also said that it wasn't worth changing the rear cassette (to get a lower gear), and putting another 100 euros into the bike. Well, with the SRAM 9 speed cassette, new shifters, and longer stem, the bike rides like a dream. I was fed up with all the comments I was hearing, and yesterday during a ride, I raced a "racer" and his superlight carbon spoked bike to the top of a long hill. He was standing up and pumping hard, but I managed to pass him while staying in a seated position. He cried, "ca marche le p'tit velo la!"(this small bike works well!). At the top, he passed me, and kicked my butt on the downhill, but I felt like I had my small moment of triumph.

[Dave Hickey]

I usually try to explain what the bike is and how it rides. The only time I get sick of the comments is on group charity rides when you hear endless comments from riders.

"Why did you ride THAT thing?" I usually hear this when I pass someone riding a very expensive road bike:-)

[folder fanatic]

I consider myself to be an "ambassador to folding bikes" when I take one of my folders out for a ride. I never had any rude comments about either of them. Mainly I get alot of questions about them (i.e. what type of bike is that, where can I get one?) and discussion of why I purchase it in the first place (mainly theft prevention, then excelled in other areas). Unless I am in a hurry, I try to project a polite aura about me and the bikes as to encourage others to "come into the fold."

[LittlePixel]

I'd say "Piss aaaahf"... ;)
Some kid asked me if he could swap his decrepit looking 24" mountain bike for my Twenty last week. It was kinda cute. Kids are always fun though - racing me, marvelling at the suspension forks. I think it's less intimidating to them than a 26 or 700 wheeled bike.

[DaFriMon]

The two most common comments I get are both "nice bike". The difference is whether or not it sounds sarcastic. ;)

[eubi]

The only person that commented on my Dahon thought it was an electric scooter.

Then...why am I peddlin'?

:D

[ken cummings]

I rolled past my wife and a neighbor. The wife came in a bit torqued and said, "She just asked me if your were my son."

[spunkyruss]

The opinions expressed so far initially caused me to remain silent, but I can't keep it in. I refer to my recently-acquired folding bike (an older 16" Dahon) as my "clown bike." I'm not exaggerating when I say that half of the neighborhood came out on their porches to gawk at my brother and I riding it up and down the street on the day I bought it.

I'm not knocking the utility or "real bike-ness" of folding bikes, but most people just don't expect to see an adult on a bike with 16-20" wheels. Then again, most fat-assed Americans don't expect to see an adult travelling by any means that doesn't burn gasoline.

I think that everything in this world is fair game for a laugh, including me.

[spunkyruss]

..... My brother and I even decided to ham it up a bit by seeing if we could still ride it with the seat and bars set as low as they would go, but that was more for our own amusement than anyone else's. (Yes, we could ride it, but only for short distances.)

[bkrownd]

You should only get this kind of comment if your knees are sticking out at a 45-degree angle like a fully grown man on a BMX.

[igor455]

I have looked them in the eye and told them it is a secret project and they arent cleared high enough .

[GotBent]

Then again, most fat-assed Americans don't expect to see an adult travelling by any means that doesn't burn gasoline.

:roflmao:

[bkrownd]

haha...maunakea...hi from Mauna Kea, maunakea. The weather is..snowy..up here. ;)

[maunakea]

more snow than sugar cane, for sure, brah.

[igor455]

I took my dahon piccalo for 10 miles on the bike trail today. I have had some comments good natured about the size of the bike and i as i posted above have said about the project adn the clearance. this usually gets a good laugh.
Today iI was happened upon by three dirtbags that looked like bikers minus the bikes. I was at the ranger station sitting and they started making coments about the little bike adn couldnet i handle a mans bike.Ignoring them just made then more vocal and i really wasnt ready to leave yet. I kept wondering where this was going when the ranger opened the door and said hi . He is a retired forester and i have gottne to know him. Now the dirtbags werent too upset by him since he is unarmed. He then said the classic line, hey igor how are things going at the sheriffs office , locked up anyone cool lately. three schmucks looked with disbelief adn then i thought it might be time to display the badge on the chain trick.
three scrotes kept looking and i said as one of the sheriffs bike officers, we had to be familier with all types of bikes and this one gives a pretty good workout. I then pulled out hte portable radio from the bag and turned it on. It was suggested that they continue their adventures adn have a nice day. They left and the ranger said, you want to explain that drama. Turns out he had not heard anything but came out to talk to me and see what was happening. We talked and laughed and then i continued my ride, never did see those lads again. To answer the unasked question yeah i did have the rest of my equipment in the messenger bag slung over the shoulder.
amazing true;ly amazing alls well that ends well and that little 3spd really makes me work take care

[amitkulz]

I took my dahon piccalo for 10 miles on the bike trail today. I have had some comments good natured about the size of the bike and i as i posted above have said about the project adn the clearance. this usually gets a good laugh.
Today iI was happened upon by three dirtbags that looked like bikers minus the bikes. I was at the ranger station sitting and they started making coments about the little bike adn couldnet i handle a mans bike.Ignoring them just made then more vocal and i really wasnt ready to leave yet. I kept wondering where this was going when the ranger opened the door and said hi . He is a retired forester and i have gottne to know him. Now the dirtbags werent too upset by him since he is unarmed. He then said the classic line, hey igor how are things going at the sheriffs office , locked up anyone cool lately. three schmucks looked with disbelief adn then i thought it might be time to display the badge on the chain trick.
three scrotes kept looking and i said as one of the sheriffs bike officers, we had to be familier with all types of bikes and this one gives a pretty good workout. I then pulled out hte portable radio from the bag and turned it on. It was suggested that they continue their adventures adn have a nice day. They left and the ranger said, you want to explain that drama. Turns out he had not heard anything but came out to talk to me and see what was happening. We talked and laughed and then i continued my ride, never did see those lads again. To answer the unasked question yeah i did have the rest of my equipment in the messenger bag slung over the shoulder.
amazing true;ly amazing alls well that ends well and that little 3spd really makes me work take care

Be careful, some guys are crazy.

[igor455]

After 19 months in vietnam adn 35 years as a police one could consider me also crazy. careful i am always, also very well trained and prepared. I really was not worried about those 3 subjectrs because i could see them all and what they were doing. whether they realized i was planning modifications to courses of actions, a if this then that approach is immaterial. I knew it. My tactical position was very good at the ranger station so i elec ted to stay there. to do anything other than run mouths would have put them at an enormous tactical disadvantage and as my mom used to say sicks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. hey no harm they got to express their oponions and all was well and i got a good workout with the 3 spd

[maunakea]

igor You're on top of your game, man. In the mountains on a 3 speed!

[yellowjacket]

I overheard one kid, when he saw my Piccolo, explaining to his parents, "That kind of bike is called a lowrider." He sounded impressed, so I didn't disillusion him as to my level of coolness.

[arctos]

I have heard many questions and comments while riding my 1965 Moulton Stowaway single speed for the last twenty years as my town bike. My usual answer to why I ride a bike with 16 inch wheels is that I have not passed the test to qualify for bigger wheels yet. This seems to satisfy most people one way or another.

[Blackberry]

I have heard many questions and comments while riding my 1965 Moulton Stowaway single speed for the last twenty years as my town bike. My usual answer to why I ride a bike with 16 inch wheels is that I have not passed the test to qualify for bigger wheels yet. This seems to satisfy most people one way or another.

Masterful;)

[amitkulz]

Agree, with Blackberry, it's a masterful reply!

I am surprised 'most' people fall for it though;)

[igor455]

i think that is an outstanding reply and with your kind permission i am going to uswe it if need be.