General Cycling Discussion - "Will you be paying for a gasoline purchase too?"

This past Saturday I rode a 200K brevet. Somewhere around the middle of the brevet, I stopped at a little grocery store/gas station in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, went in and selected a beverage and a banana.

I went to the cashier to pay for it. The girl looked at my items ... looked at me, dressed in my full cycling kit ... and asked, "Will you be paying for a gasoline purchase too?"




Maybe she'd never seen a cyclist before!! :lol:


I wasn't sure how to answer that question ... "no, because I'm riding a bicycle" (obviously) ... or "yes, the beverage and banana here are my "gasoline"" .....

Not sure what my response would have been, but I'm sure it would have included questioning her inteligence.

Well, on my way to a race I've walked into a gas station to buy some pre-race fuel + gasoline for the trip dressed in nearly full kit. Plus, gas station cashiers always ask if you have gas or not. Its habit. I don't see it as a sign of lack of intelligence or ignorance, honestly.

Yeah that's funny, but yeah, she probably has to say it or risk getting fired.

Had a similar type conversation at my bank last payday. Stopped in to deposit my check and the teller was telling me about his new scooter that got 70 miles per gallon.
I made a comment about how much he must be saving and continued with a comment about my "gas" being really cheap. I explained that I could get to work on half of a peanut butter sandwich. He looked rather puzzled. Even though I was wearing bibs and a hi-viz jersey I guess he didn't make the connection. I offered a quick explanation and mentioned the health benefits and then he understood.

Half a PBJ sandwich... brilliant!

I usually go the sarcasm route, and just tell them my tank is full, and point to the bike that's propped up on their window.

I'm one of the ones who lives on a road where cycling would be taking your life in your hands*, so I put my bike in the van and drive to a safer riding area. I have walked in to pay for gas in full cycling kit many times...so, the question is funny on one level but not totally stupid.

Dagna
*Narrow road, curvy, no shoulders, and I've had two mailboxes sheered off at ground level from cars losing control and running off the road on the curves. I have to be ready to jump to safety just to check my mail--riding on that road is for stronger nerves than mine. :eek:

FYI, you can transport bikes via car now, so the cashier *may* have not been mentally deficient! An example of this new technology is below:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5170/bikerack347le.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now, if you had your helmet on too, I take it back ;)

FYI, you can transport bikes via car now, so the cashier *may* have not been mentally deficient! An example of this new technology is below:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5170/bikerack347le.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now, if you had your helmet on too, I take it back ;)

Like the description of those shuttlecraft kept onboard the Starship Enterprise, that setup is only for larger complements of equipment and personnel.
The rest of the time, any four-wheel vehicle I would own would be permanently dry-docked until further notice, or a rim gets seriously taco'd.

FYI, you can transport bikes via car now, so the cashier *may* have not been mentally deficient! An example of this new technology is below:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5170/bikerack347le.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now, if you had your helmet on too, I take it back ;)
Of course the store clerk might rightfully question the smarts of someone who wears a helmet to walk around in a convenience store. They do come off don't they?

So what if you're dressed funny? You're in a gas station, and a clerk asks if you're buying gas. I guess I don't see the irony.

Sounds like she was doing her job. Best response would have been a simple, "Not today, thank you."

i would say "no thanks, i already have gas". and leave it at that.

To the rest of the world, cycling gear looks extraordinarily weird and/or dorky.I'm just glad when the clerks, looking me over in full kit, don't say things like:

Is your space ship parked out back?

Love the black lycra. I saw an outfit like that in a softcore movie last night.

Whoa, it's Lance Armstrong. Or maybe just his fatter older brother.

Sounds like she was doing her job. Best response would have been a simple, "Not today, thank you."

True, but what a rich opportunity! ;)

Having worked as a clerk and still using a set of the old style cleats I knew when a cyclist in full gear(see OP) came into the store without even looking. Click, click, click, Slip, CRASH, scream! Modern, recessed 'cleats' are a big improvement.

Why didnt you just say "no thanks"?

I swear, some cyclists see an insult or a slight everywhere they go. You make as all look like stuck up ******s, stop it!

Why didnt you just say "no thanks"?

I swear, some cyclists see an insult or a slight everywhere they go. You make as all look like stuck up ******s, stop it!
The OP only made herself appear that way, nobody else.

Why didnt you just say "no thanks"?

I swear, some cyclists see an insult or a slight everywhere they go. You make as all look like stuck up ******s, stop it!


Pardon me???????????????

I DID NOT SEE THE COMMENT AS AN INSULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SAW THE COMMENT AS AMUSING!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S WHY I POSTED IT HERE WITH A LITTLE LAUGHING FACE!! I THINK A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE NEED TO LIGHTEN UP A BIT ... LOOK AT LIFE AS SOMEWHAT HUMOROUS!! LAUGH A BIT!!! I SWEAR, SOME CYCLISTS CANNOT SEE THE HUMOR IN ANYTHING!!!


I also did not mention, in my original post how I actually responded, and if you could read, you would have noticed that.


My actual response was "no, thanks" ... with a smile. :)

Flak, I'm behind machka on this. Lighten up dude before you end up like JV.

The OP only made herself appear that way, nobody else.

Very ironic post.

Not sure what my response would have been, but I'm sure it would have included questioning her inteligence.

Be nice, people in such jobs go on 'autopilot'. Been there.

i would say "no thanks, i already have gas". and leave it at that.

bonus points if you are also wearing the "Full of Beans" jersey

http://www.tandemapparel.com/CA-1268-RD_W_lrg.jpg

bonus points if you are also wearing the "Full of Beans" jersey

http://www.tandemapparel.com/CA-1268-RD_W_lrg.jpg



:roflmao: :roflmao:

Seriously, some of the people in this thread are almost as self righteous as the pricks that drive hybrid cars. Like on Southpark, you're generating "smug" instead of "smog", and its almost as bad. Look at me!!! I ride a bike!!! God I'm such a superior being!!!

Seriously, some of the people in this thread are almost as self righteous as the pricks that drive hybrid cars. Like on Southpark, you're generating "smug" instead of "smog", and its almost as bad. Look at me!!! I ride a bike!!! God I'm such a superior being!!!

THAAAAAAANNNKKSS!!

:)

*farts*
*SNIIIIIIIFFFFF*
AHHHHHHHH!! :)

Just slap your water bottle down on the counter and say, "fill 'er up!".

Pardon me???????????????

I DID NOT SEE THE COMMENT AS AN INSULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SAW THE COMMENT AS AMUSING!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S WHY I POSTED IT HERE WITH A LITTLE LAUGHING FACE!! I THINK A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE NEED TO LIGHTEN UP A BIT ... LOOK AT LIFE AS SOMEWHAT HUMOROUS!! LAUGH A BIT!!! I SWEAR, SOME CYCLISTS CANNOT SEE THE HUMOR IN ANYTHING!!!


I also did not mention, in my original post how I actually responded, and if you could read, you would have noticed that.


My actual response was "no, thanks" ... with a smile. :)
Thanks for the clarification. You didn't show contempt to the clerk. You saved the ridicule of the clerk's response for fellow thinkers on BF.

From my local baker as I was picking out the biggest apple fritter in the batch: "That's premium fuel for bikers"