General Cycling Discussion - Being watched

Why do motorists who are stopped in front of me at a traffic light watch me in their side or rear view mirror?

This happens several times during the week when I'm commuting and occasionally on the weekends.
What are they looking at? Are they envious? Are they checking out my legs?

Quite often they are so engrossed in watching me they don't notice the light has changed and they are startled back to reality when another motorist honks.

It's a shame they can't be as concerned when passing us!

Perhaps the anti-cyclist bigotry that most of them have makes them paranoid. I too have noticed this phenomenon.

Chris

Originally posted by RonH
Why do motorists who are stopped in front of me at a traffic light watch me in their side or rear view mirror?



Maybe you are particularly attractive with your toned physique from bicycling. That with the demonstration of riding with traffic must all be irresitable to many drivers.

Ron,

How about when a motorist guns it past you, as if you really had a chance of keeping up with him (or her)? I take it as a compliment. ;)

I heard one passenger remark through his open window, "Hey, you're not a car." I wanted to congratulate him.

We are pioneers. The doctor who pioneered a sterile environment for surgical operations (today, anything less would generate a rash of lawsuits) was considered crazy by his peers.
I mean, these guys used to operate without washing their hands or instruments (I always do that before I eat, not to mention
when I do brain surgery.)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pete Clark
(I always do that before I eat,]not to mention brain surgery!) ][/QUOTE

Ya, thanks for that, Pete.

Originally posted by RonH

This happens several times during the week when I'm commuting and occasionally on the weekends.
What are they looking at? Are they envious? Are they checking out my legs?


I think it has a lot to do with envy and just plain checking ya out. :D I think there are people out there that wish that they were on a bike, and were as fit-looking as you. :) I really don't think that they would think anything that bad. The only time I think motorists are thinking ill of me, is when they shake their fist, or give me a dirty look.

Originally posted by technogirl
The only time I think motorists are thinking ill of me, is when they shake their fist, or give me a dirty look.
(Just lemme at 'em, T.G.!) ;)

Originally posted by Pete Clark

...these guys used to operate without washing their hands or instruments (I always do that before I eat, not to mention
when I do brain surgery.)
I wash my hands before eating, but for brain surgery I generally just give them a quick wipe on my bike shorts.

Originally posted by JonR

I wash my hands before eating, but for brain surgery I generally just give them a quick wipe on my bike shorts.

LMAO, Jon. That was a good one!

Now I'm getting p*ssed off folks! I'm young and single, why are there never any FEMALES staring in the mirror at me? Only middle-aged men! It's not fair!!! :cry:

Chris

LOL, Chris you'll need a new jersey to ride in. I think we'll need a new sponsor on your jersey called, "I'm-Young&Single&Available" just to make sure that the female population know for sure! :D

I think the ol' pick up line, "Do ya want a ride?" would definitely work in your favor. There's just something hopelessly romantic and youthful about a guy riding with his gal on his handlebars, too. ;)

I don't know, Chris... I've always understood that a guy needs a shiny new expensive car to be noticed at all by women. I can't speak from experience, however.

Nah, I don't think a guy needs a shiny, fancy new car to be noticed by the girls. I know when I met the guy who'd become my husband, he had a crappy, ugly vehicle. It utterly failed to impress me. Instead, I was impressed by his other qualities. I suppose the fact that he had a vehicle at all was important, but only because when we met, I was living in Bloomington, Indiana and he was living in Dubuque, Iowa. That would have been quite the bicycle trip to come see me. :)

I've always felt like when people are watching me they're either 1) concerned that I'm a loose cannon and am going to do something unpredictable like dart out in front of them. or 2) They can't believe that a chick as fat as I am can manage to bike at all, much less more or less keep up with them through stoplight heavy territory.

I think motorists tend to be wary of cyclists in the lane. It freaks them out to see one that's not resting nicely on the sidewalk, pushing the Walk button.

Jonathan

People are looking at you because they're listening to your thoughts........

Originally posted by jramsey
I think motorists tend to be wary of cyclists in the lane. It freaks them out to see one that's not resting nicely on the sidewalk, pushing the Walk button.


I only wish it freaked them out just as much when they are passing cyclists in general traffic.

Chris

Originally posted by Pete Clark

(Just lemme at 'em, T.G.!) ;)

I'd hope I wouldn't get myself in trouble again, Pete! :) It's a good thing I don't drink and ride! I don't have much patience with stupid people when liquored up! :D

I've never had chicks check me out in the rearveiw mirror,but I've had guys.....agh!!! Usually its when I'm tailgating them up a hill.The speed limit on base is 15 MPH for them most party,so racing cars is pretty easy.

Originally posted by technogirl
I'd hope I wouldn't get myself in trouble again, Pete! :) It's a good thing I don't drink and ride! I don't have much patience with stupid people when liquored up! :D

I actually don't have much patience with stupid people point blank. :p

Chris

Good point, Chris! I don't either, but I *usually* behave myself more around stupid people when I'm sober. I have a tendency to insert-foot-in-mouth, when they start mouthing off about something they don't know.

Not that I KNOW a lot, but hey, if you have someone that just repeats your last phrase without even understanding what the heck you just said...argh!!! :irritated

I don't mind when motorist check me out in their rear view mirror or they glance sideways, I feel more proud coz' I am out there enjoying the sun and and very healthy:D :D :D :p :beer:

Originally posted by orguasch
I don't mind when motorist check me out in their rear view mirror or they glance sideways, I feel more proud coz' I am out there enjoying the sun and and very healthy:D :D :D :p :beer:
I think that's pretty much how I feel about it, too.

One day, I was stopped for a light and a voice from behind and to my left came, "You're in great shape!"

When the vehicle passed me, I saw that it was some evangelists, but that's OK.... :)

Originally posted by technogirl
Good point, Chris! I don't either, but I *usually* behave myself more around stupid people when I'm sober.

Yeah, unfortunately I have to behave myself when I'm dealing with them at work. I work in a call centre part-time and I'm amazed by some of the people we get. I wonder how they manage to get through day to day life.

I guess that's the best bit about cycling. Going for a 200km ride tends to get people you don't want to associate with socially away from you :D

Chris

Originally posted by JonR

One day, I was stopped for a light and a voice from behind and to my left came, "You're in great shape!"

When the vehicle passed me, I saw that it was some evangelists, but that's OK.... :)

Jon,

Now you know it's time to run!!! :p

Rich

Originally posted by JonR
One day, I was stopped for a light and a voice from behind and to my left came, "You're in great shape!"

When the vehicle passed me, I saw that it was some evangelists, but that's OK.... :)
Actually, the meaning of "evangelist" is closest to what you just described: one who brings good news and encouragement, from the Greek, euangelion, "glad tidings." :)

This definition is far from what we think of today.

Exactly, Pete. :)

Looking's OK, but what steams me is when they hit the button and I hear the "thump-thump-thump-thump" of all the doors locking. Let's see here, fifty-year old man in cycling clothes, check; bicycle loaded down with panniers during commute hours, check; obviously a good candidate for robber or ******! Sheesh.

Originally posted by UncaStuart
Looking's OK, but what steams me is when they hit the button and I hear the "thump-thump-thump-thump" of all the doors locking. Let's see here, fifty-year old man in cycling clothes, check; bicycle loaded down with panniers during commute hours, check; obviously a good candidate for robber or ******! Sheesh.

Think of it as a bit of reverse intimidation :D They're always driving too close to us and honking in an increasingly futile attempt to scare us off the roads, so that would give me a lot of satisfaction.

Chris