Commuting - Dude to me: "GET A BIKE YOU LAZY ASS!"

So I'm walking down State Street last night, (pedestrian mall with tons of little shops for those of you not fortunate enough to know) talking on my celly about a car I'm looking at buying. I'm near a bike rack where some middle aged guy is unlocking his mountain bike.

Apparently, he is hearing my conversation, because he gets in my face and says very loudly, practically yelling: "Get a bike, you lazy ass!" (red denotes rage)
I find this is particularly hilarious, because I'm one of the most bikingest dudes I know, probably moreso than him, from the looks of him anyway.
So I say "I bike every day."
"So what do you need a car for!?!"
"To get to bike races."
"You can just ride there."
"Not when it's 150 miles."
"Yes you can, it's just a stretch of the legs."
"Not riding both ways plus the race."

At this point, the angry man rode away from me on his mountain bike in an angry manner.

I love State Street.

It would be hilarious if that turned out to be a poster here... heh.

It would be hilarious if that turned out to be a poster here... heh.

I would not be surprized.

recursive, sorry about my rude behavior last night at the bike rack. I had been spraying lubricant on my chain and I was somewhat intoxicated with the aroma. My apologies for my outrageous comments. :p

I hope he felt better. If he pulls this bit with motorists, I'm glad I don't ride in the same town as he does.

It would be hilarious if that turned out to be a poster here... heh.

That was me...sorry about that recursive, I couldn't find my road bike so I was angry about that and I guess I just snapped at you because of it. :p

So, buy another bike. Not only are you allowed to but, evidently, this guy commanded you to. So what's it going to be: fixie, mountain, road, cyclo......? Steel, alum, carbon???

I guess I'm just jonesin' to get another one myself, wish this guy could give me permission, I'm on toy restriction since buying a new house. :-)

Stupid JABs. ;)

It would be hilarious if that turned out to be a poster here... heh.

Maybe Randya has a twin in Madison? :lol:

Just goes to show you that not everything you think you know about a person is necessarilly correct.

Heck.. .that "cager" driving the car that cuts you off could be Lon Haldeman on his way to another RAAM.

:eek: Perhaps he was not refering to a car but rather an athletic supporter?:eek:

What happened to "minding your own business"?

Jeez...he may have lost a couple of teeth if he yelled at someone like that on the Promenade (Santa Monica version of your State Street maybe)

I was walking over to the nearby mall at lunch yesterday, when I was approached by someone from Greenpeace (they have solicitors there all the time) asking, "Do you want to help the environment?" Since this happens about 3 times a week, I just smile, and say "No, thanks," and keep walking. (regardless of how I feel about the environment and how to take care of it, I don't want my name on a mailing list to be hit up for donations every 3 weeks).

...So, I come out of the mall, and get hit up by ANOTHER Greenpeace solicitor. Again, smile, say "No thanks," and keep walking over to Conte's bike shop to pick up a pair of gloves.

On the way back to the office, I get hit up by a THIRD Greenpeace solicitor. "Do you want to help the environment?" I stop, and say - "I rode 213 miles on my bike last week. I've bike commuted close to 1,000 miles this year. I AM helping the environment. I THINK I've done my share."

Jeez...he may have lost a couple of teeth if he yelled at someone like that on the Promenade (Santa Monica version of your State Street maybe)
I'd rather live in Madison, then... Nothing wrong with minding your own business, but punching teeth out for a comment like that, even if it does involve unflattering terms like "lazy ass"? Pleeeeeze....

On the way back to the office, I get hit up by a THIRD Greenpeace solicitor. "Do you want to help the environment?" I stop, and say - "I rode 213 miles on my bike last week. I've bike commuted close to 1,000 miles this year. I AM helping the environment. I THINK I've done my share."

Excellent!! What was the response?

Too bad your bike wasn't next to his. Then you could have raced him for pink slips... errr.. maybe for his wally world receipt.

I'd rather live in Madison, then... Nothing wrong with minding your own business, but punching teeth out for a comment like that, even if it does involve unflattering terms like "lazy ass"? Pleeeeeze....

yeah I hear ya...its more the "yelling in the face while he's on the his phone" part that would piss people off... I could be wrong though

Maybe Randya has a twin in Madison? :lol:
Lol, I was thinking the same thing! Great minds think alike. he he.

Excellent!! What was the response?

Just a blank stare. I don't think they've ever gotten a response like that.

I dislike solicitations of ANY kind, especially charitable/not for profit ones, because most of the money raised goes to pay the expenses of fundraising. Greenpeace is no better than middle of the road when it comes to efficiency, and they have a separate organization (Greenpeace, Inc) for lobbying that isn't even rated among charitable organizations (since donations to it aren't tax deductible).

So, anyone from Greenpeace, Association for Police and Sheriffs, etc....don't even ask me the time of day. I know that some of these groups only get about 10% of the money raised, while the rest goes to the fundraiser. While I support a lot of the goals (preserve the environment, support law enforcement and public safety, feed the poor, etc.), I'm going to put my money and time where it's going to do some real good.

So, I'll support charities that use most of their money for programs (Nature Conservancy, World Food Programme, American Red Cross, etc.). Anyone who can't demonstrate what they're doing with the money....don't waste your time.

I was walking over to the nearby mall at lunch yesterday, when I was approached by someone from Greenpeace (they have solicitors there all the time) asking, "Do you want to help the environment?" Since this happens about 3 times a week, I just smile, and say "No, thanks," and keep walking. (regardless of how I feel about the environment and how to take care of it, I don't want my name on a mailing list to be hit up for donations every 3 weeks).

...So, I come out of the mall, and get hit up by ANOTHER Greenpeace solicitor. Again, smile, say "No thanks," and keep walking over to Conte's bike shop to pick up a pair of gloves.

On the way back to the office, I get hit up by a THIRD Greenpeace solicitor. "Do you want to help the environment?" I stop, and say - "I rode 213 miles on my bike last week. I've bike commuted close to 1,000 miles this year. I AM helping the environment. I THINK I've done my share."

Oh, man. I notice you're in Herndon - if you see those clowns again let me know, I'll go harass them too. On my bike.

yeah I hear ya...its more the "yelling in the face while he's on the his phone" part that would piss people off... Anyone would get pissed off at that. The real question is where we go from there...

Maybe Randya has a twin in Madison? :lol:

Racerboy!!

Racerboy!!

If having homosexual shoes is wrong, then I don't want to be right. :D

So I'm walking down State Street last night, (pedestrian mall with tons of little shops for those of you not fortunate enough to know) talking on my celly about a car I'm looking at buying. I'm near a bike rack where some middle aged guy is unlocking his mountain bike.

Apparently, he is hearing my conversation, because he gets in my face and says very loudly, practically yelling: "Get a bike, you lazy ass!" (red denotes rage)
I find this is particularly hilarious, because I'm one of the most bikingest dudes I know, probably moreso than him, from the looks of him anyway.
So I say "I bike every day."
"So what do you need a car for!?!"
"To get to bike races."
"You can just ride there."
"Not when it's 150 miles."
"Yes you can, it's just a stretch of the legs."
"Not riding both ways plus the race."

At this point, the angry man rode away from me on his mountain bike in an angry manner.

I love State Street.

I don't remember being in Wisconsin, but I do remember that conversation and that I went off on some poor guy. I apologize. I had run out of lorazepam.

I think in these situations it really pays to be a roadie. Just look at his derailers, say "Eeew" and completely ignore him. You know... the usual.

That's State Street for you. I love it anyway.

" He turned the pedals in anger " :D

I think in these situations it really pays to be a roadie. Just look at his derailers, say "Eeew" and completely ignore him. You know... the usual.
Naw, if you're riding something like a Surly LHT with panniers and really spendy components you can have the moral high ground AND the equipment snobbery.

"My wheels cost more than your bike" + "I ride every day to and from work" = OCP activism :p

Frig'n nobody's more pro-bike than you, recursive! You even ice-bike. Judging by some other stuff posted today..."the wackos are out in full force" :o

Maybe Randya has a twin in Madison? :lol:
ha ha im watchin you chip

<freddy krueger smiley>

kind of odd that this is in the commuting forum tho, what are you doin' commuting 150 miles to the bike race <in a car>?!?!?

:eek:

:rolleyes:

kind of odd that this is in the commuting forum tho, what are you doin' commuting 150 miles to the bike race <in a car>?!?!?

:eek:

:rolleyes:
Shouldn't you be ranting in A&S forums? :rolleyes:

Shouldn't you be ranting in A&S forums? :rolleyes:
more indy 'forum police'

:rolleyes:

shouldn't you be wearing a brown shirt?

:)

more indy 'forum police'

:rolleyes:
If it were up to me you would have been banned for that little hate speach of yours in A&S.


shouldn't you be wearing a brown shirt?

:)
ha? umm, ok....

Maybe Randya has a twin in Madison? :lol:
Exactly what I was thinking!

Car?

I dont need no stinking car (It does not snow here)

Critical Mass riders routinely ignore red lights and stop signs, span avenues curb-to-curb, don’t have adequate lights on their bicycles, and deliberately block traffic by parking themselves in front of cars until all riders have passed. On several occasions during Friday evening’s ride, cars nosed into the avenues, trying to cross. Bikers aggressively surrounded those vehicles as others chanted, "Block it, block it!"


The activists seemed to become the kind of bullies they loudly despise.

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0435,baard,56392,6.html


http://haxxors.org/~monger/all_the_critics_love_u_in_new_york.mp3

kind of odd that this is in the commuting forum tho, what are you doin' commuting 150 miles to the bike race <in a car>?!?!?

:eek:

:rolleyes:

It's a transportational issue. I consider the commuting forum to be about all kinds of transportational cycling. The dude was advocating transportational cycling to me, but I'm already a believer. It might help to think of my job as a being a bike racer.

Car?

I dont need no stinking car (It does not snow here)

It DOES snow here, and I plan to put your "I don't need no stinking car" to the test this winter. Nashbar has studded tires on sale now, I just need (want) a different bike for pure 'commute' duty.

"I love State Street"
Went to my grand daughter's Christmas program in Salem, OR last Winter & noticed the Methodists are at the Corner of State Street & Church Street! Never saw anyone like that guy though.

So what kinda car were you looking at?

"Not when it's 150 miles."
"Yes you can, it's just a stretch of the legs."


:lol: still laughing at this part!

"Not when it's 150 miles."
"Yes you can, it's just a stretch of the legs."

Fine, I will be leaving at 3:00 am I will expect to see you there - just a bit of a stretch of the legs as you said. (150 miles on a MTB will cause pain in various parts - especially trying to keep up with a roadie I would assume)

So what kinda car were you looking at?

Well in general I'm looking for a car that has two attributes:

cheap
reliable


I don't care about:

appearance
age
fuel economy
engine power
anything else


This particular call was about a '95 Corolla, which actually turned out to be in not so good repair.

Get a Toyota Echo.

Get a Toyota Echo.

I'm at the whim of the sellers. I'm obviously not buying a new car. If I see an Echo available, I'll check into it.

The idea here is to go pseudo-Japanese, or go second-tier Japanese.

That means, avoid Honda and Toyota (less bang for the buck,) go for Geo (everything they sold was rebadged Suzuki, Isuzu, or Toyota - of what you'd mainly find car (not SUV)-wise, the Prism is a rebadged Corolla, and the Metro is a rebadged Suzuki Swift,) Mazda (Proteges can be damn reliable - just avoid automatics,) Ford (the 91+ Escort is a rebadged 91-94 Mazda Protege,) Nissan (OK, so they're not second-tier, but they don't quite have the Honda and Toyota reputation, yet their cars are good,) etc., etc.

I'm at the whim of the sellers. I'm obviously not buying a new car. If I see an Echo available, I'll check into it.
I only said that in jest. The Echo is the ugliest reliable car ever made, bar none.

I totally recommend a 6th generation Civic (1996-2000). For max fuel savings, try to find an HX model if you can.

Oh, that's another thing. Not caring about fuel economy, yet cycle commuting? :confused:

I am of the opinion that fuel economy and cycle commuting go hand in hand - use the least resources possible for the task.

At least you seem to be looking at compact cars, so ~30 MPG highway at least for anything.

Oh, that's another thing. Not caring about fuel economy, yet cycle commuting? :confused:

I am of the opinion that fuel economy and cycle commuting go hand in hand - use the least resources possible for the task.

At least you seem to be looking at compact cars, so ~30 MPG highway at least for anything.

I bike commute because it's so fun. Fuel savings is just a bonus.