Commuting - No, I'm not dressed up for Halloween

This sort of goes with the thread And they all thought I was crazy. But this was an added dimension that I took the wrong way today. I got there early and had an inservice to go to, so I stayed in my bike clothes a little longer than usual, and the razzing I got was too much. I don't understand the disconnect. For almost 6 months I've ridden to this job, and I get all sorts of silly comments about the spandex. But today it was enough, and I fought back, when the comments were about a costume for halloween, I degraded people's hair and dress, and weight, and anything I could push buttons on. I won't not ride because of some stupid teasing, but I don't like be the brunt of the jokes, and the comments. I love riding, and I know others at work do too, they are the ones that are most vocal, like it gives them a right.

Usually I am good at letting the comments roll off my back, but today was different, I'm angry, and I would like to put an end to the comments.

Any suggestions?

Any suggestions?

None really, I would just not take it so seriously, you do what you love for yourself and nobody else, so if you enjoy the commute, then so be it. Don't get so defensive, I occasionally get the same jokes from co-workers, although I don't wear the lycra that much (I MTB to work so the baggy shorts goes with the territory) but usually when people comment on my lycra shorts, I usually reply "better me than you!" But it's mostly my friends who make comments so it's all in fun. Don't let it get to you, in other words. Face it, we're all a little weird, everybody, it's what makes living fun and great.

Jay

I had a coworker who made fun of my shorts for a while, then he confided that he was jealous--that he would never be able to wear shorts like that. I also had some young guys make fun of me once, but I noticed their girlfriends were not laughing...

They make some great shorts for the MTB crowd that have the padding built in, without the spandex look. I also occasionally wear padded undershorts (the pair I have today are Trek brand) under regular shorts.

Next time they make fun of you, show 'em your quads.

When I was employed and commuting to work I got some of the same comments, mostly from the younger folks and those who were not overweight.

But I also got a lot of "great legs" comments from the women.

I understand how annoying it can be, but really you can't let it get to you. Trust me I've heard all the jokes you can think of, but what I have found to be the best defense, is to go right along with the joke and even maybe poke fun at yourself. when you are laughing too it takes a bunch of steam out of someone who is trying to make you feel stupid. (IMHO)

anyhow you should be happy about commuting, the people making fun of you are only doing so because they are trapped in their cars.... drive to work, work to drive :rolleyes:

good luck :D

Earlier in the week my wife asked me if I was going to dress up at work for Halloween. I said I wasn't planning to and besides, I didn't really have any kind of costume.

She said "Why don't you just go as a cyclist?"

"Hey! Those shorts and jerseys aren't a costume, they're practical! And not everyone can wear lycra so you should be glad your husband is in good enough shape!" Blah, blah, blah. And so on.... She started laughing and said she was just pushing my buttons.

The best revenge is living well. Which means you have won already. Behavior is pretty simple stuff......sometimes. You can extinguish a behavior by ignoring it, or by dealing with it. Ignoring it is by far the best route. You just made that tougher by responding and reinforcing the behavior. Your other option
is to take the underlying fear and jealousy for the compliment it is. This is part of the human dominance ritual, and it's made more complicated by the fact your office has unclear hierarchy rules. Nonetheless.....when someone makes a joke like that, your repsonse should be along the lines of Thanks, I never thought of it that way -or- And I feel even better than I look. Be upbeat, assertive, and gregarious. Be showing their fear, they have already given you an edge in the dominance struggle.

heh...I guess I wasn't helping the cyclists' cause at the Halloween party I went to last weekend, because I DID go dressed up as a cyclist! Sorry! And I know, it's kind of a cheap costume, but it was still "dressing up" for me, since I normally don't wear spandex or a jersey.

As for a solution to your problem, if you want to stop getting angry, you have to find some way to prevent the comments from bothering you, which is something that's hard to give advice on. If you really want to go straight to the source, and prevent the comments in the first place, I think the only solution would be to stop wearing the kind of clothes that people make fun of. That might be "letting them win", but hey, it's a really simple solution. I just wear regular shorts and a t-shirt (nothing cycling-specific), and never get any comments.

I used to be very polite and answer, "Thank you! for your comments and insights. Now I'm going to the bathroom and mull them over while I take a dump."
Then I'd go to the bathroom, wash my hands, comb my hair and then go out to the culprit and say, "I thought it over." Then flip them a bird.

Wow! I wear riding shorts and I'm 225lbs! Yea, thats right, a fat guy in Lycra! You think I don't get some comments?!? I just reply with, "You should have seen me 120lbs ago :eek: !" That normally catches them off guard and changes the entire flow of the conversation.

Besides, that is one sweet ride your commuting with! They must be green with envy! :D

My kid elementary school teacher used to say that those who make fun of others might as well just hang a sign from their necks saying, "I don't like myself."

She was right. These comments are just lame excuses for intolerance of something different that makes them question themselves.

I've been riding into the same work area for 18 years and I still get the same comments from the same people. What a lack of wit. You'd think they could at least come up with something different by now. I usually respond to comments about my shorts or tights by offereing the offender a pair of extra tights I have in my locker to wear if he'd like to wear some.

It's really amazing. Comments like, "nice tights" are full of both disdain and admiration.