Foo - No respect for a guy on a bike in a college town?

Upstate NY is a very strange place. Very strange.

I currently live in Albany, which is a serious college city. Four colleges, a law school, and medical school within 22 square miles. I ride everywhere because parking is a bear, and I'm constantly struggling to find places to hitch my bike safely because there isn't much cycling infrastructure around here... But I digress.

The real issue amazingly is other college age people. With a few exceptions everyone seems to think my riding around is very strange. Expounding on the benefits of cycling here is sort of pointless, but really. My whole city is less than ten miles long. Almost everything I need to do besides work(which is 22 miles away) is within that little patch of land. Almost everyone I go to school with is the same way, but despite this they drive or take the bus for everything and look down on the lowly cyclist. Older people are fairly friendly to me, but college kids in cars will give me the finger and yell things at me for no reason in the middle of the afternoon.

The worst is women. I was going to meet a girl from one of my classes at her place across town to watch a movie, and when I got there I asked if she'd prefer if I hitched my bike to her porch, or if I could put it in the entryway(which was sizable and tiled, and my bike was clean). Her whole mood changed RIGHT THEN, and there was no second date. That wasn't the first time this has happened. I don't get it.

People are dumb, and I needed to rant. I'm assuming this happens to other people too, so share away...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/BattleRabbitBand/3ca3dc5c.jpg
^My most non-fixie Chariot of Fire.

Find a girl who rides a bike. She'll understand and possibly even let you decorate with them.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr329/joy_stimpy/Photoon2011-10-11at2225.jpg

It's tough being the only cool guy in town.

Put on a happy face and become the trend setter! Express to others how easily you got from point A to point B! Don't apologize, just ride!

You're not different, you're just setting the trend:)

http://blogs.planning.org/kids/2011/09/23/carfree-is-now-cool-and-green/

@1nterceptor, I'm all good with being different, but there is no reason for people to be pricks over something so simple as choosing to go from A to B by bike rather than by car.

@Cyclomania, I'd love to be the trend setter! My school has exactly two bike racks. One never has more than 5-6 bikes on it, and the other seldom has even one. It'd make me so happy to have to hitch my bike to a signpost because the racks were too full for me to fit my bike. That has NEVER happened. I'll keep riding around with my happy face though, and leaning into corners like a superbike rider!

@<3 2 Ride, You described a unicorn. I'm glad you found one, and I know Sixty Fiver did too, but they just don't show up 'round these parts!

I like coming to these forums, such a positive place.

@<3 2 Ride, You described a unicorn. I'm glad you found one, and I know Sixty Fiver did too, but they just don't show up 'round these parts!


UA got over the emo and unicorn stage.

@<3 2 Ride, You described a unicorn. I'm glad you found one, and I know Sixty Fiver did too, but they just don't show up 'round these parts!

I like coming to these forums, such a positive place.

Correction...I am one. UA found me...on here...in Foo.

Give yourself time and keep on pedaling. She'll turn up eventually.

@<3 2 Ride, You described a unicorn. I'm glad you found one, and I know Sixty Fiver did too, but they just don't show up 'round these parts!

I like coming to these forums, such a positive place.

<3 2 Ride is the legend. We should all be so lucky!

I was going to meet a girl from one of my classes at her place across town to watch a movie, and when I got there I asked if she'd prefer if I hitched my bike to her porch, or if I could put it in the entryway(which was sizable and tiled, and my bike was clean). Her whole mood changed RIGHT THEN, and there was no second date.


Strange. I guess she never saw The Jane Austen Book Club

The answer is obvious, you can't have sex in the back of a bicycle.

^^^I'm thinking you'll get some arguments on that in a moment...

The answer is obvious, you can't have sex in the back of a bicycle.

You're not very creative.

^^^I'm thinking you'll get some arguments on that in a moment...

You'd need a pretty sizable fairing to pull off "in the back of a bicycle."

While straddling a bicycle is much more possible, it is kinda absurd...

Well, if you had a bakfiets... but then you'd be doing it in the FRONT of the bicycle.

XtraCycle, perhaps?

You're a dork, get used to it.

I mean that in the most kind and admiring way, but it is the curse of the cyclist to be somewhat of a social outcast.

The only consolation you have is if you ride upright rather than recumbent. Once you go recumbent, it's all over and you just stop giving a crap...out of necessity.

She is obviously stupid. So no loss

There's also the possibility that it was just your bike in particular that turned her off.

Perhaps you need a new style:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGLNPJ9VCE

The *real* issue here is going unnoticed... op, HTFU and ride those 22 miles to work!

The answer is obvious, you can't have sex in the back of a bicycle.

You are forgetting about the need to take a shower when you arrive. Now which would you prefer, the back of a Honda Civic or the mutual lathering up and cool embrace as water cascades around you. :love:

Here we have it from the authority on America and Apple Pie in a Chevrolet!

Current GM ad..."Stop pedaling...Start Driving"

222534

The *real* issue here is going unnoticed... op, HTFU and ride those 22 miles to work!

HTFU? I'd ride it if my schedule permitted. I only have like 35 minutes between work and class most days.

You're young, but you should realize that your bike is doing you a favor. Those gals who reject you because of the bike. Well, they quickly proved that they are not up to your standards. Dating is a rough affair, you are lucky you didn't waste more time with those women.

Have you thought about looking for a more bicycle friendly campus? League of American Bicyclists likes these campuses.

Stanford University 2011 PlatinumStanford, CA
University of California, Davis 2011 Gold Davis, CA
University of California, Santa Barbara 2011 Gold Santa Barbara, CA
California State Long Beach 2011 Silver Long Beach, CA
Colorado State University 2011 Silver Fort Collins, CO
Portland State University 2011 Silver Portland, OR
University of Arizona 2011 Silver Tucson, AZ
University of California, Irvine 2011 Silver Irvine, CA
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 2011 Silver Twin Cities, MN
University of Oregon 2011 Silver Eugene, OR
University of Washington 2011 Silver Seattle, WA
University of Wisconsin, Madison 2011 Silver Madison, WI
Boise State University 2011 Bronze Boise, ID
Cornell University 2011 Bronze Ithaca, NY
Emory University 2011 Bronze Atlanta, GA
Indiana University 2011 Bronze Bloomington, IN
Michigan State University 2011 Bronze East Lansing, MI
University of North Carolina, Greensboro 2011 Bronze Greensboro, NC
University of California Los Angeles 2011 Bronze Los Angeles, CA
University of Maryland 2011 Bronze College Park, MD
Chatham University 2011 Bronze Pittsburgh, PA
George Mason University 2011 Bronze Fairfax, VA
Ohio State University, Columbus 2011 Bronze Columbus, OH
University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign 2011 Bronze Champaign, IL
University of North Carolina, Wilmington 2011 Bronze Wilmington, NC
University of Vermont 2011 Bronze Burlington, VT

And these got Honorable Mention
Duke University Spring 2011
Macalester College Spring 2011
University of Central Oklahoma Spring 2011
University of Chicago Spring 2011
University of Cincinnati Spring 2011
University of Hawaii Spring 2011
University of Kentucky Spring 2011
University of Missouri-Kansas City Spring 2011
University of Texas Austin Spring 2011
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Spring 2011
California State University, Fullerton Fall 2011
Southwestern University Fall 2011
University of California Berkeley Fall 2011
University of Georgia Fall 2011

If you choose to stay in Albany, check out the Albany Bicycle Coalition (http://albanybicyclecoalition.com/2010/05/13/a-look-at-bicycle-advocacy/). At least you'll have good company and maybe help change things.

HTFU? I'd ride it if my schedule permitted. I only have like 35 minutes between work and class most days.

Like dude, did you hear that? That was my skull.

^^^ I don't get it

Stanford University 2011 Platinum Stanford, CA


We take transfers. :) You'd be quite the freak here if you DIDN'T have a bike.

... wait, what happened to the "sex in the back of a bicycle" subthread here?

^^^ I don't get it

That's what she said.;)

Like dude, did you hear that? That was my skull.

That doesn't even make sense.

That doesn't even make sense.

now you know the real reason you can't get chicks

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow.

We take transfers. :) You'd be quite the freak here if you DIDN'T have a bike.

... wait, what happened to the "sex in the back of a bicycle" subthread here?

Personally, I'd rather stay in Albany and get dissed there than have to date Stanford girls.








(Go Bears! ;))

Upstate NY is a very strange place. Very strange.

I currently live in Albany, which is a serious college city. Four colleges, a law school, and medical school within 22 square miles. I ride everywhere because parking is a bear, and I'm constantly struggling to find places to hitch my bike safely because there isn't much cycling infrastructure around here... But I digress.

The real issue amazingly is other college age people. With a few exceptions everyone seems to think my riding around is very strange. Expounding on the benefits of cycling here is sort of pointless, but really. My whole city is less than ten miles long. Almost everything I need to do besides work(which is 22 miles away) is within that little patch of land. Almost everyone I go to school with is the same way, but despite this they drive or take the bus for everything and look down on the lowly cyclist. Older people are fairly friendly to me, but college kids in cars will give me the finger and yell things at me for no reason in the middle of the afternoon.

The worst is women. I was going to meet a girl from one of my classes at her place across town to watch a movie, and when I got there I asked if she'd prefer if I hitched my bike to her porch, or if I could put it in the entryway(which was sizable and tiled, and my bike was clean). Her whole mood changed RIGHT THEN, and there was no second date. That wasn't the first time this has happened. I don't get it.

People are dumb, and I needed to rant. I'm assuming this happens to other people too, so share away...


You sure you weren't sweaty from the ride over or have the commuter tattoo of chain grease? That'd be a deal killer for most girls unless they were super crunchy.

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow.

exactly

...

If you upgrade to carbon, you will get your ashes hauled. Showing up with a steel fixie is a rooster-blocker.

PS: I am proud of the family-friendly phrasing of 'rooster blocker'. You read it here first, people.

That doesn't even make sense.

How about now? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZQwnJTPh-M&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fresults%3Fsearch_query%3Dspicoli%2Bskull%26aq%3Df)

Well, if you had a bakfiets... but then you'd be doing it in the FRONT of the bicycle. XtraCycle, perhaps?

Or get yourself a Bikes at Work trailer. Mine has enough room for both of you.

Personally, I'd rather stay in Albany and get dissed there than have to date Stanford girls.
(Go Bears! ;))

Meh, I'm just staff, and happily married at that, so I don't give a fig about the women OR the rivalry.

Or get yourself a Bikes at Work trailer. Mine has enough room for both of you.

See? There is a solution to this problem.

Popup bike camper?

http://www.amazon.com/Kamp-Rite-Bushtrekka-Bicycle-Trailer-Oversize/dp/B002KKBT9Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318450692&sr=8-3

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mmAe%2BoRGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

You sure you weren't sweaty from the ride over or have the commuter tattoo of chain grease? That'd be a deal killer for most girls unless they were super crunchy.

Super crunchy? I like that phrasing. Nah, no commuter tattoo(well, I did have it on the inside of my jeans where the rolled up part made slight contact with the chain). I wasn't really sweaty either, no more so than if I had walked.

And @artkansas, I've been meaning to get down to the Albany Bicycle Coalition. They left a flyer on my bike a while back(and weirdly only my bike, of the five on the rack). They host some cool stuff, and they're affiliated with the Troy Bike Rescue, which is also a cool group.

Popup bike camper?

http://www.amazon.com/Kamp-Rite-Bushtrekka-Bicycle-Trailer-Oversize/dp/B002KKBT9Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318450692&sr=8-3

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mmAe%2BoRGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I like the way you think, Tom.

I like the way you think, Tom.

Me too, I want it. If only a $600 bike trailer was in the budget... I could withdraw from my dorm residence and live in it I suppose....

Are you the dude in this ad?

http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gmAd_big1.jpg

Someone already posted that ad on the first page of the thread.

Dangit, I missed the tiny picture. Oh, well.

Super crunchy? I like that phrasing. Nah, no commuter tattoo(well, I did have it on the inside of my jeans where the rolled up part made slight contact with the chain). I wasn't really sweaty either, no more so than if I had walked.

And @artkansas, I've been meaning to get down to the Albany Bicycle Coalition. They left a flyer on my bike a while back(and weirdly only my bike, of the five on the rack). They host some cool stuff, and they're affiliated with the Troy Bike Rescue, which is also a cool group.

Go to the co-op already! The girls there have pre selected themselves for you.

Are you the dude in this ad?

http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gmAd_big1.jpg

Nope, I have far too much beard to be him at the moment(I am being the Dos Equis guy for Halloween, so it's sort of necessary).

Find a girl who rides a bike. She'll understand and possibly even let you decorate with them.
http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr329/joy_stimpy/Photoon2011-10-11at2225.jpg

+1 There are more girls who ride bikes than you think. And we're not all super-crunchy...just a little granola-ish. I mean, I shave my legs, don't have dreadlocks, and shower regularly :D Maybe when she found out you ride, she was afraid that you shave your legs.

When I was in College, there seemed to be this whole thing about wearing an expensive watch and the girls seemed to like the guys with the fanciest watch. Lame and shallow. Don't get drawn into any of that crap.

Though long term committed relationships aren't, um, always what a young college guy is after-- a bike lifestyle is a good filter for finding a cool open minded girl who is into you for you not the social class associations of your wheels.

Pick up your girl in a zip car for a cool date once a semester, and you should be set....