I just watched The 40 Year Old Virgin
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Im selling my bike and buying a car as a result.
...but seriously, that movie really put a bad name to people who commute by bikes, i have never felt like such a dork. Anyone else seen the movie, and is there any truth to the way a bike commuter is symbolized via that movie, im only 18 so theres time to just ditch the bike thing and go with a car, even though its far more costly it just seems more socially accepted then a guy who shows up at a party on a bicycle, or even worst, has to get picked up by his girlfriend. Just curious on others input.
...but seriously, that movie really put a bad name to people who commute by bikes, i have never felt like such a dork. Anyone else seen the movie, and is there any truth to the way a bike commuter is symbolized via that movie, im only 18 so theres time to just ditch the bike thing and go with a car, even though its far more costly it just seems more socially accepted then a guy who shows up at a party on a bicycle, or even worst, has to get picked up by his girlfriend. Just curious on others input.
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at 18 it's probably cooler to have a car. at 28 it's probably cooler to ride a bike. i'm the fittest person among my friends.
as for the attraction thing, i nail a 23 year old hottie every night; my wife. no complaints here.
as for the attraction thing, i nail a 23 year old hottie every night; my wife. no complaints here.
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they also show him as very timid when crossing road and they also have him riding on the sidewalk.
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Well, the way I see it, Im just worried that other might think a guy bikin places as dorky, just as thos guys who play pc games all day, people consider them as pathetic, dorky, and geeky. I know commuting in NYC is considered to be quite an edgy experience, but im afraid of being labeled as a dork because i bike places, where as other drive, and that dam movie only made it worst.
btw, i like your perspective on it Wulfhier!
btw, i like your perspective on it Wulfhier!
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I think a guy biking places is sexy ... but better avoid the sidewalk
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While that movie is funny, it's typically far from reality.
I do realize that many people get part or most of thier reality from media, but you don't have to be one of those people. Meeting people that are interesting rarely centers around displays of conspicuous consumption. If you are mostly interested in bleach blonde golddiggers with implants, then yes, you need a Corvette. Preferably a convertible.
Az
I do realize that many people get part or most of thier reality from media, but you don't have to be one of those people. Meeting people that are interesting rarely centers around displays of conspicuous consumption. If you are mostly interested in bleach blonde golddiggers with implants, then yes, you need a Corvette. Preferably a convertible.
Az
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Originally Posted by peregrine
I think a guy biking places is sexy ... but better avoid the sidewalk
ha....man, if all the girls thought that way...
And very resonable post Az, you guys have quelled my fear of the notion of biking being dorky...just can fall into the trap of wearing lycra, and i guess ill be just as lucky as the guy with the new 'vette.
I guess being in shape via bikin' can only work in my favor in the long run too.
Last edited by .:Jimbo:.; 12-20-05 at 11:48 PM.
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I'm pretty sure that people consider me a dork, but it has nothing to do with my commuting to work on a bike .
It sounds cliche but, don't change how you live because of what people might think. I guarantee, in 10 years, (or 20, in my case), your fondest memories will be about the times that you lived for you and not someone else.
Have fun and enjoy the ride.
It sounds cliche but, don't change how you live because of what people might think. I guarantee, in 10 years, (or 20, in my case), your fondest memories will be about the times that you lived for you and not someone else.
Have fun and enjoy the ride.
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It's a FILM. Films are generally not based in reality. Get over it.
As for women, I've never had any problem with women not liking the fact that I commute. In fact many women like it a lot. Women who are keen on the fact that you cycle are generally more, um, fun, in my experience.......
As for women, I've never had any problem with women not liking the fact that I commute. In fact many women like it a lot. Women who are keen on the fact that you cycle are generally more, um, fun, in my experience.......
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Originally Posted by Ziemas
It's a FILM. Films are generally not based in reality. Get over it.
As for women, I've never had any problem with women not liking the fact that I commute. In fact many women like it a lot. Women who are keen on the fact that you cycle are generally more, um, fun, in my experience.......
As for women, I've never had any problem with women not liking the fact that I commute. In fact many women like it a lot. Women who are keen on the fact that you cycle are generally more, um, fun, in my experience.......
As a basic example, take someone who knows next to nothing about bicycle commuting. If they watched this movie they would file away dork=bicycle commuter. While the association would be taken with a grain of salt due to the humorous nature of the film, it still would be their main association for bicycle commuting. This is not to say there was any bad intentions in the film itself, but to deny its rather strong effects is to deny the basics of human psychology.
It's why modern media tries to shy away from presenting black people, even in a humorous context, as big lipped watermelon eaters with half a brain. (Too bad it still presents women as incompetent, or when competent, somehow abnormal).
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Hilarious movie. Although after it came out, a bunch of coworkers couldn't WAIT for me to see it. ("He RIDES TO WORK, ON A BIKE!") Have any of these people travelled? Europe? Asian? AMSTERDAM? Biking is more common almost everywhere else on the planet.
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Originally Posted by Satyr
It's why modern media tries to shy away from presenting black people, even in a humorous context, as big lipped watermelon eaters with half a brain. (Too bad it still presents women as incompetent, or when competent, somehow abnormal).
Koffee
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Yes .... I am a byke dork too. Big bike dork with an orange vest; very funny looking ...
But I do not think that many cager a#oles will like to be in a boxing match with me, they limit to yell from a safe distance.
But I do not think that many cager a#oles will like to be in a boxing match with me, they limit to yell from a safe distance.
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Heck, I don't need to ride a bike to be a dork! I can do that all by myself thank you very much!!! Seriously, who cares what anyone else thinks. If the worst anyone calls me is dork (it's not ) I can live with that.
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If you notice in the movie, as the 40 yo virgin "progresses" in the movie, his bikes get subtley cooler. He goes from the full Fred model to a cool mtb to I think a tandem in the end. As for bicycling being dorky, I'd say it depends how you roll. Are you:
1. Lance Armstrong wannabe in full spandex kit
2. 40 yo virgin on upright cruiser w/ every safety accessory imaginable
3. Kevin Bacon in circa late 1980's messenger wear
Even as a bike commuter, I consider the first two dorky and the third out-of-date and not retro. So I roll the 4th way which is however I feel comfortable.
1. Lance Armstrong wannabe in full spandex kit
2. 40 yo virgin on upright cruiser w/ every safety accessory imaginable
3. Kevin Bacon in circa late 1980's messenger wear
Even as a bike commuter, I consider the first two dorky and the third out-of-date and not retro. So I roll the 4th way which is however I feel comfortable.
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I'd be more worried about not losing my virginity before 40 than I would about being considered a dork for biking to work.
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Originally Posted by purple hayes
I'd be more worried about not losing my virginity before 40 than I would about being considered a dork for biking to work.
I think the OP is concerned that the latter would lead to the former, i.e. being a dorky bike commuter would lead to, errr, wouldn't lead to, well... you get the point.
Originally Posted by Wulfheir
as for the attraction thing, i nail a 23 year old hottie every night; my wife. no complaints here.
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Originally Posted by .:Jimbo:.
Anyone else seen the movie, and is there any truth to the way a bike commuter is symbolized via that movie, im only 18 so theres time to just ditch the bike thing and go with a car, even though its far more costly it just seems more socially accepted then a guy who shows up at a party on a bicycle, or even worst, has to get picked up by his girlfriend. Just curious on others input.
Now that I am older, women have established themselves, a car is not as important, in fact cycling to work shows that you are fit, strong and independent, not just a couch potato. Funny how things change.
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I got my driver's license at 16 and suddenly became very hostile to cyclists. I could not comprehend why somebody older than me would be on a bicycle. A decade later I became a "bicycle dork" as my environmental awareness grew. My ex-wife (notice the "ex" part) got really upset with me one day because I wore an orange vest while riding with her and she was embarassed to ride with me. Today, age 35, I do what I please, and I don't care what anybody thinks. Ridicule decreases with age, while those doing the ridiculing become fat bastards with age. Stick with the bike.
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Originally Posted by Satyr
As a basic example, take someone who knows next to nothing about bicycle commuting. If they watched this movie they would file away dork=bicycle commuter.
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Originally Posted by vegcrow
...My ex-wife (notice the "ex" part) got really upset with me one day because I wore an orange vest while riding with her and she was embarassed to ride with me....
Anyway, dorkiness isn't limited to guys, is it? Would a woman wearing an in-your-face bright yellow jacket and really really bright blinkies be dorky?
In any case, I agree with all the others who said don't care what other people might think. It's something that would never ever keep me from riding.
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Embrace your inner dork and be visible and safe on the road.
A high visibility vest in your local hardware store goes anywhere from 10 to 20 bucks
A high visibility vest in your local hardware store goes anywhere from 10 to 20 bucks
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Originally Posted by peregrine
Anyway, dorkiness isn't limited to guys, is it? Would a woman wearing an in-your-face bright yellow jacket and really really bright blinkies be dorky?
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
If you notice in the movie, as the 40 yo virgin "progresses" in the movie, his bikes get subtley cooler. He goes from the full Fred model to a cool mtb to I think a tandem in the end.
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Originally Posted by peregrine
I'm sorry if my comment's inappropriate, vegcrow but that sounds quite conceited.