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Stupid/Funny/Ignorant things your co-workers say:

Old 08-25-14, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Motolegs
"Hey (insert first name here) Armstrong!" Dumb.
+1

or. . . "Five miles?!?!? WOW!!!"
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Old 08-25-14, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by CommuteCommando
+1

or. . . "Five miles?!?!? WOW!!!"
This is actually one of the funny statements I get from the more sedentary staff here.

I then proceed to say, "I know! Then, some days, I even ride a longer route that is ten miles!"
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Old 08-25-14, 01:36 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
What type of workplace is that? Any guess on the average age of your co-workers?
It's a combination of 3 creative media companies which are all affiliated in one way or another. I'm the oldest guy (barely) at 52, the age range is high 20's to 52. I'd say average is mid to upper 30's. Minnie is a strong bike town with a great bike culture especially in the city and in the creative community.
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Old 08-25-14, 01:42 PM
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What do you do if you have to work late and it's dark? REALLY??? You've never heard of bike lights?
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Old 08-25-14, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
What do you do if you have to work late and it's dark? REALLY??? You've never heard of bike lights?
I just sleep here would be my answer. With either a crazy smile or a pathetic whimper.
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Old 08-25-14, 02:26 PM
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Most of my co-workers are curious more than anything. Asking "How many miles" or "Wasn't it too hot to ride today", etc etc. I don't doubt I'm "that guy" at the office but I don't get any negative vibes from anyone.

edit: the most memorable comment was a co-worker saying I was walking around with "my guns out" referring to my legs. Since apparently, I'm the only guy in the office who has ever been seen wearing shorts.

Last edited by Hyperbole; 08-25-14 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 08-25-14, 02:42 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Reynolds
Different appreciation of weather too. On a very hot day, a woman said she was so tired and uncomfortable, her car's AC broke and she had to drive to work (1/2 hr) without it.
Heh, bike-commuting is why I haven't been in a hurry to get my car's AC fixed. (I think it's just an electrical/switch problem.)
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Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
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Old 08-25-14, 02:43 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by caloso
I wish I could ride but I have to wear a tie to work.
That sucks! Is this a new development?
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Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
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Old 08-25-14, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
That sucks! Is this a new development?
Nope. I'm a lawyer. I've always had to wear a tie to work and I've always bike commuted, but many of my coworkers find these things to be mutually exclusive.
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Old 08-25-14, 02:53 PM
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I loved this one:
"Mind if I ask how old you are?"
"Sixty one."
He claps and spins around. "Dawg! You are BLESSED!"
"Thanks. I guess I am."

Most comments I get are curious, complimentary, or somewhat envious.
The most annoying, while well-intentioned: "Be safe."
"You too."
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Old 08-25-14, 02:54 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
"So...are you still riding to work?"
Yep, that's most common for me.

Also wrt OP and rain, I tell people that I have a superpower that I can get web, and it doesn't harm me at all. I even regularly strip naked and step into a torrential downpour (conveniently heated) just to wash myself off.

And I get a lot of comments about my kittier, which I carry into and out of work and the locker room. Usually it's "wow, that's quite a big lunch!", but the best one was, one guy thought I had just gone fishing!
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Old 08-25-14, 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Reynolds
At first my co-workers looked at me like a sort of freak, but now they accept me. In fact, when a new one asked "Did you really ride all the way from there?" (11 km) another replied proudly "He does it every day!"
Different appreciation of weather too. On a very hot day, a woman said she was so tired and uncomfortable, her car's AC broke and she had to drive to work (1/2 hr) without it.
I've been asked that too, and love the looks I get when I say "and I'm going to ride that far when I go home too".
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Old 08-25-14, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
Nope. I'm a lawyer. I've always had to wear a tie to work and I've always bike commuted, but many of my coworkers find these things to be mutually exclusive.
Whoops! Your post was quoting those other people. Derp.
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Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
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Old 08-25-14, 03:14 PM
  #64  
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My office is up on the second floor so when I arrive I take the elevator up. Once while waiting on the elevator one of my co-workers walks past me heading towards the stairs and says "you rode all this way and now you take the elevator?". I said "you drove your car here and now you take the stairs?"
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Old 08-25-14, 03:15 PM
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Most of my commuters are impressed, inquisitive, or don't care (in a fine way, like I don't like or hate coworkers who like talking about football, I just don't care).

There was only 1 guy who made a big deal about it being stupid, and guess what? He's the fat guy of the office. He didn't talk to me for a week afterwards when I shot back "Why is it always to out of shape overweight guy who thinks exercising is stupid?". Lol.

Last edited by PaulRivers; 08-25-14 at 03:20 PM.
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Old 08-25-14, 03:53 PM
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When I am carrying my yellow Ortlieb panniers and wearing my bike shorts: "Are you motorcycling today?"
When I am carrying my backpack, wearing my leathers and carrying my motorcycle helmet: "Are you biking today?"
...from the same person.

The other one is, "It's going to rain. Are you still going to ride?"
Answer, every single time, "Yes, I ride all the time. If I didn't ride in the rain I wouldn't ride much."
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Old 08-25-14, 04:37 PM
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I had someone in the office tell me I shouldn't ride my bike in the winter because my hands would get too cold and I'd get arthritis.

Wouldn't that apply to anyone spending time outside in the winter like skiers, snowmobilers, ice fisherman, construction workers, etc. ?

Speaking of construction workers, people will ask me all the time about riding in cold weather. My commutes do take longer in the winter but usually no more than 50 minutes. Some people work outside all day long.
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Old 08-25-14, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by PaulRivers

There was only 1 guy who made a big deal about it being stupid, and guess what? He's the fat guy of the office.
Same here. The guy who made the Armstrong crack only rides a couch. He thought he had come up with something witty and original.

And enough of Armstrong already! At least pick a new racer!
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Old 08-25-14, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
I wish I could ride but I have to wear a tie to work.
As a former executive officer in Fortune 500 corporations where proper business attire was appropriate I'd say that your avocation & it's uniform can well afford the ability to do as you please and afford the kit you require when not "in harness" if you are serious about it. Commuting on a bicycle is not appropriate or practical for all jobs, ride instead when/where you can & as you please.

-Bandera
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Old 08-25-14, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Bandera
As a former executive officer in Fortune 500 corporations where proper business attire was appropriate I'd say that your avocation & it's uniform can well afford the ability to do as you please and afford the kit you require when not "in harness" if you are serious about it. Commuting on a bicycle is not appropriate or practical for all jobs, ride instead when/where you can & as you please.

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Is this something someone said to you or a statement you are making?

In general I find it a confusing first sentence.
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Old 08-25-14, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by joeyduck
Is this something someone said to you or a statement you are making?

In general I find it a confusing first sentence.
As you might have noticed it's a "Reply w/ Quote" to @caloso 's previous post:

"I wish I could ride but I have to wear a tie to work." which was fully referenced in my response.

Any less confused now?

-Bandera
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Old 08-25-14, 06:32 PM
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Sorry. All this confusion is based on my failing to use quotation marks. It was an example of the stupid/funny/ignorant things my coworkers have said to me. I wear a tie nearly every day. When I walk in the office door I'm fully dressed after going to the locker room, showering, and dressing for work. On days when it's cool and I am taking a mellow ride directly to work, I'll even wear a tie on the bike. It's not a big deal. That was the point.
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Old 08-25-14, 08:24 PM
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Mostly, I work with young people who are concerned for the old guy's health and safety. People have offered to drive me home many times; when it's raining or late. One administrative assistant always ask, when I bring my bike into the building, "did you ride your bicycle today?". I think it has become a greeting more than an question. I just say "sure did" and we leave it at that. I've never received any negative comments.
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Old 08-25-14, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Reynolds
At first my co-workers looked at me like a sort of freak, but now they accept me. In fact, when a new one asked "Did you really ride all the way from there?" (11 km) another replied proudly "He does it every day!"
Different appreciation of weather too. On a very hot day, a woman said she was so tired and uncomfortable, her car's AC broke and she had to drive to work (1/2 hr) without it.
Think about it - sitting in an unairconditioned car, glued to a plastic seat by your sweat?

Would you rather do that, or ride?
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Old 08-25-14, 10:38 PM
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Not that frequently at work, because everyone's used to it and I work in Boston, where there's a lot of bike usage, but I'm frequently asked, "did you [really] ride your bike here?" (or variations on that theme). My usual response is, "well, yeah...how else was I gonna get here?"
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