enigmaT120

These guys (their trails, anyway) are only a couple of miles away from me, but I don't do what they do and don't know any of them. I should at least go down their easy trail some time, after pedaling all the way to the top of course.

Blackrock Mountain Bike Association

I pretty much just ride around on the logging roads past the locked gates that say "No motorized vehicles beyond this point."

Roody

Thanks, but I dont do as much as I feel I should. I don't particularly enjoy volunteer work, so I kind of force myself. Its easy to come up with excuses, but one valid one is that I work in the evening, when these groups usually have their meetings and events.

enigmaT120

Uh, meetings. Most of the meetings I go to (church board, watershed council and local small woodland owners' board of directors) are in locations that make bicycling those days not worth it to me or are at times that I can't make it there in time, without driving.

The president of our woodlands chapter is an avid bicyclist though. He invented this:

About Havel Designs

It would block my headlight, though.

cooker

Since this thread started, I've noticed a steady increase in the number of cyclists in town and at work. In fact our CEO is a roadie and she sometimes bike commutes.

gerv 

My experience early on is similar to yours. I was not having a particularly interesting time. In fact sometimes it was really counter to my own philosophy. However, something in me kept saying, "Stick with this. Don't give up."

I did and eventually all the negative forces seemed to vanish. Over time. And I eventually met a number of people who became close friends.

To be honest, a lot of what happened is that I became a little more outgoing and discovered that some of the negativity on other's parts was really just shyness or fear.

gerv 

That's the power of the Zombie thread!!

Walter S

I'm right across the hall from another cycling enthusiast. And in a company of hundreds, we're the only regular cyclists. But he never commutes. I'm the only one doing that.

pumabicycle

I get asked about bikes and riding everyday, at least a ten times a day by all manners of people and all kinds of questions; what kind of bike is that, what kind of bike should I get, is that seat comfortable, is riding dangerous,et cetera?

I think people are envious and want that feeling of freedom, I'm not sure they actually recognize what it is that they're attracted to but they know they like it. They want to be in shape again too. But somehow their mind is anchored to the car and this sedentary lifestyle.

Nearly all of my good friends lives also revolve around cycling but we still manage to talk about varied topics. People I don't know always seem to want to discuss bikes with me so I end of talking about bikes a lot.

I-Like-To-Bike

Wow that sure is something! Are these strangers coming up to you on the street with their questions? Or are they your acquaintances asking you these questions day after day? Is there something special about you or your bicycle to make so many people so curious? Are you the only bicyclist in your locale?

pumabicycle

Strangers, business customers, cops, casual acquaintances, lots of different types of people really. I'm not sure there's anything special about me maybe other than I'm in incredible shape and tend to be very friendly to every person I come across. In my youth I worked as a bartender in a very stressful environment where people basically hated me before they even knew me, that experience taught me a lot about people, how to really hit it off with anyone. I can make even the most surly people smile so lots of people end up talking to me all the time.

I have two bikes; a $200 beater Schwinn from Target and a fully restored 1983 Puch. I ride the Schwinn about 40 miles a day, five days a week. I read that my city has the lowest per capita bicycle commuter rate of any place in the USA. I attribute this to people thinking "it's too hot" or uncomfortable to deal with. They want to ride but environmental factors and whatever is going on in their head limits them.

There's lots of cyclists, I suppose that they get asked too.

Roody

I get asked a lot of questions too, from both acquaintances and total strangers. I also ask a lot of questions, for example if I see somebody riding an unusual bike or using some interesting gear. I learn a lot here on BF, but the advantage of asking people I see is that they can give me information that's customized to the local area.

I bet you are a friendly person and people feel comfortable approaching you with comments and questions. I imagine somebody with a generally sour and cynical outlook wouldn't be approached as much by other people.

kookaburra1701

I used to get asked lots of questions and have total strangers come up to shoot the breeze with me, but it's gnat and mosquito season now. Mostly I just get funny looks, what with my bug net and all.

mustridebikes

I'm the only regular bike commuter at work, and that's been the case at the past several companies as well. My solution to the inevitable "why do you ride a bike to work?" questions has been humor. Currently on the bulletin board outside my office: