How Many People Stare and Talk W/You During Ride Breaks?
11-14-16, 01:28 PM
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Staring at me, no. But I've had a number of nice conversations with other cyclists or wanna-be cyclists about my bikes, gear, etc. So that's always fun, and I like the thought that I might inspire someone else to take up the sport.
11-14-16, 01:37 PM
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I also have fellow cyclists notice when I check out cycling related web pages on my laptop at cafe.
Yeah, people will snoop on your web surfing when you're out and about, it's part of the game, I suppose.
Yeah, people will snoop on your web surfing when you're out and about, it's part of the game, I suppose.
11-14-16, 01:53 PM
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In all seriousness (not that this thread necessarily warrants seriousness), I can tell many of you have never done any loaded touring. I do at least one week+ trip every year and several shorter ones. On the longer trips, I get asked nearly daily about where I started and where I am going. Sometimes more than once/day. And then there's the inevitable "How much does your bike weigh?", which I never have an answer for.
It actually can get a bit exhausting when people want to talk you up about your trip, especially if you are trying to make time. Nonetheless, I always try to oblige them with a smile. You never know when you might need a ride from a local.
One poster in the Touring forum joked that he would like to have a little tape player, record answers to the most frequently asked question, turn it on and leave it on his bike while he went to have a meal or use the bathroom. The idea made me LOL.
But sometimes, conversations can go awry. Back in September I was touring from Brattleboro, VT to my home in Philly. One afternoon, after making camp, I was waiting for an order of wings in a small town in New York state. The counter girl asked me about my day's route. I told her and mentioned that I had passed through this one small town sort of off the beaten path that appeared to be home to an orthodox Jewish community. She responded "I hate how the Jews are trying to take over everything there. They are trying to take over the convenience store from the Indians, but the Indians don't wan to sell to them." Uh. O.K. Can I have my wings so I can leave your restaurant?
It actually can get a bit exhausting when people want to talk you up about your trip, especially if you are trying to make time. Nonetheless, I always try to oblige them with a smile. You never know when you might need a ride from a local.
One poster in the Touring forum joked that he would like to have a little tape player, record answers to the most frequently asked question, turn it on and leave it on his bike while he went to have a meal or use the bathroom. The idea made me LOL.
But sometimes, conversations can go awry. Back in September I was touring from Brattleboro, VT to my home in Philly. One afternoon, after making camp, I was waiting for an order of wings in a small town in New York state. The counter girl asked me about my day's route. I told her and mentioned that I had passed through this one small town sort of off the beaten path that appeared to be home to an orthodox Jewish community. She responded "I hate how the Jews are trying to take over everything there. They are trying to take over the convenience store from the Indians, but the Indians don't wan to sell to them." Uh. O.K. Can I have my wings so I can leave your restaurant?
11-14-16, 01:58 PM
#30
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I usually go to a cafe post ride for a snack.
Or, I might bring along my backpack and fill it with groceries at the end of a ride.
I leave my helmet on, of course. And it has a headlight and taillight.
Sometimes the light is still on, usually not. Usually, several people stare for prolonged periods and occasionally someone will chat with me.
I think the helmet + light + sunglasses + cycling jacket is a bit of a "kitted out" look and draws attention.
Or, I might bring along my backpack and fill it with groceries at the end of a ride.
I leave my helmet on, of course. And it has a headlight and taillight.
Sometimes the light is still on, usually not. Usually, several people stare for prolonged periods and occasionally someone will chat with me.
I think the helmet + light + sunglasses + cycling jacket is a bit of a "kitted out" look and draws attention.
11-14-16, 02:00 PM
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11-14-16, 02:05 PM
#32
In the wind
11-14-16, 02:11 PM
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I do think people sometime notice my firm rear end.... as when walking away I've heard people whisper... "what an ass".
11-14-16, 02:21 PM
#34
Portland Fred
People often talk to me. But my bikes look a bit different than what they're used to.
11-14-16, 02:27 PM
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11-14-16, 02:30 PM
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11-14-16, 03:12 PM
#37
Portland Fred
11-14-16, 03:14 PM
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I leave my helmet on, of course.
Back when my son was younger, I was a Cub Scout Den Leader. It came time for the Cubs to take a bicycle ride to get a Merit patch accomplished. Another Den and ours were doing it together. We were to leave from the other Den Leader's house and take these grade schoolers around the neighborhood. I was outside going over the kids bikes when the other Den Leader came out of his garage. The kids and I were standing around in our scout uniforms. He comes out of the house fully kitted up! The kids starting laughing at him and he got slightly offended. He then walked across his garage, stepped around his MTB and selected his road bike for the excursion. It was a Trek, of course. All I could think of was 2 females walking along the beach talking about Summers Eve.
11-14-16, 03:26 PM
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Fairly often! I remember riding on a hot summer day, I stopped at a convenience store to get a sport drink. I was standing outside with my helmet on, when some lady walked up and looked down at my legs and said, "ooooh nice legs!". Kind of exciting and good thing she walked away when she did because spandex is pretty revealing! 
But yes, people often comment or start conversation when my bikes are present.
But yes, people often comment or start conversation when my bikes are present.
11-14-16, 03:29 PM
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Been around it twice during Cycle Oregon. First time I rode up from camp at Diamond Lake, did the Rim Road, and road back down. Second time I rode up from Fort Klamath, did the Rim Road, and then rode down to Prospect for the night. Both days aged me.
11-14-16, 03:54 PM
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Usually, people stare when I'm riding in a downpour or in a small town where they rarely see cyclists. Kind of like that "you ain't from around here, are ya?" look. Any other times it's just the crows and ravens giving me the evil eye...Creeps me out...
11-14-16, 04:09 PM
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There is one place I often stop at that is on a local MUT, at a canal lock. I often incorporate this trail in my loop, mostly because it gets me east in a part of town where the few roads are skinny, winding, decaying, and bursting with traffic. I have had more people ask me 'dumb questions' here than anyplace else; things like why my tire valves look different, why my tires are so narrow, leather saddle incomprehension, and even disbelief that clipless pedals even exist, much less that they've been around for some 35 years. These people almost always seem to be riding BSO's, too.
11-14-16, 04:16 PM
#43
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Last Tuesday the weather was A+, so I took the day off and rode. It happened to be election day, I happened to ride past my polling place, so I stopped to vote in full kit.
I did get stared at a lot. But not talked to.
I did get stared at a lot. But not talked to.
11-14-16, 06:08 PM
#45
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Everytime I went in to a local store on my spandex, I definitely always leave my helmet on. Cyclist is more acceptable than a gym/yoga instructor.
11-14-16, 06:41 PM
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Usually the guys are asking if I'm pro and the women are staring at my bulge.
11-14-16, 07:41 PM
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11-14-16, 07:44 PM
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I figured she might of been hitting the bottle earlier.
11-14-16, 07:48 PM
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...
Actually I find cycling to lean towards a loner type of activity. Although I do like people, and I am a bit of a conversationalist I see my cycling as anything but social time.
When cycling... I try to concentrate on cycling... in real time. I don't think about other people. I watch traffic, road hazards, sounds, smells, the feel and content of the air I am breathing... sometimes even the taste or texture of various bugs (not my favorite part). But I try... to live in the minute or even the very second. No thoughts of the past.. future.. or daydreams. If my mind begins to wander (and it does)... I step up my pace to force my mind back to the cycling.
In that (always too brief) minute-by-minute time spent cycling.... I find joy and invigoration.
A brief stop at a rest area so I can pee and rehydrate with a cold tea from a vending machine. Or a coffee pick-me-up at an outdoors table the end of a ride... is a break from the cycling and a very short-lived break at that. I often enjoy the breaks too. But the real joy (for me) comes from the hours of cycling... not the brief breaks.
Actually I find cycling to lean towards a loner type of activity. Although I do like people, and I am a bit of a conversationalist I see my cycling as anything but social time.
When cycling... I try to concentrate on cycling... in real time. I don't think about other people. I watch traffic, road hazards, sounds, smells, the feel and content of the air I am breathing... sometimes even the taste or texture of various bugs (not my favorite part). But I try... to live in the minute or even the very second. No thoughts of the past.. future.. or daydreams. If my mind begins to wander (and it does)... I step up my pace to force my mind back to the cycling.
In that (always too brief) minute-by-minute time spent cycling.... I find joy and invigoration.
A brief stop at a rest area so I can pee and rehydrate with a cold tea from a vending machine. Or a coffee pick-me-up at an outdoors table the end of a ride... is a break from the cycling and a very short-lived break at that. I often enjoy the breaks too. But the real joy (for me) comes from the hours of cycling... not the brief breaks.
Last edited by kbarch; 11-14-16 at 07:57 PM.