Odd, interesting, memorable questions you've been asked
10-25-12, 02:08 PM
#76
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,866
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 595 Post(s)
Liked 281 Times
in
192 Posts
I once had an older gentleman walk up to me and ask where I was heading. After I told him, he gave me a good looking over and then handed me a $5 bill and told me to go get a good lunch somewhere. Apparently he thought I must have been homeless. I tried to explain to him that I was simply bike touring and tried to give him his money back but he wouldn't hear of it. I even went so far as to tell him that my income was likely several times his but he just walked off muttering something about how he respected my unwillingness to accept charity. Apparently my movie star good looks must not have shown through that day. Ha
10-25-12, 02:24 PM
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: The Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 772
Bikes: Trek 630 • Jamis Quest • Bilenky Tourlite and various others
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've gotten a lot of the same questions. What I didn't expect was for folks to tell me their life stories (at least three times). Usually with little preamble. Each took about fourty-five minutes to an hour. Usually when I was fix'in to leave a town. Guess they felt a compulsion to tell someone and I was "safe." That is; who would I tell?
Then again, homeless people will pick me out of a crowd and solicit me. Latinos ask me almost weekly for directions and I know no Spanish. I can just be standing around reading a paper and people will start talking to me. I can't figure it out. Even my mother, when I was younger, told me that I attracted stray dogs and outcasts. It's been true for as long as I can remember.
Then again, homeless people will pick me out of a crowd and solicit me. Latinos ask me almost weekly for directions and I know no Spanish. I can just be standing around reading a paper and people will start talking to me. I can't figure it out. Even my mother, when I was younger, told me that I attracted stray dogs and outcasts. It's been true for as long as I can remember.
Last edited by foamy; 10-25-12 at 02:27 PM.
10-25-12, 02:26 PM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times
in
293 Posts
I once had an older gentleman walk up to me and ask where I was heading. After I told him, he gave me a good looking over and then handed me a $5 bill and told me to go get a good lunch somewhere. Apparently he thought I must have been homeless. I tried to explain to him that I was simply bike touring and tried to give him his money back but he wouldn't hear of it. I even went so far as to tell him that my income was likely several times his but he just walked off muttering something about how he respected my unwillingness to accept charity. Apparently my movie star good looks must not have shown through that day. Ha
10-25-12, 03:18 PM
#79
In Real Life
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
I've gotten a lot of the same questions. What I didn't expect was for folks to tell me their life stories (at least three times). Usually with little preamble. Each took about fourty-five minutes to an hour. Usually when I was fix'in to leave a town. Guess they felt a compulsion to tell someone and I was "safe." That is; who would I tell?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
10-25-12, 05:18 PM
#80
bicycle tourist
This one isn't so much of a strange question as a strange behaviour. Last August, on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Revelstoke, B.C., a motorist pulled over, took out his camcorder and started to videotape in my direction. I started to move out of his way so he could have a clear view of the scenery but he motioned for me to move back. That winter, when he showed his vacation videos to his friends, I was there.
That photo came in southern Russia. One custom after the ceremony is for the wedding party to travel with bride and groom through various historical places including taking photos. In this case, we kept leapfrogging with wedding party as they stopped and we passed. After doing this a few times, they invited us to come in and toast the couple as well as join in photos.
10-25-12, 11:34 PM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 833 Times
in
435 Posts
When I was getting a haircut while on our last tour, the barber asked, "why do you cyclists wear those tight shorts?" I don't think he even noticed that I was wearing bike shorts, because he did not ask the question until my wife came in wearing her shorts. That's when he noticed the shorts
10-29-12, 10:17 AM
#82
Wheezy Rider
Once in a bar in Ostende, Belgium, I was asked the common question
"So, how far do you ride that thing in a day?".
After I responded with "On this trip, about 60-70 miles or thereabouts.", I was asked the less common question
"So can you still get an erection after that?"
I also am well used to the "How far have you come?" question which is fair enough but I always get the impression people are disappointed if I don't respond with something suitably epic. My suspicion is, they want to tell people about the encounter later, as in "Hey, I met this guy on a bike today. He told me he'd cycled all the way from China. How about that?"
The anecdote is nowhere near as impressive if the guy on the bike has only come 30 miles because he lives locally and has taken a couple of days off work.
"So, how far do you ride that thing in a day?".
After I responded with "On this trip, about 60-70 miles or thereabouts.", I was asked the less common question
"So can you still get an erection after that?"
I also am well used to the "How far have you come?" question which is fair enough but I always get the impression people are disappointed if I don't respond with something suitably epic. My suspicion is, they want to tell people about the encounter later, as in "Hey, I met this guy on a bike today. He told me he'd cycled all the way from China. How about that?"
The anecdote is nowhere near as impressive if the guy on the bike has only come 30 miles because he lives locally and has taken a couple of days off work.
10-29-12, 01:17 PM
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern Minnesota
Posts: 321
Bikes: 1985 Trek 720, 2010 CAAD9-6, mid-90s Trek 750 hybrid (winter bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
When I was getting a haircut while on our last tour, the barber asked, "why do you cyclists wear those tight shorts?" I don't think he even noticed that I was wearing bike shorts, because he did not ask the question until my wife came in wearing her shorts. That's when he noticed the shorts
On the last day of his tour from Vancouver to San Francisco, our son had an encounter similar to foamy's (quote taken from our son's CGOAB journal): "People in Novato were really friendly. After talking with one man for a few minutes and mentioning offhand that low funds were a consideration in the decision to end in San Francisco, he walked away a little bit, came back, and asked whether I could use $20. I should have bought him a burrito on the spot."
10-30-12, 11:15 AM
#84
Senior Member
These are all precious; My fav's follow
- Q: What do you do when you run out of clothes?
-- A1: We really don't run that fast!
-- A2: We actually prefer to ride nekked so it's not a problem.
-- A3: These clothes are actually just painted on so they stay on good unless it starts to rain!
- Q: Do you know how to get to xxx city?
-- A1: Sprecken Sie Duesch?
-- A2: Yes, do you? because we were hoping you could give us directions.
-- A3: Sure, head East about 45 miles (when the only road is North South)!
- Q: How many horsepower does that have?
-- A1: Well, its a Hemi!
-- A2: 42
-- A3: Ah,, I am not sure. We just put in Lithium Ion batteries...so do you knolw how many horses they have?
-- A4: You mean this thing has a motor? That is great as I was getting real tired of pushing it up the hills!!
- Q: Lady asks "does the saddle make your er family jewels hurt? It sure did mine?"
-- A: Really? er, did it make them look any different now? Then just wait for an answer...
- Q: Do you need a ride?
-- A: Yes that would be great...now my bike is made out of Neobium alloy so it weights about 7,300 pounds. Can you help me lift it into the trunk of your car so we can get started?
- Q: What do you do when you run out of clothes?
-- A1: We really don't run that fast!
-- A2: We actually prefer to ride nekked so it's not a problem.
-- A3: These clothes are actually just painted on so they stay on good unless it starts to rain!
- Q: Do you know how to get to xxx city?
-- A1: Sprecken Sie Duesch?
-- A2: Yes, do you? because we were hoping you could give us directions.
-- A3: Sure, head East about 45 miles (when the only road is North South)!
- Q: How many horsepower does that have?
-- A1: Well, its a Hemi!
-- A2: 42
-- A3: Ah,, I am not sure. We just put in Lithium Ion batteries...so do you knolw how many horses they have?
-- A4: You mean this thing has a motor? That is great as I was getting real tired of pushing it up the hills!!
- Q: Lady asks "does the saddle make your er family jewels hurt? It sure did mine?"
-- A: Really? er, did it make them look any different now? Then just wait for an answer...
- Q: Do you need a ride?
-- A: Yes that would be great...now my bike is made out of Neobium alloy so it weights about 7,300 pounds. Can you help me lift it into the trunk of your car so we can get started?
10-30-12, 11:26 AM
#85
Senior Member
When I was getting a haircut while on our last tour, the barber asked, "why do you cyclists wear those tight shorts?" I don't think he even noticed that I was wearing bike shorts, because he did not ask the question until my wife came in wearing her shorts. That's when he noticed the shorts
10-30-12, 04:37 PM
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: England
Posts: 55
Bikes: Surly LHT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
10-30-12, 04:53 PM
#87
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,527
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3885 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
During our recent tandem tour, we were staying at a pension in Germany. The German woman in the next room was looking at our loaded bike, all up and down, and finally asked, "Wo ist der Hilfsmotor?" (Where is the helper-motor? - quite common on European commuter bikes.) I pointed at my stoker - "Sie ist der."
10-31-12, 05:06 AM
#88
Member
unless they' re ridiculously drunk or ugly that' s the best thing that could have happened in your trip
10-31-12, 02:15 PM
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 866
Bikes: LHT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Our least-favourite conversation goes like this:
Person -- "Where are you going?"
Us -- "Around the world."
Person -- "Oh, where have you been so far then?"
(we name places)
Person -- "How did you get across the oceans?"
Us -- "By plane, of course."
Person (now looking disappointed) -- "Hummmmm. Well, I guess your trip doesn't really count as a RTW trip then." (Thus usually follows long speech about how we should have swam across the Atlantic or some such thing)
Person -- "Where are you going?"
Us -- "Around the world."
Person -- "Oh, where have you been so far then?"
(we name places)
Person -- "How did you get across the oceans?"
Us -- "By plane, of course."
Person (now looking disappointed) -- "Hummmmm. Well, I guess your trip doesn't really count as a RTW trip then." (Thus usually follows long speech about how we should have swam across the Atlantic or some such thing)
10-31-12, 09:38 PM
#92
Other Worldly Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The old Northwest Coast.
Posts: 1,540
Bikes: 1973 Motobecane Grand Jubilee, 1981 Centurion Super LeMans, 2010 Gary Fisher Wahoo, 2003 Colnago Dream Lux, 2014 Giant Defy 1, 2015 Framed Bikes Minnesota 3.0, several older family Treks
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 194 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times
in
53 Posts
While crossing the NA (mostly Canada) continent in '76 we constantly got asked where we were from. We were college kids from all over the country and each of us "started" from a different place. But we eventually settled on "Seattle" because it was the most recognizable city that could be shouted out and all (6) of us did leave from Seattle on the Princess Marguerite (ferry). The farther east we got, the more the incredulous looks. I remember a state cop waving traffic through on a long construction site outside Duluth. Just as we passed him he yelled out "Where ya from?", like we were Cheeseheads or the like and we all yelled "Seattle" and he stood there slack jawed.
__________________
Make ******* Grate Cheese Again
Make ******* Grate Cheese Again
10-31-12, 09:39 PM
#93
Senior Member
10-31-12, 09:58 PM
#94
Senior Member
You can't be serious? You made them go away? Better get yourself to a doctor.
10-31-12, 10:23 PM
#95
Senior Member
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...out-quot-there
Read it carefully.
10-31-12, 11:16 PM
#96
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,048
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
This is more along the lines of odd behavior. My wife and I ended a tour with a friend in Atlanta. At the time, we were in our twenties and quite fit. We decided to take a walk from our friend's father's house, where we were staying, to get some coffee. As we passed by a construction site, the hammers all stopped. The construction crew, all male, had all stopped working to ogle the two attractive women who were walking by in shorts and tank tops. They then burst into applause.
At that point, I knew there were some definite cultural differences between the south and California. Our friend thought it was pretty funny, but then she had grown up annoying people by drinking from the "colored" drinking fountains (she's white).
At that point, I knew there were some definite cultural differences between the south and California. Our friend thought it was pretty funny, but then she had grown up annoying people by drinking from the "colored" drinking fountains (she's white).
08-03-15, 08:21 PM
#97
In Real Life
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
In light of the recent thread about the solo tourist ... I thought I would bump this one.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
08-03-15, 10:56 PM
#98
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts
I always get approached by people trying to offer/procure drugs, even though I look like an English teacher from a farm town. (I must be on drugs to travel like that!)
The last time I was in Italy a lot of people asked whether I knew Lance Armstrong, or if I had ever raced with him. (Does "30-something American guy on a bike" = part of the world-class racing set?)
Also, like Cyccomute, everyone asks me for directions. This is especially funny when I'm the foreigner and they're asking in their own country, in their own language.
The last time I was in Italy a lot of people asked whether I knew Lance Armstrong, or if I had ever raced with him. (Does "30-something American guy on a bike" = part of the world-class racing set?)
Also, like Cyccomute, everyone asks me for directions. This is especially funny when I'm the foreigner and they're asking in their own country, in their own language.
When I used to race Cat IV (heh) relatives & friends would sometimes ask if I was aiming to Olympics or Tour de France. Once in high school French class the teacher talked a bit about the TdF & claimed that avg person could keep up for a day or two but no more. & she was French-background herself & often visited France. I had to mention that avg person would be lucky to keep up for 5 minutes.In re questions about a "motor"--frequently on local rides or tours I see Harley riders & feel like it would be nice to borrow 1 HP (they'd never miss it)! Anyway a pretty funny thread.
08-04-15, 05:55 AM
#99
Senior Member
I was on an organized tour through the Finger Lakes region of N.Y. State on a very hot day. Three different paths to Town X from Town Y with three different degrees of difficulty all converged for lunch. The tour lunch was at a park; I had chosen to head to a restaurant across the street instead so I could have some air conditioning.
The locals at the restaurant were astonished at all the riders going by. "Where can they all be going?" I piped up to try to explain -- including the loop in the route for folks who wanted higher mileage -- but I got uniformly astonished looks, along with, "You know, if you're going to [Town X], there's really a shorter way."
The locals at the restaurant were astonished at all the riders going by. "Where can they all be going?" I piped up to try to explain -- including the loop in the route for folks who wanted higher mileage -- but I got uniformly astonished looks, along with, "You know, if you're going to [Town X], there's really a shorter way."
08-05-15, 09:01 PM
#100
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts
This is more along the lines of odd behavior. My wife and I ended a tour with a friend in Atlanta. At the time, we were in our twenties and quite fit. We decided to take a walk from our friend's father's house, where we were staying, to get some coffee. As we passed by a construction site, the hammers all stopped. The construction crew, all male, had all stopped working to ogle the two attractive women who were walking by in shorts and tank tops. They then burst into applause.
At that point, I knew there were some definite cultural differences between the south and California. Our friend thought it was pretty funny, but then she had grown up annoying people by drinking from the "colored" drinking fountains (she's white).
At that point, I knew there were some definite cultural differences between the south and California. Our friend thought it was pretty funny, but then she had grown up annoying people by drinking from the "colored" drinking fountains (she's white).