I deal by being outside moving on a bike.

The ones that get under my skin the most, if I let them, are the encouraging ones: "You can do this!" or "Good job!" as I slowly make my way up a hill. Yes, I can do this, I do this hill routinely, and who are you in a car in the air conditioning to think I don't know that?

A week ago I was starting up a 7% hill when my derailleur started making a complaining noise. I went back to the bottom of the hill and was working on the bike, trying to find the problem, when someone in a passing car shouted out "You can do it!". I was so frustrated at the bike I wanted to slap the happy-cheery-probably-very-well-meaning idjit.

And it stings twice as much if I do wind up dismounting and walking.

But then I start moving, and I add to my mental catalog of great rides I've had, and add to my list of times I've commuted to work enjoying being outside instead of being in a metal cage, and I smile.