I'm not sure where Nola is. Is it cold? That could explain some of it, though I get comments when I ride int he rain. Ironically I do the most riding in the winter, as I am in fall and spring sports, and can a) get a ride after practice, usually and b) am dead tired so even my wimpy 2 mile commute looks intimidating.

Oh yeah, your question: I'd say on any given day there's about 15-40 bikes locked up outside our school, depending on weather. That makes us a minority in a school of 1,500, but not an anomaly. I'm a senior, and consequently better adjusted and less self conscious than I was a freshman, especially since I realized most of the comments and looks were in something similar to (if not exactly) admiration.

There's also lately a stunning amount of expensive bikes locked up outside the school. The road bike craze has expanded to the pimply demographic it seems. One kid has been riding his carbon fiber forked, 105 derailler bike lately. Nothing right or wrong with this, I just find it interesting.

Oh, but the one thing that really DOES get laughs is a mud stripe on your butt. Use fenders. I guess the heart shaped balloon someone had me tie on my rack on Valentines day got some chuckles too.