Originally from Philadelphia, MS, I can relate to that man. Friendly with a sense of humor.

I occasionally ride the 5 miles into town to hit the local pub for lunch and a beer. My route takes me past an elementary school on a corner. On one ride as I approached the school I could hear the children out playing at recess. As I came into view on my World Voyageur the children stopped playing and watched me ride by. Suddenly one kid yelled out "IT'S AN OLD MAN!!". As I rounded the corner they ran to the other fence and cheered me as I rode the rest of the way past the playground. Understand that this is a small East Texas town and an adult riding a bike is a rarity.

My then wife and I were touring the state parks In Indiana on a tandem Trek, as we were leaving a restaurant one morning a small group was checking out the tandem. Heard one say, "Wonder if they're serious bikers?" As we mounted they said, "They're serious!"

About 45 years ago, I got hit in the hip by a automobile on a deserted section of four lane roadway and was taken by ambulance to hospital. Laying on the gurney, in a groggy state, I heard the following conversation between the two attending emergency room nurses.

Junior Nurse (in a hushed tone): "His legs are shaved! Is he..."

Senior Nurse: "No, he's just a really serious cyclist and a very good one based on the size and definition of his leg muscles. Now cut off his shorts, so we can clean his hip abrasions. "

Junior Nurse (peeling back the remnants of my cycling shorts): "Oh my God! He's not wearing anything underneath!"

At which point I passed back into unconsciousness.

I always chuckle when I get to a group ride and my cycling friends whose weight is on the way down show up. Their legs are big and powerful from being 100 lbs heavier, etc, but that goes unnoticed by the omnipresent group of thin folks who say things like "we'll get out ahead of them so we don't have to pass, and then we'll roll."

As we pass the thin folks, I always ask "want to get behind the big train?"

There is often no one as underestimated, devoted, and fast, as a person who lost a ton of weight cycling.

Last night on the after daylight saving fall back dark commute: "Nice lights" from a runner on los gatos creek trail. and it was not sarcastic.

amazing what 2 1100 lumen lights will do for being able to see the trail and the ninjas on the trail (walking, running, riding)

Middle of July, the Tour is wrapping up in France, I have my favorite team's kit on riding home from work I stop at a big box store for some groceries, reading the label on an item, I see a gentleman with his 3 young boys coming at me, one maybe 10yrs old starts running towards me all wide eyed saying, "Mister, mister, are you a professional cyclist?" Smiling I say, "No, just supporting my favorite team." The boy slumped over and dragged his feet walking back to his dad, I felt so bad. Here's the question, should I have lied and said I was, possibly made that little boys dream come true, or do what I did?

Tell the truth. They'll learn about politics soon enough.

The comment to his lady was classic. Took courage. But seeing an 85 Cinelli with Super Record components would draw any bike lover away from their (temporarily less) significant other. /Tom

My ex Lotto GT team bike gets comments. The best was a guy, "How the hell did you get ahold of that?" The ladies just think it's pretty.

It is the duty of the English-speaking peoples to amuse and amaze one another with our accents and customs.

"Howdy Ma'am."

After chastising a driver for cutting a turn in front of me without using his directional, he stopped, rolled down his window and said: "You're right. I'm sorry."
A first for me.

That's rare, for sure! Did you play the lottery that day?

I was climbing a short but steep hill, and while riding passed a house where a woman unloading her car, she yelled, "You can do it!".

I used to get mad when a vehicle passed me and then turned R, which cut me off. Then I realized, in a traffic situation, I was in the wrong, as much if not more, than the turning vehicle. As a vehicle, I have an obligation to follow at a safe distance.

On that point, when I was in college, I ran instead of cycling, but once in a while, I was talked into getting out my Trek 510 and putting on silly clothes to go ride.

It being the 80's and NC, it was hot, and most of us just wore tank tops instead of jerseys, out for a 25-30 mile hard ride.

In a residential area pace line, we were passed by three cars, which, of course, turned R just past us into a sorority house driveway. As we panic stopped and piled up, some initial words were spouted. Then, as 18-22 year old females eyed fit, sweaty 18-22 year old males, and vice versa, early on a Saturday morning, it got quiet. Then, Barry said "Let's start over. Well, well, ladies... Hi there!"

Anyone with a Miami Vice Ironman has probably heard a few comments. Once built one "all the way," with yellow wrap, housing, and saddle to match the bike, full Campy 8sp Chorus, with Vento HP wheels that had the fuscia decals that matched the bike. A fairly resplendent machine of color and polish. Rode it on the Cup 'n' Cone ride in Cary, NC.

At rest stops, I'd simply put it up and go get some rest. I put it against a picnic table with a friend's Ironman, and came back to observe a group of folks circling and ogling the bike.

The female riders were oohing and aahing. "It's so pretty."
The males were "it's old, it's steel, it's heavy."
"But it's so pretty."
"Pretty isn't fast."

Then @drrobwave and I walk over, we get the bikes. One says "nice bike" and they walk away.
Then I overheard one of the women.... "old, huh? They passed us."

A trademark of mine, when I build a wheel, is to put a rubber band around the hub before lacing it up. Waiting at a red light, a young cyclist caught up to me and asked me how I got the rubber band in there.

In Los Angeles.. "Hey look its a Lakers bike!"