Alathea

A co worker of mine popped over to my desk last night, noticing my helmet hanging and my bag tucked under one edge of the table. He asked how far my ride was, and then told me that when he was in high school he rode from one end of town to the other for HS, and the rode less and less. He recently bought a really nice hybrid road bike that hasn't gotten a lot of time. I asked questions about his bike, his old riding habits, mentioned some tidbits about my bike and ride in the AM, and he gradually guilted himself into trying to start riding into work, or at least at home (single, so he doesn't have a lot of draws on his time). I didn't push, press, or suggest that he was a wuss for not riding because I have little room to talk, but he got more excited as he talked about his bike and riding that I think he might do it.

Pretty cool to watch from my end.

77midget

Fantastic-This was similar to me in that a coworker/friend who runs a lot and I had been discussing biking into work for a while-in truth I had been working up to it in my mind for over 1 year. Nothing like a bit of positive peer rivalry to get things charged though. As our discussions got more serious, it was a contest to see who would pull the trigger first!

I won , but now, since we both ride, it is better, and our route overlaps a bit.

bdinger

Good work!! In my office I really don't think there's much hope, most either have children to ferry around, or they have to travel for work regularly like me, but don't want to leave their car here like me. I was impressed, however, when I went to our title company the other day. Three bikes were in cubicles or stashed in corners. I'm going to have to go around trying to find out who owns them, without scaring the bejeezus out of them .

Tom Stormcrowe

Just leave a sticky note on their bike to call you......because you ride as well. Suggest perhaps some rec riding on the note.

Alathea

I brought my bike inside where I work and the guy that owns us, and the place across the hall, pitched a fit. It was in an empty cubicle, out of the way. Two other guys park in S/Rec but that only works if they aren't actively shipping and receiving that day. There are no bike racks, and the only two things you could chain a bike to are two bollards on either side of the receiving door. I'm a little ticked.

bdinger

Good call! I don't want to just walk around the cubes and go "who's bikes are those", as people get intimidated by those of us from "corporate".... if they only knew me . Instead I think I'll throw my card on there with a brief note inviting them to a ride the next time I'm at that building. I'm sure I'll never see any of that here at corporate or at our realty offices, but pretty darned cool to see it in one of our offices.

Heck, maybe I can get a commuter caravan going. I ride by that office on days I take my 10 mile route in, so who knows, maybe I can get a caravan going.

bdinger

That's messed up. So the guy is your boss/business owner? Very very messed up and unfortunate to hear, I'd suggest talking to him about it, and asking for reasons. In the process point out that your cycling will increase your health and lower your weight, thus reducing healthcare costs and even things such as furniture costs.

Alathea

I thought about that. TS and ASI are owned by the same guy, but managed differently. My manager (former owner of the company that became TS) is really laid back, results oriented, hands off. The other guy, well...not so much. That we are housed in the same building the differences in cultures separated by a hallway is night and day. I pitched a Health program partnership with the Y, included figures from other small companies that had introduced wellness programs and their drops in premium over all, and included s few strategies to pay for it. (by absorbing about .13 cents per hour, employees could completely cover a single membership at the corporate rate, or the company could pay for it and still realize a hefty savings across the board from incentives from BC/BS and reduced claims) He wasn't interested and it died a slow death, even though I had employee interest. *shrug*

bdinger

ASI = Automated Systems? If so, then I'm not surprised at all. The owner of that company is.. "not cool", so to speak. Makes money, sure, but the atmosphere there.. yeah.

Alathea

Yep you got it. My place is great, though-I just hate being in the same building. How do you know ASI? (might be a tale there.....)