myrridin

As usual I am going to take a contrarian position, but first let me congratulate you on your efforts to get healthier.

Now, consider that by your own admission what you did caused you injury...the limping from the muscle cramp. Then consider that simply getting into better healthier shape NEVER REQUIRES one exert oneself to injury only that one exert oneself with moderation... Then ask yourself if you interpret their questions below, if they still have the negative sting you assumed they did.

"Why [did you ride yourself into pain]??"

"Why did you ride that long [if it causes you pain]?"

"What's the point of doing that [if you end up injured the next day]?"


Now there are folks who a willing to suffer pain to achieve some goal (like TdF riders for instance), but such exertion levels are not necessary to simply achieve good health and most folks (whether cyclists or not) are likely to have the same kinds of questions to anyone who does something "for fun" that causes them self-injury... Whether you agree with the reasoning of those who question why, is irrelevant, there is no reason to assume any evil/negative intent or even something as simple as "not getting it" in the question, after all I suspect that most humans would find such self destructive behavior curious.

Seattle Forrest

I don't think Myridin is describing what likely went on at the office ... but it's a wise point and should be considered.

This weekend I did a pretty hard ride, covering only about 35 miles, but climbing 4,250 feet in elevation. I didn't injure myself, but I came back tired and hungry. My girlfriend gave me a dirty look and a stern "you shouldn't exercise to the point of exhaustion!" and wasn't buying that I wanted to enjoy as much mountain scenery as I could feed into my eyes.

myrridin

Maybe not, but I'd say it is least as likely as the more nefarious opinions of what went on I've read in this thread...


First there is a world of difference between exercising to exhaustion (short term) and exercising to injury... Though of course neither is necessary to the goal of exercise for health. Now riding for the simple purpose of enjoying the scenery is a whole other kettle of fish, and if your GF didn't buy such an explanation the cause is likely far different than what the OP describe and others ascribed to. My simple point is that there is no reason for folks to get uptight simply because someone doesn't understand why we do what we do. Indeed it is usually worth considering just why our behavior may be considered unusual... Such questions can provide valuable self-insight.

Mr. Beanz

Very good points! As I posted earlier, IMO, they weren't stupid questions. But I think you nailed it with "why would you do something that causes you injury?". A limp the day after a 17 mile ride? Someone needs to adjust their training methods. Too many cyclist have a torn this and that for a reason. The office workers just may have done the OP a favor by asking their "stupid questions".

chewybrian 

I like to reply: "It's o.k., I can dry myself off with all the money I didn't spend on gas". Really, though, I don't get a lot of stupid questions. People have seen me ride every day for long enough that they accept it. Mostly I just get "Be careful" or "Have fun".

RichardGlover

"It turns out that human skin is waterproof. Who knew?"

Jim from Boston

As often stated by speakers at a lecture, "There are no stupid questions." I think cycling is unfortunately still such an oddity, e.g. commuting, that most people don't know what to say; there is no "standard" greeting. IMO, the questions I'm asked are usually not hostile, and often admiring. One favorite question, that actually motivates me to ride in the cold and/or wet weather is,"You didn't ride your bike today, did you.?"

Telly

Co-worker: Why bother riding a bike to work? (FYI, he's thinner than me, a chain-smoker who is usually engulfed with road-rage when he arrives in the mornings)

Me: So I can live a much longer life than you, and not die of a heart-attack when I'm 50 (10 years to go!)

Co-worker: >>>shocked<<< walks away mumbling towards the corridor for a smoke...

contango 

I guess there's a difference between trying to get in shape and going at it so hard you end up limping from muscle cramps. People who aren't worried about getting in shape, or who are already in sufficiently good shape they don't get muscle cramps so easily, probably don't understand that part.

To a lot of people "getting in shape" means driving to the gym, spending half an hour circling the gym looking for somewhere to park, then waiting to use the machines, then spending 20 minutes walking on the treadmill at a sufficiently gentle pace they can read a magazine or two while they do it, then driving home again.

Not wishing to diss your efforts or anything (I'm overweight myself and slowly dropping weight through cycling), but be sure to differentiate between people thinking you're daft for exercising at all and people thinking you're daft for exercising to the point you're having what seems like a major issue with overdoing it. There is a certain degree of sense in figuring that if you end up limping from muscle cramps after 17 miles you'd be better off riding 15 miles, or 12 miles, and increasing from there so you don't get muscle cramps.

That said I've had my share of cramps, one day on the way home from a long ride I tried to pace myself against a couple of roadies (I ride MTB, and they are usually much lighter than I am!). I managed it for about a mile, and my reward when I got home and put my feet up was massive cramps in both quadriceps at the same time.

People who don't share the enthusiasm typically won't understand why we are willing to suffer a bit for the buzz of pushing ourselves I guess...

contango 

I usually just answer that one with "I get wet".

seenoweevil

And my resting heart rate(50) is pretty awesome too! The nurse at our last workplace blood drive kept checking my BP (116/66) and pulse, and finally said I had the lowest pulse of anyone there in the last two days. Not bad for an overweight 54 year old.

cyclist2000

I look at those questions as an chance to talk about biking and encourage others to ride or even a chance to invite them to join you. You can never have enough riding buddies.

iheartbenben

How does 17 miles in hour, done the previous day, make you 'look like hell' and 'limp into work'?

My commute to school is 28 miles, and after a shower, nobody knows if I drove or rode to school that day. I look like hell right after, and maybe even pre-ride, but wtf are you doing? Running full sprint in cleats and spandex up 10 flights of stairs, pulling a juke on the HR rep and back flipping into your cubicle?

Sounds like someone is 'spotlighting'.

Seve

A little harsh ....

In all fairness, simply because you haven't experienced something similar, doesn't diminish the OP's post.

mtalinm

"if you ride so much, why aren't you thinner?"

Ouch that hurt.

Neil_B

It's not just some overweight cyclists that think riding is the 'magic pill.'

CraigB

I agree. Everyone here is an individual, with their own individual physical limits (that most of us are continually pushing against in order to improve). I'm not in the least surprised that another member of this section of the forum might find a one-hour 17 MPH ride taxing. Then there are matters like the wind, terrain and temperatures the OP faced, of which we know nothing.

And besides, even if he was, in fact, "spotlighting," who among us is immune to a little puffery when it comes to our accomplishments?

green427

Thanks for the support.

Everyone at work knows I am the only employee that rides a bicycle, they just don't understand why.

I posted this thread to let some steam out; some members think I am showing off. I probably should put a disclaimer on my sig line.

Did I overdo the exercise? I don't think so. I was having so much fun, nothing hurt, it felt great. I was fine until I had to walk up the stairs at work, my legs were sore, so I limped up. Unfortunately a handful of workers watched me walk up that way, then the questions and usual bashing started.

green427

Ok, my apologies for not meeting your standards of how things should be. I am not as awesome as you are. For a 46 year old obese man, I am doing pretty good compared to most men in my category.

ChrisO

"Those skinny tires can hold your weight?"

All I could muster was a sarcastic "no, man..."

iheartbenben

Ohhhhh ok, sorry man didn't mean to offend. GJ on the work, I thought I was still in the training forum.

Also, I suck.

socalrider

Many years ago me and some friends were doing our 1st ride to San Diego from SoCal, about 110 miles.. When telling a co-worker, they asked how many days is that going to take? I said just one and they starting laughing, like no way anyone can ride that far in 1 day..

Mithrandir

Don't worry about it. I would love to average 17mph.

Just finished my nightly 23 mile ride at 12.6mph. To be fair I had a 15mph direct headwind for the first 12 miles. Sigh.

green427

That is actually better than what I would have done. To be exact, I did 17 miles in one hour, seven minutes according to my odo. I stopped twice for about 30 seconds to drink. It averages out to 15.22MPH. One stretch of the road was slightly inclined downhill, enabling me to reach 26MPH for about 3 minutes. The rest of the terrain was mostly flat.

dahut

For bikes, its got to be - "But you make good money - is everything all right?"

Non-cycling related question: "Do you need a rooster for a chicken to lay eggs?"