green427

"Why??"

"Why did you ride that long?"

"What's the point of doing that?"

These are the responses I got from 4 different people in the office today.

I came in limping from a muscle cramp. When they asked me why I look like hell, I replied with "From riding 17 miles yesterday nonstop for one hour".

I am used to the mocking from wearing spandex and riding a "kid's toy" to work; I was not prepared for such stupid replies.

I simply said to them "trying to get in shape, plus, I just love riding bikes". They still looked at me like I was nuts.

Isn't it pretty obvious when a fat guy is furiously working out, he must be trying to get in shape???

zandoval 

Max No Difference - Just don't forget your next promotion is probably tied to your golf game...

Keep up the good work...

Seve

I used to get the same/similar questions when I'd come in to work before and after having tickets to the Rocky Horror Show.

At least what you are doing is for your health and as such, all the more power to you.

KD5NRH

Why not?

Same reason I **** that long; it's fun. If you'd get out and ride, you might be able to **** that long too.

What's the point of asking stupid questions?

jethro56 

Your title is wrong. Should be "Questions asked by stupid co-workers."

Teon

^^^^^^agreed!!!!^^^^^^^

I too am a fat guy trying to lose weight and get into shape via the bike riding......but fortunately for me, there are a lot of bike riders here where I work in Oregon, and most of them are very supportive.

Keep on pedaling and ignore the idiots!!

billyymc

The best question, asked by a surprising number of people, is some variation of: "What if it rains while you're riding?"

nfmisso

my response - we're using less than 8 gallons of gas (well actually diesel) a month; how much are you using?

I commute 12 miles each way, every day. No one has asked stupid questions

JT Burkard

But no one is throwing toast when you ride

Profgumby

Hot patootie, bless my soul......it would be cool to find RHPS cycling jerseys!

Back on topic, when I rode to work they were generally supportive too. And there was a small assortment of fools too, but I was (still am) low carbing and the fools focused more on that than the bike. I usually tell most folks with "special" questions or comments that I get "eleventy billion miles to the gallon" while riding the bike. That either gets a bewildered look or a chuckle and I move on. Life is too short to suffer the company of fools so I ignore them as much as possible.

And really abrasive or negative folks will give you a hard time as they are sort of envious of you stepping out or you make them feel uncomfortable because you are actually doing something they want to, or never would. And there are so many more reasons why to ride a bike than why not to... And the what do you do when it rains (or similar odd questions) are genuinely curious as most folks think you can't ride in the rain. Sure rim brakes are fun when wet but I see no reason to ride when you get caught in the rain.

Really inquisitive folks, like my buddy who was shocked to learn what I have spent on bikes and gear since being unemployed. (He asked) But I then reminded him that I have put 4 tanks of gas in my van since April, what have I saved in fuel in that time, or in the last 3 years since I started bike commuting and grocery and errand runs on the bike(s)? Logical/reasonable minds will see the point and even give you a compliment.

I too gas up the ol vehicle, maybe once a month other than blizzard season...I prefer to be warm and not cover my bikes in salt.

Mr. Beanz

You are doing something wrong, don't blame the people that have never been exposed to cycling. It's your duty to educate them, not call them stupid.

When I talk cycling to family, friends and even other cycling buddies, they listen. Matter of fact, the other day another poster (LewisAClark) listened to one of my stories about riding with heavy rims. He said, "you're like that dude in the beer commercial, the most interesting man in the world".

So it is your job to interest them, maybe even recruit one into cycling.

mwchandler21

Maybe you need more fiber in your diet.

bgross

A lot of folks just don't get it... and perhaps never will.

It's like hiking, backpacking, running, swimming, walking, anything that takes effort.

Good for you!

"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand."

KD5NRH

Damn censorbot. I meant ****.

Then again, I **** for about that long sometimes too, but that's because I have some good books and only one room my wife will let me lock the toddler out of.

Street Pedaler

I knd of get both types of comments. Wednesday morning a co-worker was asking about my Tuesday ride and whether it had gotten shortened by the storm that came through (yes, it did. LOT of lightning). My boss asked what we meant by "ride". I told him that I'm a cyclist. He looked at me very serious and said, "What kind of cyclist? A BIcyclist?" (Emphasis on the "BI"). I laughed and said yeah. He looked me over again and said, "You're a pretty a big guy to be a Bicyclist". I told him that was the point- I was trying to not be so big. After a second he laughed his ass off and said "Awesome!" lolol.

dougclyde

Green - GOOD FOR YOU! and your weight ticker says you're down 25 pounds so far! I bet you will soon get the same things I got after a month or two....

"Hey Doug....um...how much did you spend on that bike?"
"I was thinking of biking myself this summer....how did you get the right size bike?"

...and my favorite... "You are looking pretty good there! That cycling sh** seems to be agreeing with you!!"

I work in the car business for the last 25 years...as brutal a place if there ever was one, and when these people start not making fun of you for something IT'S WORKING!

STICK TO YOUR GUNS, MY FRIEND, AND KEEP RIDING!!

Mithrandir

Sadly, I get this all the time.


What's even worse is that no one I know even believes me that I biked a metric century last week. They all think that since there's no way they can do it, I must be lying, because I'm fat.


Whatever. I'll take pics of my 72 mile ride tomorrow.

Neil_B

I get that too, but it's usually from other cyclists - the 'real cyclists' I mock by claiming I'm not one.

Mithrandir

In my experience, that just leads to hostile responses. Everyone I work with drives gas-sucking SUV's or gas-sucking sportscars, so when I bought a Hybrid they all made mocking comments about how stupid it was to try to help save the planet. For supposedly smart people, engineers are remarkably closed-minded people when it comes to things like environmentalism.

I can't imagine how they'd react when I tell them I'm thinking of bicycle commuting.

Seattle Forrest

You need a new set of coworkers.

Neil_B

Riding a bike isn't "working out" in many minds. Also, lots of fat people ride bikes for fun.

Mithrandir

My heartrate begs to differ with them. I've never been able to get my pulse up to 175 doing anything else but biking.

CraigB

It takes some work to get my heartrate up while cycling. I need to be climbing, or making a serious effort at hammering. Running, OTOH, will get it up there in a big hurry, way more readily than riding. But that's just me.

ill.clyde

Same here

jethro56 

The more muscles you recuit in an activity the easier it is to get your HR higher. My highest HR is when I do intervals on an eliptical machine that has handles to work the upper body.