Skipjacks

Good one

I'm not adverse to ribbing. A guy I get a long with pops his head in my office every day to see if I rode. He always gives me grief when I don't. Then I make sure to notice when he takes the elevator instead of the stairs so I can give it back to him. It's fun. We laugh. It's good natured.

ON the same note of messing with people, on a weekly basis when I get in the elevator with my bike in the morning, helmet still on my head, sweat pouring off me....someone on the elevator will say "Did you ride your bike to work?". I respond with an obviously smiling face to clarify the sarcasm "Nope. I carry it. Much better work out." 4 out of 5 people laugh. 1 out of 5 thinks about it, trying to figure out if I'm serious.

robertorolfo

I agree with that (or should I disagree, because it's more fun).

Although there is always a "best type of chain lube" or "which grease is best" thread around if you are spoiling for a fight, right?

KD5NRH

Sitting at McD's a few nights ago abusing the heck out of the free refill policy, there was a whole beaterload (a mid-90s Reliant K, IIRC) of none-too-bright women from a couple towns over who came running in wearing shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. Among the 5 of them, there were two jackets, with temps in the low 40s. They were stocking up on junk food before the 60 miles of rural highway back home. The girl at the counter commented on the lack of winter clothing, and one of them said "the car's got a great heater." Apparently, they'd been at the mall in Fort Worth, 70 miles of mostly empty road the other direction, and were just passing through. Since they hadn't planned any outdoor activities, they just didn't see a need to bring coats, long pants, etc.

I used to keep a season-appropriate (erring on the side of too-cold rating) sleeping bag in the trunk of the car if I was going farther than the county line. Always carried rain gear, and took at least a warm jacket if it was expected to be under 50 any time in the next week. Even if you're on a heavily traveled road, it may take a while before someone with the skills, tools and/or vehicle you need stops, and there's just no point in freezing until then.

KD5NRH

Well, then if you could just kill off about 80% of his brain cells, then you could invite him to A&S or LCF.

rhm

Yup. That dude might be my mom, except that she never topped 130 lbs. Some people have a talent for putting the foot in the mouth. It means nothing. Relax. Smile. Ride your bike on Monday if you like, or not, it's your call. As for your moron.... Huh? I don't remember what that was about anyway.

Darth Lefty 

Thread of the year so far, fortunately there's a lot more year

InTheRain

I don't ever get the "What? No bike today?" comment at work. Rather, on really lousy weather days, it's "You didn't bike in today... did you???" A lot of the time, the answer is yes, I did. Most of the bad weather here means really wet. I don't mind commuting in it... my biggest complaint about those days is putting on rain gear, taking it off... working... putting on rain gear, taking it off.

I don't have a goal of commuting by bike all the time. And I don't look at people and think, "you tub of lard, you shouldn't be eating that, you should be walking, running, or biking to work." I'm not in the most excellent shape either - in fact, most people would look at me and think, "there is no way that guy could ride a bike more than a few miles." I ride and commute on a bike because I think it's fun! I don't commute on a bike for fitness.

Bike Gremlin

For me it started with people being genuinely worried about my health. After a while, most had made peace with the fact that I'm crazy.
Though a few had started asking questions about bike, clothing etc and began bike-commuting all year long as well.

In the firm there's always joking and teasing and I like that. There's a colleague I wage a "cursing war" with - every morning we see each other, we start with the worst possible insults. "Oh, you idiot, not a gain!" "YOU?! ...And the day had started so fine until now..." It gets even funnier when there's people who don't know about the game present.

For both good and ill mannered comments about me being crazy for riding in bad weather, I usually confirm, but complain that no one wants to give me that in writing, so I can get an early retirement.

A funny situation was when a female colleague was teasing me about the cut-out saddle. "Is that for what I think it is? It's rather small". My reply was that "Well, the nature is very cruel to some of us" - and we all laughed.

One guy was really rude most of the time, we even got on a verge of fight once (on a football match after work), but later I realized he's always challenging the "top ones". Trying to outrun the fastest one. I was among the better footballers, so he'd always go provoking and fouling me at football (though the conflict was started by him, getting frustrated at me not giving a care). So I have no problems with that - having some challenge is OK IMO - keeps you sharp. It wouldn't work if all (or most) were the same, but a good combination can often bring the best out of most people - calm types, joking types, hard working types, and "problematic" types (if it's within some limits, of course).

Sullalto

I have a confession.

Where I'm living right now doesn't have trash service. Sometimes I take a day off commuting to throw my trash in the kitchen dumpster.

Forgive me, O Cycling Gods. I am not an adherent of the rules.

Not gonna lie. When I'm in civilization, a trip to the donut shop is a motivation to ride.

This comment was considerably more before I noticed who posted it.

Don't forget a couple gallons of water. But that's probably more of a concern when you're driving across the desert or any arid landscape.

Yeah, I agree. It's probably overkill, but I've got a pannier packed with overnight gear, since my favorite loop is 30 miles of mostly unpaved road, with virtually no cell service in a rainforest with temperatures below 45 most of the time. There's a tour bus that comes at least every other day, so somebody will find me on the road, or somebody fishing or glassing/hunting. But even if I'm fine riding in shorts and a thick jersey with gloves-no way in hell I want to be stranded 8-48 hours in that clothing.

Papa Tom

+1 to that. It's not only morons who use words (sometimes poorly chosen) just to connect with other people. This co-worker probably doesn't know how else to become part of your world. Give him a break.

If you want to see how innocent remarks are constantly misinterpreted and turned into sh-t, just keep reading these forums.

Daniel4

A woman I used to work with (now we gave Friday lunches) still asks me during bad weather "Did you ride today?"

I told her "You've asked the same question for three years. You know my answer."

Abe_Froman

You would think a bike rider being asked if he rode a bike would be a fairly innocuous question for most people.

Seems that's not the case for some reason.

Man, if some people here can't handle the ribbing and general **** giving that goes along with being different than everyone...driving might be a better option.

KD5NRH

Usually a gallon of drinking water, plus either another gallon of water and a gallon of antifreeze or a gallon of premix. Even in cold weather, the car can still end up needing a drink.

Archwhorides 

I just did a poll of lurkers viewing this discussion, and they all agree that it is in fact the Thread of the Year so far.

Bike Gremlin

I've made lots of friends where I work and it's very cool working with people with whom you'd hang out anyway even if you weren't at work.

Skipjacks

Don't say I never gave you people anything.

Bike Gremlin

I know exactly what you mean. However, where I work it's not nearly that way. I've been friends for over 20 years with some people I work with, not so long with all, but the atmosphere is among the better I've worked at. That's not easy to achieve, even harder to keep, but well worth it IMO.

"Teambuilding"



Better than Google

revcp 

What position do you hold in the Trump administration?

Skipjacks

Why does someone always have to bring up politics?

Is that what the world needs right now? More political discussion? Politics in a bike discussion?

Abe_Froman

Maybe work up to the teambuilding. Perhaps start with being pleasant to co-workers, instead of being snarky when people politely ask about your cycling habits?

Or, at the very least be open about everything. Wear a shirt that says "It's best if you just turn around. Conversation does not end well with me." Of course...people might take it as a joke. So I recommend just being polite

Bike Gremlin

If the post was intended for me, I didn't even get it.
#Europe

But I agree with your post.

RubeRad

I've got a large (>100people) offsite teambuilding event all afternoon today. I don't mind if it's on work time and there's free food, but otherwise, there's almost nobody at work I would ever consider getting together with outside work. I've been here over 15 years and I can think of maybe 2-3 people I've done something social with outside work (other than retirement lunches).

Then again, my "best friend" I see IRL maybe twice/year. I guess I'm just a jerk.

RidingMatthew

This



although @acidfast7 your comments in this thread are hilarious. I love the new leaf for the new year.

Abe_Froman

Alternatively, when someone asks you if you ride, you could just say, "yes I did."

Abe_Froman

If I'm being honest, I'm just not thet social of a person. I don't see the need to chit chat with people constantly, and I don't want to have weekly get togethers. However, I ALSO do not see any reason I can't be cordial with my co-workers. If one can't handle a bit of good natured ribbing, or even just normal day to day conversation without getting in a huff about it...a work from home job is probably the best option.