Laika74

A couple times a month I get a stupid question / comment about me biking in.

1) "Why do you bike? You don't need to lose weight." - This is usually from the ladies who hang out in back smoking. These ladies are also in a "diet club" here at work. I used to respond by saying it's a great stress reliever for dealing with the people at work. I just now ignore it.

2) When I hurt my knee it got a few "Gave up already" comments. I would then have to explain my knee injury to them. They would roll their eyes at me. I finally just gave up and ignored the comments.

3) "Trying to save gas money?" - I would respond (especially if it's a higher boss) by saying "Well I got cut out of the bonus program this year so I had to make up the money somewhere else." This actually happened and the higher ups quit asking me.

4) "I didn't know you were an enviromentalist" - The company is run by die hard Republicans. This comment is not what it seems. It's interprited as "I didn't know you were a liberal." I usually have to watch out how I respond to this. I usually go with "Well it's much quicker to get home on the bike than the car." I then explain the time difference.

5) "What happens if it's (pouring raining, thundering and lightning, hail, etc)" - I tell them "Well, I do have a car".

Anyone else have to deal with questions / comments like these?

But my alltime favorite comment was "We'll have to fire you if you show up in spandex."

ax0n

Fortunately for me, most of the comments fall into two categories:

* You're insane!
These people are not making fun of me. They're concerned that I will get run over, slip and hurt myself, or die of either hypothermia or heat exhaustion. This is an outward expression of self-defeatist attitude.

* I wish I could do that.
These people are not making fun of me. They know that there are many benefits to what I'm doing, but they're afraid that they will get run over, fall down and hurt themself, or die of either hypothermia or heat exhaustion. Either that, or they haven't been on a bike in a while, and think that only a serious athlete can ride a mile on a bike. I'd contest that all but the most out-of-shape people I've met are completely capable of riding a mile. I'd also contest that anyone who's reasonably healthy could put 10 miles on a properly fitted bike in a single sitting, even if they haven't ridden a bike in a decade.

As You Like It

I don't have a car, so I just grin real big and tell 'em that I guess I'll just have to get wet.

When people think you're certifiable, they tend not to mess with you much.

Axon, who are you? We to probably know each other at least in passing...I'm another KC bike commuter and general bike dork. My name is Michelle, and I wear a hot-pink frill on top of my helmet.

GreenGrasshoppr

I just put my ten fingers together at the tip, and say:

"Because *I* CAN!"

and follow up with a maniacal evil genius laugh

cccorlew

Maybe i work at a cool place, but I get a favorable reaction. People are somewhat amazed that I ride when it's cold, and am saying I'll ride in the rain. I think they are:
Impressed
Wishing they could too
Thinking I'm pretty swell
Noticing I've lost 30 pounds
So let them keep talking. It inspires me.

pinkrobe

#1 question: "You RODE today?!?!?!?!?" I got this one on the first snow day of the year, and it was only -5C or something. People were freaked right out when it got to -25C [windchill caused exposed flesh to freeze in 30 seconds]. They were quite concerned for my safety. Most recently, a guy said that he would feel a lot better if I drove my car for 80% of my commute. I work with nice people.

dynaryder

The goofiest reaction I got was when I mentioned that I carry a patch kit and pump. A coworker couldn't believe I carried "all that". I said,don't you have a spare and jack in your car?

unkchunk

Years ago in a tabloid magazine they had an article on dealing with stupid coworkers in general. I posted it on the employee billboard, for which some of the management and employees were generally not appreciative. The others found it usefull and were not offended in any way. The technichs could easily be adapted to questions concerning cycling.

What you have to do is immediately repsond with a equally stupid unrealated answer. So you'll have to have a pre prepared responce. The author had recommended the phrase, "You know, a girl I used to date now works at the post office." It works in most situations because it can't be related to anything and is completely meaningless and trivial. Now instead of you standing there with your mouth agape wondering WTF, they (the stupid questioner) will stand there with their mouth agape wondering WTF. And you get on with your schedule uninterupted. There is nothing that can screw up your day more than trying to decipher and distill any meaning out of a stupid question, which one must do before they may answer.

This met with great success at that manufacturing facility. And soon one could hear echoings of the words "You know, I girl I used to date now works at the post office" over and over again. Yes, it won't stop stupid questions from happening. But it does free you from the fascist hegemony of stupid questions.

ax0n

I'm from Olathe. I hop on The "Jo" (who came up with that name anyways?!) and take it to 12th and Central, and ride to my office at 10th and Central, often taking the long way via Starbucks @ 12th and Main. During lunch, I can be seen going to City Center Square, Town pavilion, Central Library, Red Dragon, or Lulus all the way down at SW and Broadway. I occasionally go to CVS or to the big UMB bank, too.

I think I'd remember seeing a pink frilly thing on a helmet. I usually have a green helmet on, riding this bike when it's nice:

https://www.focushacks.com/photo/nye-outlook.jpg

Or this bike on days like today:

https://www.focushacks.com/photo/snoceries.jpg

Cromulent

I've been tempted to say something like, "Well if you paid me more, I could afford a car. But since you can't, or you won't, I ride this to work." But somehow I don't think I could hide the bitterness.

scottmorrison99

Yesterday I was sitting in the break room and I got the "You rode your bike?" because it was raining. I replied incredulously "You drove your 9 passenger SUV to work? You live closer to work than I do!" I just smiled at the confused look I got in return. I'm not anticar, but I'm tired of stupid questions.

oilfreeandhappy

Yeah, I get this one a lot. I usually reply, "Sure, I certainly wouldn't want to drive a car in these conditions." (All respect to another BF writer, from whom, I stole this!)

Bolo Grubb

I reply "I don't need to lose weight, because I bike"

Laika74

I almost forgot one other comment. Someone calls me "Tour de Brian". They explained it to me "Like the Tour de France, you're Tour de Brian."

It's not that they're anti-biking they're just ani-anything you do. Unless you drive a big SUV or Truck. A co-worker was talking about getting a scooter until our VP told him he would look gay.

bikedaddy

When people ask me 'Did you ride?' or anything about my riding I think I'm going to start offering to help them get going. See if they are interested or terrified...

either that or kick them in the knee. I haven't decided yet

As You Like It

Well, axOn, we do circulate around the same part of town. I think I've seen your bike tied up down at City Center Pavilon a couple of times. I go to the Bank Midwest across the street from there, and that CVS sometimes on Main, so likely as not we've crossed paths

CliftonGK1

Someone asked about my commute, and why I do it (no matter the weather, etc.)

I asked them about the gym bag they carry in most days. Apparently they hit the gym for a 40 minute bout on the treadmill and/or eliptical before and after work.
The gym is 5 miles north of the office. They live 2.5 miles south of the office. They failed to see my point; that they're paying a $50/month membership fee to drive 15 miles round-trip so they can go inside and do precisely the same exercise they could do outside for a $200 investment in rain-gear, and never pay any fees or get stuck in traffic on the way there.

banerjek

All the time. To anyone who wonders why I bike, I tell them it's because I like to, and that life is just easier and more fun if you are in shape. Aside from having more energy, you don't feel hot/cold/sick/whatever nearly as often as everyone else.

I don't wear bike gear in the building, but if someone gave me a spandex comment like that, I'd probably reply along the lines of "You're just saying that 'cos you're jealous..."

crtreedude 

+1

The Figment

Until a week ago I worked in a balloon factory here in So.Central Ks. I heard all kinds of cracks/comments running from "Don't you own a car?" to "Damn Hippie/enviromentalist/liberal" (I like my tye-dye) then folk see my bike and tralier (05 REI Novara Bonaza Mtb/BoB yak) and they "ask what did that thing cost you" When I tell them they freak..."You spent more on THAT then I did my truck?" "Wadda you Nutz?" my responce is usally is "no,I just don't want to spend my hard earned cash giving terrorists money,Let them drink gasoline!" The rednecks generally don't get it.

newbojeff

In defense of our co-workers (except for those mentioned above that are being intentionally rude), I think most of this is just attempts to make converstation. I think of it as asking about the weather. ("Quite some weather we're having today, huh?") I just try to be positive about biking without overdoing it, telling people, if they ask, about the ride (usually great and/or fun).

My favorite -- and you've all gotten this -- is walking into the office, helmet and panniers in hand, wearing spandex or something equally obviously biking related and getting that old chestnut: "Ride your bike today?"

kjmillig

A response most rednecks will understand:
No I just like the way spandex feels against my shaved legs....here's yur sign!

ax0n

I do get the unicycle comment or "Where's the rest of your bike" whenever I bring my QR Front wheel in. But they're just ribbing me.

KeatonR

How about, "Did you get a DUI?"

There are some bike commuters on the road who definitely look like DUI offenders -- they're generally helmet-less, wearing jeans, and sometimes smoking while riding. Funny.

kemmer

I probably look like a DUI guy on really bad snow days since I ride an old MTB, generally don't wear a helmet and have no cycling specific foul weather gear.