jcm

Yeah. By my wife. Right when I come through the back door after a hard days work...

Big_e

Not while bicycling. I take care to wear nice bike shorts and jerseys when possible. In the cold weather, I may wear jeans but I always wear nice reflective jackets. I try to dress nice because of a small incident, a couple of years ago...

I was sick with the flu and went to this small clinic close to the house to get seen and get/get prescribed medicine. The nurse who attended to me spoke to me in spanish. My spanish isn't the best so I replied to her questions in English and made small talk 'cause I get nervous in clinics. She was suprised and laughing, said that I looked and dressed like those homeless hispanic guys that stand on the corners looking for day work (as she put it). I laughed and since then, I'm more critical of what I wear and of my personal hygeine.
Ernest

The Human Car

Not really that related but I have lots of people ask me for directions to which I have to say sorry I'm not from around here, I just road here from [30-50 miles away.] So much fun to watch their jaws drop.

Spanky-G-Master

To answer the OP's question, most likely just before it snowed I would ride to work in a military surplus camo jacket and I have a goatee and had long hair (until this last weekend), I'm sure some of the people thought I was homeless. Most of my co-workers were under the impression that I didn't own a car or had my licence taken away, they were shocked to see me drive after it snowed. As for for people thinking I'm poor....well that would be not to far from reality.

I don't really care if someone hangs out in a place with out patronizing that business, I do not, I don't even window shop there must be a purpose for me being in a coffee shop or store. If I'm going to hang out I'll do so at a park or at the beach, which are abundant around here.

moses

Oh yeah .My son was on an outing from school where they were driven by by one of the parents.I guess it was an easy assumption as it was the middle of winter on my worst looking bike complete with plastic milk crate strapped to it . I was dressed in work boots and an old parka to keep the road slop off . I hope that a lesson was learned by everyone in that mini van about judging others

LesterOfPuppets

Since I refuse to pay $60 a month for trash service at my shop, once a week I ride home with a trash bag lashed to my trailer. I always figure that mebbe a third of the folks that pass me would guess that I'm a homeless can collector on my way across the river so I can get a nickel apiece for my bag o' cans.

I don't think I've hung out at a coffee shop without buying anything since I really was homeless...

SlimAgainSoon

... but a hopeless drunk.

I've had people ask me if I ride my bike because I lost my license.

Another reason to ride in bike clothes and stay off the beater!

Spanky-G-Master

I hardly consider a bike with XT components a beater, but I really could care less about what the general public thinks of my mode of transportation. Lycra is great for road rides or MTB racing, but when chugging along threw the ghetto it's much better to blend in my opinion.

dobovedo

All my roadie friends repeatedly told me that... so I kept my beard and shaved my legs.

DataJunkie

Excellent..
I have a thin beard and shaved legs.
I'm not the only one!

tingjunkie

Funny story. I think all the whiners should switch to wider saddles to relieve the anal pressure.

I-Like-To-Bike

A homeless person might have an excuse for parking himself at the coffee shop without buying anything; the OP's appears to enjoy playing the role of a bum for its effect on others, as well as being a clueless cheapskate.

Reminds me of some fellows I took a ride with a long time ago in Philadelphia. We stopped at the Melrose Diner to eat, after taking a table, they astounded me when they they pulled out their bananas, gorp and other home made concoctions to eat and sat there without so much as ordering a soda pop or beverage. Needless to say they didn't even leave a tip. I bought and paid foe my meal and left them upon exiting. I never rode with them again as I considered such behavior too boorish to overlook.

BassNotBass

I'm in your shoes. A lot of people are under the impression that I'm poor because I ride a bike... and crappy old one at that or they may see me shop at thrift stores. It's a shame so many people think that if you have money you need to flaunt or show it. It's so wasteful.

slloth

I just don't see any point in buying a coffee just to sit in a chair outside Starbucks. It's not like I'm taking up any space at 6:30 AM in the Suburbs. Most of the time I'm the only person sitting there. Does it make you feel any better that the coffee that is waiting for me at work is Starbucks?

I really do not care about large corporations. I guess that's it. I didn't think we would go so deep in to this story. Wow...

caloso

Never been mistaken for homeless. (Although I am a drunk and a Mexican-American, which I guess is the social equivalent in some minds.) I guess that's the benefit of wearing a pretentious lycra get up.

ok_commuter

ftw

DavidW56

Hm. No, I've never been mistaken for being a homeless person. But I'm clean-shaven and wear my hair maybe an inch long. The only reactions I've received for commuting by bicycle is surprise and praise. There are only two or three other employees who commute regularly by bike at my office, and during the heavy snowfall recently, none at all.

rule

Uh...no.

SlimAgainSoon

Get a job.

slloth

You know what job I think would be cool. I've noticed that our local mall has bike security gaurds now. I could do that for sure if it paid enough. I wouldn't want to be a police officer but I could do the security. Now that would be cool. Laps around the mall!

DataJunkie

One of ours has bike security guards as well. Another one uses segways. Fat security guards on segways. Lame.

beatnik0422

Not only do people who I have never seen before in my life assume presumptuously that I'm a bum, but so do people I knew when I was younger and haven't seen in a while. I must admit though, I have a big mountain man beard and, for the most part, my wardrobe came from a Goodwill store.

I'm not so overwhelmed with poverty that I'm coerced into riding a bicycle and wearing cheap clothes from consignment shops. It's just that I do not see any reason to spend copious amounts of the green stuff on garments that will make me prettier.

And as for all of the people mislead by my appearance, they only amuse me. I never take it the wrong way. I merely explain to them that I work in an office building with air conditioning and a nice swivel, reclining chair--a name badge required sort of place. They usually stare at me incredulously and inquire as to the nature of my chosen means of transportation. To which I reply, "I just like riding my bicycle."

I-Like-To-Bike

Would you take the "cool job" even if one of the job requirements was to present an appearance that wouldn't cause the mall patrons to mistake you for a homeless/poor person? BTW, how much would you have to be paid to work a "cool" job?

Santaria

No. I have been accused of being a 'dui-cyclist' at one stage in my life - but that was only because the guy was new to the office and didn't know me (at that paper).


Will the irony be that with the current economy the chances of seeing more (and more) people riding bikes because their cars/trucks/SUVs are being repossessed for non-payment who will easily start to look homeless?


Or that the number of homeless will escalate to the point of all those $25 bikes sitting at pawn shops being purchased and USED instead of dying in front of them?


I hate the direction the world is changing, and I think I hate the fact that 'humor' is found in people's charity/good will.

Good on you for finding stupid people at a Starbucks. You know what would more more funny? Fake a major accident on your bike and then when all the EMS/Police and people have stopped to help you jump up and yell SURPRISE! I'm fine. Last laugh is on you stupid people!

City_Smasher

+1