Some coworkers need to shut up...
 

You can probably tell by the title this is rant #2,436,854.58 on BF. Sorry it is kind of long.

One of the younger girls I work with had expressed interest in commuting to work several times in the past. Over the last month I helped her plan a route from her house to the office, give her whatever advice was asked for without being too geeky (I have been told I have a problem with this when it comes to all things bicycle), and gave her some tips on some free bike maintenance classes at an REI close to where she lives. The idea of buying a better quality used bike from CL rather than a new bike from a big box store has been a hard sell (because new is better, right?), but I told her if she went that route I would gladly go over it to make sure it was tuned and ride-ready for her to start commuting.

...sidenote...it certainly doesn't hurt when the girl asking you this is cute and considers guys who ride and are geeky about bikes as "sexy". I will gladly read between the lines on this one since I am the only person who rides a bike where I work.../sidenote...

Well, this morning was the first time this coworker actually saw my bike gear at my desk. I usually have it hidden since we can actually get written up if any personal effects are at our desks (step one on getting fired for those who don't have ridiculous policies where you work :thumb:). It was just a helmet and my Carradice bag. “That’s it!” she said, “I am going to start commuting to work on a bike as well and not waiting any longer. I am going to lose weight I want and cancel my gym membership.” She was super psyched about the idea and I think that seeing the gear at my desk was an affirmation that it can be done even by someone with my doughy exterior. This launched more conversation about bikes and gear and the good and bad of riding your bike to work; especially in the area of dealing with a sweaty body and then changing into work clothes. A question for which there is no easy answer considering we don’t have showers at my office.

When our conversation finally ended and the potential commuter started back to her desk another female employee confronted her… ‘Don’t do it. Don’t ride a bike to work, anyone riding a bike is stupid and you are going to end up stranded somewhere when you get a flat tire. You better make sure your cell phone is charged and hope that no one attacks you while you are riding. What are you going to do if you fall off your bike and get hurt?’ There were a few other things said that I could not hear as the employee followed the potential commuter back to her desk. To be honest with you this made me a little angry. First, this conversation did not even involve her. Second, it was not the place of someone who probably hasn’t ridden a bike in [several] decades to tell someone willing to undertake the task that they shouldn’t be doing it.

While I am not one to go around taking Debbie Downers seriously it is the first time ANYONE at my work has expressed interest in commuting to work by bicycle. I was honored and flattered to say the least that this person would come to me for advice and to have someone blatantly take the wind out of your sails isn’t exactly fun. :mad:

Was the debbie downer fat ?

could be sincere concern, you know. maybe that co-worker had a friend or family member hurt on a bike.

Don't do it. Don't drive a car to work, anyone driving a car is stupid and you are going to end up stranded somewhere when you get a flat tire or your car breaks down. You better make sure your cell phone is charged and hope that nobody hits you while you are driving or jumps out in front of you and you hit him. What are you going to do if you get into an accident or run out of gas? You will be late if you get a speeding ticket or if there is an accident that gridlocks the freeway. What if you hit a pebble and crack your windshield? You will have to take time off to get it fixed.

You're leading by example and that's the right thing to do. Is it possible to ride with her to work? You should go out of your way to escort a pretty girl to work if that's what it will take to get her on the bike (within reason, of course.) Having you there would shut down all of Debbie Downer's caveats.

Haha, no escape!! Don't leave the car commuter circle!! Death and destruction await!! Go no further!!

How did you know?

There's always Pro and Cons from both side. Honestly she should know the negative as well as the positive to commuting. Let her be the judge of her final decision. Have her read this thread and I think she will benefit from the wisdom of the female who made the choice to commute. I am sure if she reads it, her level of interest will rise and she will have a lot more interesting question for you. :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...u-than-for-men

Wow. I'd be mad too. Maybe it is genuine concern but it just seems so foreign to me. We have several people that bike to work in our office in a building where bike after bike is locked to the railing outside.

Yes, I suppose it's possible she could fall off her bike and scrape her knee but that doesn't stop even the most protective of parents from teaching their kids to ride a bike. We had a guy at work slip on a patch of ice and break his leg walking from his car into the building. Driving a car doesn't guarantee safety. Statistically it's one of the more dangerous things we do.

It could be from genuine concern, but more likely it is coming from the attitude of a very automobile focused idea of thinking. For Debbie Downer the very notion of commuting to work by a car is a foreign idea, so since its foreign its should be demonized and feared. Most people when i mention or find that i commute by bike, balk at the idea, think im poor and think iv'e gone and lost my marbles.

"anyone riding a bike is stupid" - This is my favourite quote lol! Well, that one doesn't know that by saying stupid things like that, she talks mostly of her own character, or lack thereof. In my expirience, ppl saying such generalizations about anything, are in general not the brightest kind, if you know what I mean ;)

Envy is a long known syndrome of those that do not have the courage to take up commuting on their own. And saying things behind other's back is another syndrome of such envious creatures.

If anything, that would make me laugh, since it's obvious that you somehow trigerred some kind of inadequacy response in that person doing the bad mouthing - aka she is probably scared to try it herself, or she has some other reason why she will feel better if everyone around her is the same as her. Coupled with the fact that she is fat, and that she is saying those things to a younger, and probably much thinner girl, leads to the conclusion that the idea of that younger girl looking even better and being more healthy then her, leads that other women into feeling left out. Or maybe, it shows her how SHE could have looked like if she had motivation/courage/willpower to take bike riding upon herself. And since that is demoralising, she MUST discourage everyone else from riding, because it would be horror if someone around her reminded her everyday she probably doesn't do any kind of excercise, and leads a sedentary lifestyle. And noone can be so daft as to remind her of that every day, now can they? :D

And that leads to this, since you have your mind made up, and she probably can't influence your decision, she has to try and influence anyone else who might take up bike commuting; while that person (the younger girl) is still undecided about it. That's pure selfishness on part of that fatter woman; if she can't look and/or feel good about herself, then she wants to make sure that noone else can feel or look good, too.

What you do, you go to that younger girl, give her good advice to aleviate that (unreasonable) fears that older fatty might have put in her head, help her get started, even offer to ride a part of your commute or all of it with her a few times to help her learn the ropes so to speak, and you will see that in no time you will have another bike commuter where you work ;) And make sure to tell her that someone who has never ridden a bike in their lives (probably), has no credibility in speaking about bike commuting, since they do not know anything about vast majority of topics related to bike commuting - reffering to the fatty ofc. Let the fatty stick to what she does know about, driving a car and staying sedentary. And who knows, you might even have something more going there then just the commute with that younger girl :love:

Sorry that your work has a bunch of debbie downers - I've started bringing my bike into my office at work recently, and I've actually gotten a very positive response. Quite a few people (and people I normally dont talk to) have poked in, complimented me on m bike, asked me about it, about my commute, etc.

Don't think I've inspired anyone to ride in themselves yet :P most people think I'm a bit crazy for cycling in Toronto rush-hour, but I try to explain that it's not that bad. My bike isn't that fancy of a bike, but quite a few of them still cant get their head around why I would spend nearly $1k on a bike.

I try to explain, that even from transit-costs alone - it almost pays itself off within a year. There are probably about 7-8 months a year I can comfortably ride into work and not get a metro pass, so even on the conservative side of things say - 7 months, that is already $847 I'm not spending on the metro.

That really sucks... can' say I'm surprised, though. Although I'm not a fan of broad generalizations, I do notice more and more folks these days react just like your Debbie Downer to any new ideas - they freak the eff out and start rattling off possible worst case scenarios. Heck, when I bought my bike and started riding a few months back, my dad even told me that I was probably neglecting my dogs now b/c of the time spent on my bike. Never mind that biking was a small part of a greater positive life change (going to rehab, quitting drinking, dropping a bunch of good old Wisconsin-style beer-induced belly fat), the only thing to focus on was the negative.

Honestly, you just have to tune that crap out. You're doing the right thing by encouraging your co-worker to be a bike commuter - there are just so many positives to it economically, health-wise, environmentally, etc. Don't let the fear-controlled Debbie Downers of the world get under your skin, it's just not worth it.

You know, someone could place Debbie's "personal effects" all over her desk when she was away. Maybe even add a few questionable ones! :P

Find that picture of Albert Einstein riding a bike with a really goofy grin on his face like he is the happiest he has ever been in his life and ask her "does this guy look stupid?"

There's always someone who has to make sure everyone else shares their fear and that nobody is having any more fun or a better life than they are.

Ah yes... the good ole 'Uncle Fred' stories. It seems there will always be negative people more than willing to share their fears in life and judge you accordingly. They honestly don't know how silly they sound.
1. "So I went to the movies last night and..." "Your kidding. That's unsafe. I had a friend who went to the movies and was knifed by a tweeker."
2. "Last night I had the best anchovy pizza ever at that new Italian place around the corner and..." "Y'know, my uncle died a horrible death because of tainted anchovies. Do you have a death-wish or something?"
3. "Oh man, I'm so glad I packed that cold can of Coke in my backpack because..." "You did what?!!! Don't you know there was a guy in Russia who did that, fell backwards onto his backpack and the can cracked his spine? He's paralyzed now."


cradduck... you did well and inspired someone.:thumb: But she's a grown woman and can make her own choice as to whether or not she's going to commute by bike regardless of what you or DD says.

:rolleyes:

At least if I get a flat in the middle of nowhere, I can whip out my patch kit and mini pump to repair it. I've seen movies. I know what happens to people who get flat car tires in the middle of nowhere.

http://www.frightmanor.com/images/JasonVorhees-1.jpg

One of the guys at work who warns me from time to time how dangerous it is to bike on the roads is about 50 pounds overweight, smokes and has a nagging cough. He is a super nice guy, however, and I know that he thinks he is just looking out for me. I won't suggest that he start cycling because he would probably have a heart attack.

Sounds like you need a stack of "one less car" stickers to display everywhere.

Do these same people live in bubble wrap with just a tiny blowhole so they don't suffocate? I mean, really, all the doom and gloom because "someone" knew someone who was killed doing activity x. Christ, my uncle died in his sleep, I guess I'm staying awake from now on.

Joe

Lots of my coworker express the same negative opinion as the OP coworker. Somehow I believe they say these thing because we have options and they're stuck with driving.

"anyone riding a bike is stupid"

Correct response is, "Quiet there tons of fun."

I'd swear that I saw someone matching his description the last time I had a flat on one of my winter evening commutes, and it must have scared my bike so bad that I haven't had a flat on a winter commute since. ;)

you're probably making a few souls uncomfortable in your office- don't worry too much about it,
typical response for people is to make fun of what they don't understand or what makes them question
their own failings