Long time reader, first time poster.

I have wanted to commute to work for a long time, however I have feared my partners and employees would be convinced that I am weird for doing so (I work in a very conservitive enviroment). My partners know I ride for fitness and recreation, and they ask questions like...you don't wear one of those goofy helmets do you? or, tell me your not one of those guys that block traffic...etc. Well I finally hatched a stealthy plan to commute to work by bike. I did it this morning and pulled it off without a hitch! I feel great, what a fantastic way to start the day.

Just had to share.

Bout Time.......
They all ready know you are weird.

Fun wasn't it?

Good for you! I am glad you were able to make it work.

welcome to crazyland!

Good job! Are you eventually going to let them know you're commuting by bicycle now? My co-workers already thought I was crazy for commuting by motorcycle all year, so I don't think the switch to bicycle most of the time will really faze them.

Congrats! Do your best to block them now.

"You don't wear one of those goofy helmets, do you?"

No, I wear one of those sensible helmets. I wish those sissy football players would stop wearing their goofy helmets though. What are they afraid of anyway?

BTW, good job, and welcome.

Yes, but not for a while. I will keep up my stealth plan until one of them (my partners) sees me. Then they will ask, "are you riding a bike to work?" and I will say...yes, of coarse I am, I've been riding a bike to work for ages, I thought you knew that I commuted by bike. Then they will think...well if he has been doing it for a while, and he has been the same somewhat normal guy, I must assume he is not loosing his mind. BTW several of my employees already know and they think its cool, they are much more open minded than my partners,

Great job, now you can start collecting weird and stupid comments for your memoirs. My personal favorite is when somebody takes me aside in private (to get the realskinny) and asks "No, really, where did you park?"

Marc

Welcome!

I have to say, though, you'd do well to care less about how weird other people think you are and care more about being true to yourself. Speaking for myself, I relish the "weirdness" cred that I'm stuck with as a bike commuter.

It's unfortunate you have to keep up a charade Laguna Bum, but it should all work out.

I'm surprised your coworkers didn't figure it out when you went to the staff meeting in spandex, a hi-viz vest, and had "helmet hair" ;-).

I guess I'm lucky - I can click-clack down the hall in my cycling shoes wearing spandex and no one says a word. There is a gym at work so it's not unusual to see people wandering the hallways in workout clothes in the morning and afternoon.

Any chance you might be over-thinking this a bit? Hey, glad you're doing it and it's working out! Keep it up and best of luck!

Knowing me, that is highly likely.

Surely, not using one of those newfangled horseless carriages demonstrates your impeccable conservative beliefs

They're noisy, dangerous, pollute the air and I doubt if they'll ever catch on

1) Ask them the last time they bought gas.
2) Tell them the last time you bought gas.
3) Quit sneaking.

Oh, and good for you for starting.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, Laguna, since I also commute by bike (in Indiana, 10-11 months out of the year! This is usually the time I'm forced to bus it, but we've been lucky to have little to no ice); CONGRATULATIONS on getting up on two wheels!

I have to wonder, though, about your assessment of "a conservative environment" -- I guess that translates, in your region, to 'car-centric'.

Cycling for transport is NOT a radical idea; heck, paved roads came from the cycling lobbyists, a century or so ago! Just because the baby-boomer craze, post WWII, rallied to the "one in every driveway!" car obsession, does NOT make it the standard by which all else is measured.

And, honestly, the "goofy helmet" comment would just about DARE me to find the most oddly-colored, bold helmet I could get, and wear it in front of the commenter.

Celebrate your individuality! As my middle daughter says, "WHY BE NORMAL?"

Very nice. And keep coming back.

Exactly, Although after almost three years, my coworkers are kind of used to it. Now, it is considered weird if I don't ride in.

I can see the OP's sensitivity, especially if he or she is in a very conservative work environment. I'm going to assume lawyer or accountant (any other professions use the term partner?) in Orange County (Laguna). Both politically conservative and very car-centric.

But let your freak flag fly, Laguna Bum! You're among friends here. And make sure to post in the daily commute thread.

I like your plan. Don't be sneaky (that's weird) but don't make a big deal, and I think you'll engender more goodwill towards cyclists than if you come in all spandexed out. I'm well-liked at work for reasons that don't include bike commuting, and so I like to believe (maybe I'm delusional) that folks at work will see my bike commuting as non-threatening and begin to see other cyclists on the road and think, "that could be CVB, maybe I'd better take a little care".

Yeah, probably delusional.

I figured in California just about anything goes and if you commuted by skateboard nobody would think you were odd, and if they do so what. If you are a lawyer sue them and if you are an accountant figure out a way to cook their accounts to get even. Did I say that? OOPS

+1

Welcome Bum. Personally, I wouildn't be too concerned with the wierdness thing. I also work in an ultra-conservative environment. Soon, you'll get the hang of suit rolling.

Back in the 70's I worked for a very large manufacturing company. The president commuted to work. He got a lot of razz from the plant employees at the time. It was quite unusual. When I began commuting, my employees chalked it up to some passing mid-life-crisis phase.

Be true to yourself. And despite what you might read here from time to time, please don't be tempted to spout spiffy put-downs to well meaning but idiotic questions and statements. Your co-workers will get used to it soon enough.
Happy riding..

Laguna Bum -- how are you reconciling your username with all this conservative angst? Is that another way of sticking it to the man? Are you having to chew up the commute miles just for the stress relief?

Good luck with the stealth plan and the grand coming out of the bike commuting closet scheme.