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-   -   Commuters: Do your co-workers mock you endlessly? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/728908-commuters-do-your-co-workers-mock-you-endlessly.html)

Guitarrick 04-20-11 08:19 PM


Originally Posted by CB HI (Post 12530091)
Bring a large picture in with the days gas price sign. When they mock you, just hold the picture in their face and laugh hysterically. Post another picture up in the lunch area.

After you get tired of showing them that picture, take a picture of a local traffic jam.

Perfect!

I would say to look into a pair of MTB shorts, but that just sucks. You bought your cycling gear. That's just BS to have to spend more $$ for a bunch of idiots to stop taunting you.

I don't get kitted up. I've always ridden in jean shorts and a Tshirt until this year. This year I'm making the quantum leap to MTB shorts and wicking polyester Tshirts :eek:

It's only a matter of time before I'm in full kit and being jeered at right there with you! Oh boy.

electrik 04-20-11 08:22 PM


Originally Posted by billyymc (Post 12534666)
Really? Cause I've worked with several gay guys, and not one of them has ever tried to grab my ass.

You've been working with them too long if you think that queer implies *****exual, though you do sound a little disappointed in your co-workers. ;)

JoeyBike 04-20-11 08:51 PM

Wear these three things:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=198704

Enjoy

woodway 04-20-11 09:38 PM

[edited]

Kip 04-20-11 11:57 PM

I like the $0.009/10 tee shirt. Where can I get one?

rumrunn6 04-21-11 12:43 AM

that's a form of verbal abuse and bullying. talk to your human resource manager and file a complaint.

mconlonx 04-21-11 04:50 AM

I work in a bike shop and mock my co-workers for not bike commuting.

frantik 04-21-11 05:36 AM


Originally Posted by canyoneagle (Post 12534892)
Sounds to me like this is a small contractor, so there may not be an "HR" other than an administrator or accountant in the small office. I'd imagine the only recourse would be governmental - labor law - type action.

The HR guy is probably the one who pinched his ass :lol:

Wear it every day and don't react.. they'll get bored

chipcom 04-21-11 05:58 AM


Originally Posted by green427 (Post 12529779)
Management is also part of the problem.

The office environment is about 90% male, so that explains quite a bit. LOL.

Oh for chris' sake...even when I was in the Corps (hardly a bastion of civil behavior) nobody said much, other than the usual good-natured ribbing that we all gave each other...all the time. Same applies in just about every company I've worked at, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Either they are just giving you the business BECAUSE they consider you one of the team, or because you are not considered one of the team. Which is the actual case, only you can decide. My best advice, grow a thicker skin, give back as good as you take and have fun doing it. ;)

If someone pinches your ass...grab em and give em a big sloppy kiss on the mouth...they will either quit doing so going forward or ask you out on a date. :D

sudo bike 04-21-11 06:15 AM


Originally Posted by green427 (Post 12529667)
About 8 years ago I commuted to work 2 times a week. The first few weeks were horrendous. I have to walk through the building to get to my office, and it is a gauntlet of people hooting & hollering, laughing, and pinching my ass because I am wearing what they call "gay pants" and a hi-viz shirt/jacket. I am a very patient man, but I have my limits. Yeah, I tell them to go screw themselves, etc, but the constant snickering can make my blood boil.

When I ride my motorcycles to work, it is the same thing, all making fun of my safety gear. All think I am a wuss for wearing helmets on all rides. No one seems to understand why anyone would need to wear a bicycle helmet.

My plan is to commute, try to ignore the insults, and lose about 20 lbs in the next 6 months. If that happens, I probably will rub it in the morons

Hmm... would you like to make a lot of money? :D


Any stories of co-workers hounding you when you arrive or leave the office?
Nah... mine just start riding. :D

Marauder9 04-21-11 06:31 AM

I work for a well known computer manufacturer.
I normally only have a short walk through the office to the showers but my colleagues who have seen me have looked a little surprised and amused but other than that nothing.

pallen 04-21-11 07:35 AM

I'm sure from their perspective, its just good-natured fun. Yes, its stupid and juvenile, but I would just laugh and give it right back at the next opportunity. Keep on riding and they will find someone or something else to laugh at after a while. Invite a few to come with you on a century ride.

frantik 04-21-11 07:58 AM


Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12536167)
If someone pinches your ass...grab em and give em a big sloppy kiss on the mouth...they will either quit doing so going forward or ask you out on a date. :D

:lol:

crhilton 04-21-11 08:41 AM

I work with grownups.

One piece of advice: The industry makes mountain biker shorts now. They're like bike shorts, but on the outside they mostly look like regular shorts.

Also, take the helmet off when you enter. You'll look less dorky holding it than wearing it.

ZManT 04-21-11 08:54 AM

To the OP - for quick retorts you could ask Bubba and Cooter something along the lines of:

"Shouldn't you be banging your sister?" or

"Don't you have to go work on your IROC?"

YMMV, but those are some good ones for the rednecks in these parts . .

canyoneagle 04-21-11 08:58 AM


Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12536167)
Oh for chris' sake...even when I was in the Corps (hardly a bastion of civil behavior) nobody said much, other than the usual good-natured ribbing that we all gave each other...all the time. Same applies in just about every company I've worked at, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Either they are just giving you the business BECAUSE they consider you one of the team, or because you are not considered one of the team. Which is the actual case, only you can decide. My best advice, grow a thicker skin, give back as good as you take and have fun doing it. ;)

If someone pinches your ass...grab em and give em a big sloppy kiss on the mouth...they will either quit doing so going forward or ask you out on a date. :D

I've spent much of the past 25 years on large scale industrial construction sites, and have certainly received my fair share of the jabs (as the university educated project management guy walking amidst boilermakers, pipefitters, riggers, electricians, ironworkers, etc. with schedules and productivity data) and have fared very well doing exactly what chipcom mentions. Guys that I've charactarized as "rednecks" have actually turned out to be pretty solid, hardworking guys with basic needs. These guys took great pride in their work and had a sense of professionalism, even in the midst of the ribbing.
Of course, on jobsites with hundreds to thousands of tradesmen, my interactions might have comprised 10% of those on site, and for every good-hearted exchange there were 10 un-engaged glances, smirks, glares or nods (well, the nods were returned in kind).

In the OP's case it sounds like a small office (fishbowl) and the co-workers seem to be particularly ignorant. If it were me, I'd be asking myself "do I really want to go through the effort with these guys so I can keep working here?" I'd have to REALLY love my job to answer "yes" in this circumstance.

keiththesnake 04-21-11 10:23 AM

No mocking -- at least that I'm aware of.

I was just discussing with my wife today at lunch how I always get some comment like, "Now that's a good way to get your exercise," or "that's a nice way to save gas." I think people are confused about the reasons why I ride my bike to work, and they're too shy or embarrassed to say what they really think. Sometimes I wonder whether these folks think I got popped for a DUI that they didn't hear about or that times are really tough for me. Others think I'm a triathlete. One judge asked me once, "Riding your bike today?" one day when I got in the building carrying my helmet. I'm sure he'd wondered what was wrong that would cause me to ride my bike. One of our prosecutors, when I rode in in the rain, thought that my car must have broken down. I even got told that I could get a locker in the basement of the courthouse if I wanted one by somebody who worked there.

I look at all of the overweight, unhealthy people who would rather ride a couple miles in their cars than ride a bike, and I wonder what's wrong with them. I still prefer the bike when it's possible. Why not choose to do something about your poor physical condition, reduce stress, and be liberated?

I think that some gentle ribbing by friends is probably okay, but the OP sounds like he's being harassed. Somebody actually touched him? That ought to be addressed.

one_beatnik 04-21-11 10:27 AM

I've never gotten this kind of harassment!! This does not seem like just a ribbing here. Having said that, I've told many people that rather than 20 mpg with my little truck to work, I get 20 miles per cookie! And even with those cookies I lost 30 pounds last year! How many did you lose?

starla 04-21-11 10:51 AM

My boss has made "hilarious" comments about my cat burglar suit when I ride in the winter, but that's about as derogatory as I've heard. Most people either don't care, tell me to be careful, or give me that head-shaking "you crazy person" look. If I was actively harassed or made fun of, I would quickly put an end to that crap.

no motor? 04-21-11 11:07 AM


Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12536167)
Oh for chris' sake...even when I was in the Corps (hardly a bastion of civil behavior) nobody said much, other than the usual good-natured ribbing that we all gave each other...all the time. Same applies in just about every company I've worked at, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Either they are just giving you the business BECAUSE they consider you one of the team, or because you are not considered one of the team. Which is the actual case, only you can decide. My best advice, grow a thicker skin, give back as good as you take and have fun doing it. ;)

If someone pinches your ass...grab em and give em a big sloppy kiss on the mouth...they will either quit doing so going forward or ask you out on a date. :D

I work in a small office, and most of us have worked together for over 10 years. We all are part of the same team who can dish it out and take it, and act like brother and sisters most days. I get teased about riding some days, but they don't see the 15 pounds I lost riding while most of them have gained weight and all I have to do is point at my gut to get the kidding to stop.

green427 04-21-11 11:54 AM

Thanks to all for your replies. Most have good points.

Yes, I need to grow some thicker skin. Going to HR is the last option on my list right now. If I were in a position that I could get another job easily, I might say something.

True, I should not have to change my wardrobe for others, however, those MTB shorts I got from Performance are pretty darned comfortable anyway.

The mocking happened a few years ago, I haven't cycled to work since.. (too many reasons to list, plus I discovered motorcycling as well) but I am getting back into cycling to work. I am sick of feeling depressed all the time, plus my knee issues have gotten better. The rush of endorphins I get after a ride is a good high.

I will be cycling to work next week, and will post any comments made to me.

Seattle Forrest 04-21-11 11:56 AM

No, not at all. Sometimes coworkers strike up conversations about cardio exercise, though, or about how far and quickly a bike can take you.

himespau 04-21-11 11:59 AM

Good luck. I'd been planning on starting this week, but then it got cold and rainy and I wussed out once again. I typically do it on weekends so a few of my coworkers have seen me and haven't said anything. I was leaving to go to work a few weekends back in more or less full kit but with mountain shorts over my tights and the girl a couple of apartments down on my floor came to the elevator talking to her dog. She was like, "I'm so embarrassed having you see me talking to me dog. You must think I'm crazy." My response was, "People dressed like me aren't allowed to call anyone crazy." I think having a good sense of humor and starting the joke so it's with you and not at you helps.

chipcom 04-21-11 12:20 PM


Originally Posted by no motor? (Post 12537411)
I work in a small office, and most of us have worked together for over 10 years. We all are part of the same team who can dish it out and take it, and act like brother and sisters most days. I get teased about riding some days, but they don't see the 15 pounds I lost riding while most of them have gained weight and all I have to do is point at my gut to get the kidding to stop.

I point to my package.

NO not that package, ya perv! I mean the package that contains my death ray.


Gharp23 04-21-11 12:55 PM

next time walk in with a full spiderman suit on. See who's laughing then...

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...pFrrWVPb7G3i1w


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