It's too bad they have that attitude. Keep at it and soon they'll accept it. It's often the 2nd or 3rd person who starts commuting that legitimize it in the eyes of the majority. But there can be no 2nd without the first.

Ask him which one of these guys he wants to be when he grows up.

http://gaygamer.net/images/ymca.jpg

I can understand how you can shrug off the 'gay' or 'dangerous' or whatever comments--but I can't comprehend how this does not have you bristling with rage.

Forget about all the other childish, homophobic, ignorant garbage those morons spew...this is what makes me want to find your boss and drill holes in his hands.

I also can't believe you put up with that. But maybe a privately owned company can get away with that crap. I don't know. I know where I work he and anyone who actually had physical contact with you would be fired immediately and this is definitely not the most pc or enlightened place on earth.

+1 If it were me this would merit a trip to HR to file a formal complaint. All companies usually have some sort of anti-harassment policy in place.

Of course it burns me up. I mentioned it to the general manager. The outcome? Nothing. Too awkward for the manager to deal with. Welcome to the world of privately owned small companies. I also believe in Karma.

HR manager happens to be the general manager's wife. :twitchy:

Seriously. Do whatever you have to do to find another job in a much healthier place to work. This can't be doing you much good.

J.

I'm still gonna go with "get another job". Easier said than done, for sure, but why put up with that sh**t?

No way. He simply has to tell the offender that his behavior is unacceptable. What is awkward?

This better be one whale of a job you're hanging onto to be worth this nonsense.

I get a few wisecrack remarks but most say that, while they admire what I do they wouldn't bike to work. One manager(not mine) remarked that driving is smarter and easier and I says, 'Yeah, well enjoy your fat butt!".
My previous manager and my present manager show support and let me store the bike inside, under the stairs.
Ernest

The last place I worked some of the employees made comments, but they were mostly joking, as we joked with each other a lot. Where I am at now, people seem to be in awe that I would bike 10.5 miles to work and a few of them even started biking a few days a week after seeing me do it.

Tell 'em how much you paid for gas last month. That usually shuts them up pretty good.

I noticed someone made a couple of comments, but I think they were jealous and not up to doing it themselves. More people didn't comment, and a few expressed a positive opinion. I never wore gay pants though (j/k).

What do gay pants look like??

Apparently they look like pants that have sex with other pants of the same gender. Either that or really happy pants.

Hilarious!

Many people bring up the "f*ggy pants" or "gay-a** pants" issue with me, almost all of them think we wear them to look cool.

No matter how many times I tell them that they are constructed for comfort, etc, they don't want to hear it. The simple thought of a man wearing spandex shorts is so taboo among the general population, there is no point in explaining.

Smart cyclists listen to others' experiences and try them out. Just about all of my old riding buddies have a pair.

I will wear them when I am not riding to mingle with anyone other than fellow cyclists.

If anyone said this to me I would reply with "I didn't ride a harley to work..."

Wow, where do some of you guys work? I just started commuting and my coworkers have nothing but positive things to say. One of them has seen some of us starting to commute recently and seems to be almost at the point of trying it. I don't have lycra gear, but I did come in with my oversized safety vest and grease stains on my clothes (screwed up putting the bike on the bus rack today). We have one guy who always takes his bike + lightrail into work, and a few people who ride in sometimes, so I guess we have a more accepting culture here. FWIW I work in tech support in northern california. Maybe that has something to do with it.

for me when I started commuting I never got any of those comments you guys have. But once I started another co worker across the cubicle started doing it too and his was a 20km one way trip. Says he loves it and feels pumped by the time he's here and saved time from the gym. Once he's home he's already done his workout and just plays with his kid. Also his commute is 1hr and his public transit commute is 1 1/2hr's fun fun and his driving is 45min! Not bad! Also my commute is only 6km and I wear my work pants and just change my bike shirt out when I get there. No real high visibility vest just a 1/2 watt red blinkys in the back so they can see me even in total daylight.

I've had fairly good experiences with my co-workers and commuting. Most people are impressed I ride 20km to work each day and I am normally met with comments like "Wow, how long does that take you!" when I reply around 40 minutes they normally say "that's how long I take to get to work!".

Only had one slightly awkward confrontation with a co-worker, I was in the lift and she was staring at my "package". After a long awkward silence, and about 5 floors in the lift she squeaked out "Nice........gear".

No, but my wife this morning relayed some constructive criticism about my route choice from one of her coworkers (who lives a block away from us). 'she doesn't like to see you on XX street' (which has no shoulder or bike lane or anything)*. But it's a mile past where her coworker (who started at roughly the same place as me) is going! I don't like to see her there either!



*but it is easier to bail to a ditch or a yard than the previous cross-street that I never take

Your co-workers sound fat.

Good for you. It's simply guys being guys. I lived with shop ball busting for years. The last thing you can show is anger or weakness. Sometimes the best way is join in on the joke or turn it on them. If it were me I'd stuff a pair of tube socks down my pants before doing the long walk through. Give them something to hoot at. Some great replies could be...

"Yeah I was almost late this morning. BTW, ya might wanna have your old lady change the sheets."

"Where's my old tight shorts? Why, ya wanna see my junk?"

"Hey, thanks for pinching my ass. Now go smell your fingers like we know ya want to."

"Yeah, this coming from the guy who cut himself and bled Cheese Wizz."

"Why don't you ride? Afraid of messing up your make up?"

"The reason your ass hurts when you ride is because it's where you keep your head."

"Well at least I can see my own d**k. How long's it been for you?"

"Your mom loves my jacket. She even has me wear it while I'm railing her."

"The only reason you don't ride a bike is you don't have any place to carry your purse."

"The only reason you don't ride is because it would require you to remove that stick from your ass."

That's an impressive group of people you work with. I haven't experienced that kind of immaturity since 8th grade. Still, I would likely "tone it down" a bit. I.E. no spandex, don't wear the helmet off the bike, etc. It's weird enough to others when they see someone riding a bike to work without adding the ugly and strange clothing to the mix. Whether we like it or not, people are more of a herd animal and operate on a social level that requires some fitting in.

Other than baggy bike shorts, I tend to not wear anything that looks cycling specific when I arrive at work. Part of that is personal preference and part is not to come across like an alien. Thankfully, my co-workers have never expressed any negative attitudes toward my biking other than concern or surprise on the rainy days. I do think that the extra equipment and clothing makes the idea of biking to work seem more unapproachable to people so I'm happy not to contribute to that perception.

Nigal gets it. :thumb:

Depends on the environment. Shop floor? maybe. Office/corporate - that would get you a trip to HR that would not be fun.

J.

Perhaps in your environment, John, but not in all...the one I am currently in being one example. Come on, buddy, we both know better than to paint with overly broad brushes. ;)

That was my point. we agree. depends on the environment.

J.