So I can't commute to work anymore....
07-17-11 | 09:18 PM
#51
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,741
Likes: 151
From: Kitchener, ON
Wow, why do so many people hate on factory workers? Yay classism? WTF.
Lock your bike up outside and go to work like a normal person. Your bike isn't nearly as special to anyone but you. Some new kid showing up and assuming he can use any space he likes to lock up his bike is presumptuous too, so you'd do well to ask before assuming you can do something.
Lock your bike up outside and go to work like a normal person. Your bike isn't nearly as special to anyone but you. Some new kid showing up and assuming he can use any space he likes to lock up his bike is presumptuous too, so you'd do well to ask before assuming you can do something.
07-17-11 | 11:44 PM
#52
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,696
Likes: 3
From: Stephenville TX
Bikes: 2010 Trek 7100
07-17-11 | 11:53 PM
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 206
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07-17-11 | 11:56 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Stupidest thing I've read in months. Thanks for reminding me that I shouldn't assume someone commuting to work via bicycle is necessarily intelligent or thoughtful. Oh, and I guess gj on the blatant stereotype. CEOS never do anything wrong (see: Enron, embezzlement, ponzi schemes).
07-18-11 | 12:42 AM
#55
Banned
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 1
It sounds to me like you have the choice of riding, enjoying, and locking your bike up outside or driving to work. I have a bike I simply love, and I ride it, and lock it, all over the place. Invest in a good lock and enjoy your bike!
07-18-11 | 11:59 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR metro area
For an engineering intern, you're not being very creative.
Here's what you do: brainstorm 30 solutions to your problem, don't judge anything, just generate lots of ideas.
Estasblish your selection criteria (cost, ease of use, available materials, etc).
Match your ideas to your criteria.
Combine ideas to get the best possible solution.
Identify objections to your solution.
Generate 20 more ideas.
combine the new ideas with the solution from above to eliminate objections.
repeat until you have something you can live with.
Do this through our your engineering career and find success.
Here's what you do: brainstorm 30 solutions to your problem, don't judge anything, just generate lots of ideas.
Estasblish your selection criteria (cost, ease of use, available materials, etc).
Match your ideas to your criteria.
Combine ideas to get the best possible solution.
Identify objections to your solution.
Generate 20 more ideas.
combine the new ideas with the solution from above to eliminate objections.
repeat until you have something you can live with.
Do this through our your engineering career and find success.
07-18-11 | 02:09 PM
#57
Faster but still slow
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,978
Likes: 2
From: Jersey
Bikes: Trek 830 circa 1993 and a Fuji WSD Finest 1.0 2006
Thank you all for the helpful (and not so helpful) responses. It's just nice to be able to vent my feelings online without the repercussions I would get if I openly vented my frustration in the workplace. That being said, I was still trying to be as respectful to everyone as I could. I have nothing against factory workers. The only reason why I mentioned it was because my supervisor told me that it was a factory worker who complained. As for getting a beater bike, it is just a little impractical at this point considering I only have a about a month left in my internship. I do have a car to get to work, but nothing beats the satisfaction of hopping on my bike immediately after a productive day at work. I know I am being paranoid about leaving my bike locked outside, but it is my bike and my judgement call not to leave it outside. From my standpoint it'd be a lot easier to pay for a few tanks of gas as opposed to a whole new bike. Thank you all again for the responses and for listening to my story.
And as others have mentioned, your defeatist attitude could hamper you in the future, especially in the corporate world.
07-18-11 | 07:46 PM
#58
one life on two wheels
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 24
From: St. Petersburg, FL
Get yourself a cheap bicycle raincover from Performance, Nashbar, Bikepartsusa, etc. and a good u-lock that can be left attached to the bike rack. Then ride as you normally do. Make sure you've always got room for the bike cover and raingear in your panniers. Assuming you use panniers. If not invest in a set. And coat them w/Thompson's Watersealer...a triple coating w/a brush. Pay special attention to the seams. And still wrap clothing in plastic shopping or kitchen trash bags.
In a similar circumstance I appealed to the shift supervisor who said it could be stored inside as long as it wasn't a 'trip hazzard'. It was kept in the 'work station' breakroom. No one complained. Good luck.
Blue collar guys can be resentful of white collar guys for no good reason. Heck, politics seeps into every facet of the work enviornment. Factory workers have dreams like anyone else that are often thwarted by any number of circumtances. When they see someone doing something out of the box it threatens the 'status quo' in their minds and makes them feel insecure and diminished. The dude's jealous...jealous of your youth, jealous of your education, jealous of the freedom your bicycle represents. He's being a PITA for no other reason than but that he can. He's sad and pathetic.
Cover and lock your bike to the rack and go about the business of completing a successful internship. Let him have this battle. He lost the war years ago.
In a similar circumstance I appealed to the shift supervisor who said it could be stored inside as long as it wasn't a 'trip hazzard'. It was kept in the 'work station' breakroom. No one complained. Good luck.
Blue collar guys can be resentful of white collar guys for no good reason. Heck, politics seeps into every facet of the work enviornment. Factory workers have dreams like anyone else that are often thwarted by any number of circumtances. When they see someone doing something out of the box it threatens the 'status quo' in their minds and makes them feel insecure and diminished. The dude's jealous...jealous of your youth, jealous of your education, jealous of the freedom your bicycle represents. He's being a PITA for no other reason than but that he can. He's sad and pathetic.
Cover and lock your bike to the rack and go about the business of completing a successful internship. Let him have this battle. He lost the war years ago.
And to the OP: HTFU and get a beater bike.
07-18-11 | 08:54 PM
#59
Ridin' South Cackalacky
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 2
Really? I've worked on both sides of the fence. Shipping/receiving, manufacturing, etc...for 6 years, as well as an office manager for a number of years. It's *******s like you that made quitting my plush "white collar" salary job 3 months ago to work for half the money an easy decision. Never been happier.
And to the OP: HTFU and get a beater bike.
And to the OP: HTFU and get a beater bike.
I, too, found offense in nashcommguys inference that "factory workers" were knuckle dragging, vindictive losers.
Edu-elitist claptrap.
Last edited by dahut; 07-18-11 at 10:23 PM.
07-18-11 | 10:11 PM
#60
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Bikes: 09 Jamis Aurora, 4 Giant ATX 870, 64 Schwin Traveler
What helped me:
1. scratch up your bike
2. enjoy riding without worry on your now non-perfect bike
it's the first scratch that hurts, once you're over that you'll be able to park outside
1. scratch up your bike
2. enjoy riding without worry on your now non-perfect bike
it's the first scratch that hurts, once you're over that you'll be able to park outside
07-18-11 | 10:26 PM
#61
Ridin' South Cackalacky
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 2
That way it looks like a beater, and you can always remove it later with water and soap.
07-19-11 | 07:35 AM
#62
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From: Tehas
Bikes: Raleigh R600 105/DA, Specialized Allez Elite 105
07-19-11 | 07:46 AM
#63
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike
I know Phil. The pettiness of our workmates is disappointing. Likely a bike hater.. Is the environment outside all that hostile to bikes. Crime wise, etc.. A couple locks can secure all your bikes' components.. Plus maybe a drop cloth that folds. I can understand though. I have to know my bike is secure when its out of sight..
Are you sure your management has made this an open shut case.. No further discussions are to be tolerated. ? Maybe other remedies are possible. I kept my bike locked up in the basement of my work place , where no one frequents. No one objected. I suspect large Calif employers welcome bike commuters for one reason.. Calif air control laws encourage alternative transportation.. Bike commuters gave my employer some kind of credit with state air monitoring agencies. I know they kept records of those who did not drive to work for what ever purposes. The most common being those who car pooled to work.
Are you sure your management has made this an open shut case.. No further discussions are to be tolerated. ? Maybe other remedies are possible. I kept my bike locked up in the basement of my work place , where no one frequents. No one objected. I suspect large Calif employers welcome bike commuters for one reason.. Calif air control laws encourage alternative transportation.. Bike commuters gave my employer some kind of credit with state air monitoring agencies. I know they kept records of those who did not drive to work for what ever purposes. The most common being those who car pooled to work.
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07-19-11 | 08:00 AM
#64
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 672
Likes: 12
From: SF Penunsula
Bikes: 1970? Dawes Galaxy (cannibalized), 197? Bob Jackson Frankenbike, 1989 Jamis Diablo
Not sure what industry you work in, but I'll give you a little insight. I used to the be a superintendent at a chemical factory on the east coast (I'll let you guess the state 
. Anyway, never in my life had I seen such a group of entitled individuals. The worker simply complained because he found something to complain about. The fact that the bike was being stored in an unused room made no difference - logic and reason do not prevail, here.
Your solutions have been outlined, I think: See if you can store the bike at your desk; buy a folder; buy a beater and keep it outside (this is the option I'd chose - always a good reason to get another bike!)
. Anyway, never in my life had I seen such a group of entitled individuals. The worker simply complained because he found something to complain about. The fact that the bike was being stored in an unused room made no difference - logic and reason do not prevail, here. Your solutions have been outlined, I think: See if you can store the bike at your desk; buy a folder; buy a beater and keep it outside (this is the option I'd chose - always a good reason to get another bike!)
07-19-11 | 08:11 AM
#65
Ridin' South Cackalacky
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 2
This much is true - "Worker" could have been anybody: secretary, a fellow engineering intern, or your department head.
07-19-11 | 01:09 PM
#66
Fork and spoon operator
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 577
Likes: 11
From: Hopkins, Minnesota
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
This is one of those times I get really caught off guard by the responses to a post. My reaction was, man that's a bummer-- I feel for you! I know I much prefer to leave my bike inside. I totally understand how that gets you down temporarily... but if I had to leave a bike I liked outside I think I'd probably lock the front and back wheels separately, take off the seat, and put something over the bike when it rains or snows. As far as the classism and stuff, umm, I'm not seeing that...
07-19-11 | 01:45 PM
#67
This bike is cat approved
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, NE
Bikes: To many to list...
Wow this thread reminds me of this...
https://www.thinkgeek.com/books/humor/8e6c/images/2070/
Its too bad your last few weeks you will end up driving your car, but I can't blame you for not wanting to find a solution to a problem thats pretty short-term. If it was me I would have not brought my bike inside without asking if it was ok with someone first, but maybe the way everything was set up logistically it wasn't a big deal. Someone else mentioned that it could have been stolen from the coat room and thats a legit concern.
https://www.thinkgeek.com/books/humor/8e6c/images/2070/
Its too bad your last few weeks you will end up driving your car, but I can't blame you for not wanting to find a solution to a problem thats pretty short-term. If it was me I would have not brought my bike inside without asking if it was ok with someone first, but maybe the way everything was set up logistically it wasn't a big deal. Someone else mentioned that it could have been stolen from the coat room and thats a legit concern.
07-19-11 | 02:03 PM
#68
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 696
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, CO
Bikes: Many
If you really must use the locker, tell them so, but be reasonable (i.e. ask if you can put it somewhere where it doesn't bother the guy who complained). If they fire you for bringing a bike into a coat room then you have to ask is it really a place where you want to work?
07-19-11 | 02:54 PM
#69
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 0
From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
I had a similar thing yesterday - one of the building maintenance people told me I can't bring my bike in the building (2 or 3 people including myself have been doing it for years... it's a 9 story building with 5 elevator shafts - not exactly crowded) and "didn't you see the memo from 2 weeks ago?". He was only around because there was water leaking into the cube next to mine from the ceiling...
Anyway, I talked to 2 of my seniors (who are employed by the same party that leases the building) and they were flabbergasted (I bike with both of them occasionally on weekends) and confirmed they'd seen no such memo, and said to ignore the guy. So I did. There is a garage with a rack downstairs but I don't want to lock up my bike. If I have to I can.
Anyway, I talked to 2 of my seniors (who are employed by the same party that leases the building) and they were flabbergasted (I bike with both of them occasionally on weekends) and confirmed they'd seen no such memo, and said to ignore the guy. So I did. There is a garage with a rack downstairs but I don't want to lock up my bike. If I have to I can.
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