Dutchy

Why is it when I get to work after commuting in, do staff make STUPID comments to me.

Last week a lady says to me: I didn't recognise you, I thought you were one of those bike courier blokes!

Yesterday my boss sees me in the corridor heading to the shower and he says: The Tour de France is that way. (pointing north) At least he knows that the Tour exists.

Another colleague says to me, whenever I ride in: Your in today, I thought you weren't coming in. (I always start later when I ride in, but that's allowed because of Flexi-time) He knows I don't get sick, so if I'm in later it's because I'm riding in, so why say that every morning?

Are these people short of interesting conversation, or do they feel they have to make silly comments as they pass me in the corridor?

CHEERS.


Mark

John E

Two choices, Mark -- either ignore their comments or be ready with a witty response of your own.

MediaCreations 

I often get "I didn't realise you were in."

This comes from the fact that my car isn't in the carpark. IT'S NEVER IN THE CAR PARK. Everyone knows I ride but it seems the measure of whether someone is at work is if their car is on display.

Rural Roadie

Sounds like they are nervious like a kid askin a girl out for the first time. Or you work with a bunch of zombies. Its not easy being diffrent, gives the pod people headaches!!!
kev

Chris L

I tend to get the "did you ride?" quite often. That's understandable though. I get the undercover parking space that most people in this firm (apart from the spankys) don't get. I have the advantage of not actually taking up anyone's parking space .

The other one I get is "Will you ride during winter?".

Heck, I survived summer didn't I? In Queensland, winter is easy by comparison.

RonH

I get the same kind of "dumb" comments like --

"I can't believe you rode all that way."
"What do you do if it rains?"
"Aren't you afraid of getting hit?"

I think they are embarrassed by their own lack of physical activity (most are overweight) or the fact that I am much older than they are.

I have offered to do lunchtime or weekend beginner rides with them to get them started but no takers yet.
My manager (15 years younger than me) keeps telling me he might do it, but it has been over 6 months so he probably never will. I've noticed that his stomach is getting larger every month.

OhiOH

I get the same thing. This morning a guy who rides regularly, but exclusively on the bike paths says:
‘I tried riding in to work once and almost got hit. TOO DANGEROUS!’.
Funny part of it is I’ve been riding seriously for about 15 years and have had 2 serious crashes and both of them were on the very path he rides, once just a few moments after passing him.
Go figure.

bikeman

I've always gotten stupid comments from co-workers too. I've been showing up at my various jobs over the years on a bike and have heard: (BTW my retort is usually tempered if they seem interested instead of being obnoxious about it.)

You rode all that way? - No I walked next to the bike.

Do you plan on ever riding in the Tour de France (Yes I actually had a man say that - I retort - "Do you ever plan on trying out for the Cleveland Indians baseball team?)

You must be soaked - After arriving on a rainy morning - No kidding what was your first clue Sherlock besides my dripping all over the carpet?

Ooohh! Look at those legs! Said as a tease from the women - They wish their legs looked this good! Shaved and all.

Ooohh! I love your lycra! - Hey don't get too excited there. Maybe I should file a sexual harrassment lawsuit.

What are those things on the bottom of your shoes? Cleats baby! Then you have explain the concept of clipless pedals as they stare at you with a blank expression feigning interest.

Doesn't that skinny little seat hurt when you ride? No I say, I have a skinny little a** and it fits perfectly

I think overall though that most of my present and past co-workers are jealous that they can't spend their mornings outside and breathing fresh air rather than trapped in a traffic jam in the car. They are just too chicken to even think about trying.

P.S.
I'm not really as much of a smarta** as my comments might make you think. I usually try to get people interested in riding and let them know that it is fun, good for you and not as hard as it it may appear.

swekarl

I don’t mind those comments you mention, Dutchy. I think it’s the usual friendly small talk, applied to you and you bike, hence bike comments!

But on a second thought I think it’s different in USA where everyone goes by car. Many of my colleagues commute, so it’s not a big deal. For an American driver, biking is probably as scary as other things that stand out. Like, being a vegetarian...

Rich Clark

I'm fortunate enough to work in an environment -- a natural science museum -- where there are a lot of bike commuters, and a great deal of sensitivity to the issues that make bike commuting such a desirable alternative to driving. Also, with the pay scales around here, the economy of bike commuting is unusally attractive to many of us!

So the comments here from non-cyclists tend to be of the "I really ought to be..." "I wish I could..." variety.

Having a work environment so conducive to bike commuting is a
great fringe benefit. We all have indoor, secure bike parking, and a general sense of institutional support.

RichC

stumpjumper

actualy, you have a third:

The first time I rode to my current job, my boss made fun of my lycra shorts ( I reeeealy like your shorts, etc. I simply made it a point to go past his office every time I was dressed in my gear to tell him (and enyone else he was with) that I was wearing his favorite shorts that day "just for him". Best time was when he was walking out to his car with the superintendant and I got to shout it across a parking lot full of people.

RonH

Everyone at my place of employment is afraid to make any such comments. Someone filed a sexual harrassment complaint about 2 years ago and WON!!
Now we have semi-annual meetings with an HR rep to "remind" us what comments and conduct are appropriate.

So no one dares say anything about my lycra shorts, good looking legs, etc.

RainmanP

Having only been commuting by bike something over a year maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase. I get a kick out of the silly comments. On the other hand, since I haven't gotten to or from work other than by bicycle in over a year, rain or shine (except last Monday, about which I posted elsewhere) you'd think people would have gotten tired of asking "Did you ride in the (rain/cold whatever) this morning?" In all fairness, these are people that don't necessarily see me every day. My close co-workers know the answer.
Regards,
Raymond

Stor Mand

Aren't we getting a little sensitive about dopey comments? That's half the problem here in the USA, all the hyper-sensitive, polically correct crap. Then these bogus law suits clogging up the system, wasting tax-payer $$'s because so-and-so looked at me and I felt dirty or he/she hurt me with his/her words. Lighten up people.
Some people are probably looking for small talk and might actually be interested in biking but just haven't done it. The bike pants .. well they are jealous of how good it make our asses look.

bikeman

I"m not sensitive to the comments. I just laugh them off. All in good fun. Mostly it is the women that make fun because they are always complaining how fat they look in lycra and won't let anyone see them in their step-aerobics classes. Pretty funny actually. I try and tell them that there are women in our bike club that don't care what anyone thinks about their lycra shapeliness.

Hey I'm too old to give a sh** what anyone thinks about how I dress for cycling. Let them say and think what they want. No harm to me. They are just showing their ignorance about the rest of the world. No law suits needed here.

urbanking

I would just think of some comments to make about cars, or however those people get to work. They work for me when the skaters make comments on bikes.

OhiOH

yea, like the guy that cut me off on a turn this morning had an “'I’d rather be flying”' license plate cover. I would rather he was flying too, he sure as hell didn't belong on the road

Allister

I think I'm missing out here. No-one really makes these comments to me. Actually we've got a prety high bike commuter index (B.C.I.) here where I work. Unusually for this country, bike commuting is pretty well accepted in my workplace. Sometimes we make deliberately stupid comments to each other - usually the ol' 'Dja get wet?' on a rainy day. My response to this question is either 'Only on the outside.' or 'Only a lot.'

I occasionally get the 'Do you really ride from Wynnum?' sort of question. I usually shrug it off with 'It's only 20km.' but I am for some reason vaguely dissapointed when they say 'oh, is that all.'

DnvrFox

You could mumble sonething like, "Well, it is only 20,000 meters."

Dutchy

I just thought I'd clarify my post. I don't get offended by peoples comments, their just trying to be polite, so it's not any sort of sexual harassment issue. Although there are quite a few young ladies.......... sorry I digress. I think people should learn to be more "thick skinned" to comments, the whole PC thing is getting way out of hand. My beef is mainly with people I see every day stating the bleeding obvious: you ride in today? No one has ever actually asked me: have a good ride this morning?, which route do you take?, how was that HEADWIND this morning? they have no idea.

CHEERS.

Mark

Chris L

WHY NOT?

Steele-Bike

Hey, I'm a year around commuter and a vegetarian. Talk about setting yourself up...(for a long, enjoyable life).

Yes, I too have been asked by a co-worker if I were going to ride in the Tour de France. My reply...."Um, I don't think so." (OK, I'm not real quick with the retorts). Every couple of days, someone says some smart remark about my cycling, but I don't even bother to respond. "You ride your bicycle to work?" (As they snicker). What I would like to say..."I suppose I could drive, but that seems a bit excessive." Another, "You bike 5 miles to work?" As if I were crossing the Mojave Desert on ice skates. And the other day, when I wore my baggy bike shorts (with the cinching straps around the leg), my boss repeatedly pulled the straps through out the day, saying "When's the parachute going to open?"

As we all know, it is entirely based on jealousy. I hear the same kind of remarks about my slender build. At 6ft, 150 lb., I am often refered to as skinny, or chicken legs (I do have thin legs). But, a while back, I noticed that the only people that say these things are a bit on the chunky side. I guess, ya just gotta get used to it.

marcus

Just smile and know you are a better person for commuting on your bike. You are not poluting and likely much healthier for your efforts.

marin1

When your co-workers say "I'd hate to be you today" on a rainy or snowy day. I like to respond with a sarcastic "I'd hate to be you any day"

Cromulent

Though, "Hey! I love being me. I'm friggin' great!" would probably be better received.

Lately I've been getting really sarcastic comments like, "ride safe", or "have fun out there," or "have a nice ride." Stupid people.