Why is that the first thing everyone ask me when I tell them I bought a bike?

"Why do you ask?"

That's what I say to people who I think are asking nosy questions. Depending on their answer I may or may not choose to answer their original question. Usually it's a not because I tend not to like nosy people.

Coupla' observations. 1. There're lots of folks out there primed to turn their intellectual conceits into assumptions. You know, "The eye sees what the mind knows.". 2. You are under no obligation to correct this ignorance, nor even to respond to the inquiry.

Because most of the people they know who got DUIs have resorted to riding bikes for transportation, at least when they're not begging them for rides.

There's a LBS near me that sells (primarily) beach cruiser bikes. His biggest customer group is reforming addicts (drug users & alcoholics). And he sells to more 'normal' people like me and you.

I run most all of my errands on a bike pulling a converted kiddie trailer. A couple of times, while locking up outside the grocery store, people have asked me if I had gotten a DUI. But the best one was when I was loading two cases of beer in at the liquor store, someone walked out and mumbled under their breath, "You'll never learn".

On the plus side, nothing gets a conversation going faster with young women at crosswalks then waiting for a light with a trailer loaded with beer. If I had my dog along with me back there, I think it would be doubly effective.

jim

If they saw you driving in the past, they feel you've stooped down a level. Little do they know, we get drunk by riding our bikes! A beer or 2 after a long ride is also nice!

Cheers!

You only need sheath yourself in spandex and surround yourself with as much carbon fiber as possible. No one ever asks that question of uber-serious cyclists.

Nope, then the questions tend to center around sexual orientation.

In that case my "Why do you ask?" response pretty much shuts them up.

Did you bust up laughing?

I did not have the presence of mind to say anything unfortunately, but since then I have come up with lots of funny comebacks!

Man, I hate that! I always seem to come up with the appropriately witty response a few minutes too late.

I guess its hard for my friends to understand why a 42 year old man would basically abandon his perfectly good car to do most of his errands on a bike and joy ride the thing to boot. But then again most of my friends are drunks.

I can come up with a good impromptu remark, if you give me a few minutes to work on it.

I know only one fellow with a DUI. He never cycles, but constantly begs for rides. Riding a bike might be the best step he could take to reforming himself.

I made out well in my old town fixing up bicycles for people the cops had nabbed for DUI. I'd even travel with a tool-kit if need be and make a house-call.

Did that one day, and the young man had a small (7 or 8) gathering of his friends. I was truing his front wheel when the police marched into his yard. They found a bag of pot on a picnic table. And promptly arrested....ME. I had long-hair, so it must be mine. I don't even smoke the stuff. Then they had an "AHA!" moment at the police-station when they searched me. They found my red Park Tool spoke-wrench. Claimed it was a roach-clip and added a paraphernalia charge on me.

It was thrown out of court later. My attorney and I told the judge the cop went after yours truly due to my appearance. Said the cop would have shot me if I was African-American. The judge agreed.

Careful of those DUI jobs in fascist towns.

I love you, Historian!

Yeah, right!

It doesn't take a genius to spot the residue that's left on whatever you use for a roach clip. I'm calling BS.

You know since last summer I don't think as many people wonder why we might be riding a bike as they used to. I can't tell you the number of times people come up to me at the grocery store to tell me they think riding my bike looks like a good idea. Now I ride a Giant Revive LX and pull a trailer to the store and that might be part of the reason they talk to me but I can't remember when someone asked if I had a DUI or even if I drove a car.

Then again during the week I do group rides and we tend to stop at the same places every week so the people are used to us.

Just smile and reply calmly (calmly gives the proper effect)-
"Why, DO I LOOK LIKE IT"?

Let them fumble for a reply!

I wish I could claim authorship for the witticism. It's borrowed from Moliere - Les Précieuses ridicules:

***********
MASCARILLE: Deuce take it! I always make the first verse well, but I find the others more difficult. Upon my word, this is too short a time; but I will make you some extempore verses at my leisure, which you shall think the finest in the world.
***********

I called them fascists and told them I would sue them. And I did. But that got expensive quick.

They gave me back the spoke-wrench. Maybe because they didn't find any residue on it.

Yeah, whatever.

Maybe it is your hat?