ChltCat

The next person that says that to me is going to get ***** slapped...


Long story short:

I quit smoking 3 months ago..I didn't want to gain weight b/c of my decision so I decided to get a bike. I got a *** mt bike b/c I honestly didn't know if I was going to like it or not...fast forward to last week, and I got my first road bike, a 2009 Specialized Allez. I love it, I'm completely addicted to it..I guess I replaced one addiction for another but at least this one is healthy ...

So when ppl see my bike they say "oh wow, nice bike..where you gonna ride it" well you asshat, it's called a road bike...ROAD BIKE!!...that then prompts the "really, you're gonna be one of "them" phrase...

Dude at my house last night openly admitted to yelling at cyclists while his fat ass drives his 1992 minivan..I, being slightly inebriated (it was 1/2 price nite on beer and wine at the bar down the street) took offense to that...some words flew around he was gone 10 min later..

I guess my question is, is this just something I need to get used to or will this go away once everyone learns what my new sport is?

fordfasterr

Well, you are strong willed, you take your addictions seriously!

Disregard the fat asses that make fun of your bike-riding addiction.


Just point and laugh.

ChltCat

I think I was a little hard on him...he caught the brunt of 2 weeks worth of me hearing that phrase...oh well, he started it

estabro

Thank you on behalf of almost everyone here. Keep it up on the bike.

dcbikeguy

Oh, I see...so you're going to be one of "them".

fordfasterr

You could say, " I could be one of YOU, but then I would be fat and slow ".

cyclefreaksix

F'em all, keep riding.

hurley.girl

Eventually your lazy, rude, fat-assed friends will get replaced with cycling friends.

cshell

Edit - Picture removed due to poor taste.

ChltCat

haha..that's exactly what I was telling my husband last night..

Jynx

it will never stop. in fact it will get worse the more serious you become with cycling.

coasting 

cycling is fun.

pointless post but had to be said.

ChltCat

it is fun..I am enjoying it immensely...

I really enjoyed it yesterday when I got fit for my bike and learned how to clip in and out...that was awesome!

not really

SeaBee

In the word of a now-famous cartoon penguin:

"Smile and wave, boys. Just smile and waaave!"

Hurts more than point and laugh!

coasting 

when i first got into cycling (no one knew) i had a colleague with whom i used to rant daily about our daily car commute and we would vent our frustrations about the morning drive. Since I didn't bike commute, she didn't know about the cycling bug I caught. One day she went off on one about a cyclist that held her up. i just nodded and muttered under my breath.

Proteos

In the last 3 weeks, I finally got my first comment yesterday. Someone in a car yelled out "ride faster". Whatever.

Anyway, I'd find the book 'Heft on Wheels'. I bought it a few weeks ago and read it. Good book. Pertains greatly to what you're saying.

Retro Grouch 

Two answers:

"You do what you think is best for you, I'll do what I think is best for me."

That generally shuts them up. If you want to piss them off a little more:

"Just exercising my rights as an American citizen."

roadrider63

You'll get used to it and so will they. The question I was most ask was..."Are you going to wear those tight shorts?"..lol. I say yeah, way more comfortable on the bike than any other shorts. Now, many of them have no interest in riding themselves, but get a kick out of my riding stories. I tell them how far my short training rides are or my longer rides and they just say.."Are you nuts?"

Congratulations on quitting smoking and just keep riding. I guarantee you'll feel so much better for it.

ChltCat

Thanks Proteos, I just requested a copy from the library...

well being female, I don't get the spandex question..I think we get a little leeway..and thank you RoadRider..I just wish I had quit a long time ago...

banerjek

It eases up, but it never goes away entirely.

Usually, their frustration stems from thinking bikes hold them up. However, pretty much all drivers spend FAR more time stuck behind people wanting to turn left across busy lanes, hunting for parking spots, following slow moving vehicles, or waiting at stoplights because only 2 cars can get through at rush hour when everything is packed.

Hell, if people didn't leave their cars parked at the side of the road, there would be a whole new lane for them to drive in -- that would make things move much faster. That certainly would be welcome during busy times when cars often have to come to a complete stop even though there are no red lights -- how often do you ever have to do that for a cyclist?

I figure if the people I'm supposedly holding up used only quadruple the space I use to make the same trip, they'd zip right by.

Don't let it rankle you. On the roads, give a friendly wave. In the room, point out that if something's holding them up, it sure as heck ain't bikes...

coasting 

on one day this week i did lots of shortish journeys back and forth to the same area. some of the journeys were by bike and some by car to pick up stuff. every bike trip was faster than the car and every car trip i noticed i never caught up with bikes which passed me and bikes i passed would catch and pass me at the next lights or traffic jam.

rbart4506

Actually I am finding the opposite...

First most people that have known me for years are use to my addiction to cycling and are no longer phased by it, so the comments aren't there...

Plus, most of my new friends were made through cycling so we share common view...

Lastly...Not sure what it is, but this summer the motorists just haven't been causing me as much of a hassle. I think it might be that I'm stronger and more comfortable on the bike and therefore in more control. Other reason I think is I'm to busy focussing on what I'm doing when riding to really care what the motorist's think...I'm friggin training, leave me alone!

I don't know, but every year that goes by I just get deeper into this sport and it just becomes more of my life and I love it!

big john

From now on, whenever people at parties or family gatherings find out that you ride, they will tell you horror stories about being slowed by cyclists while in their car. Their rage will be obvious, even years afte the fact, and they will identify you with those awful people who caused them to slow down.
There is a guy where I work who feels the need to tell me every time he sees a cyclist on his commute, and how he wishes he could just run the guy over.

mmmdonuts

i see what you did there...

mmmdonuts

Do you take TV watching, grocery shopping, or going to the park this seriously? Really, it's a hobby. Get over "it" and yourself.