What do you guys say when...
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What do you guys say when...
you ride by a pedestrian and he/she yells out "the person in the back isn't peddling"? I know most times the people are trying to be funny, but the humor has gotten old. We'd like to have a good comment to come back with.
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We get it a lot on the organised rides and we go prepared. In the pilots rear pocket we have a bundle of papers, and all I say is that as a stoker, I have to have time to read the manual on how to ride a Tandem. Then we put in power and dissapear. Whilst riding about, the general comment we get is "Cor- look at that", which for some reason I don't object to.
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Yeah, it does get old. Captain could try "Shh! *I'm* not pedaling!" or "That's ok, I'm not steering."
...and if you think the whole "person in the back isn't pedaling" gets old, try riding the tandem without a stoker. See, everybody thinks they're being original when they say "you lost somebody".
Once I was making a left turn in a *very* busy intersection. A gap appeared in the oncoming traffic, and I made my move. Then I hear "...garble garble FELL OFF!!" from a car driver. Sh*t -- did I just unknowingly deposit my pannier in the intersection? Did I lose a fender? A light? I slow way down (somewhat inadvisably under the traffic circumstances), look back to the intersection, back at my bike, looking, looking, trying to take mental inventory... and the f*ers the car start laughing. All right smart alecs, so it was an imaginary stoker who fell off the bike. Sheesh. Har har. Thanks for screwing with me.
-Greg
...and if you think the whole "person in the back isn't pedaling" gets old, try riding the tandem without a stoker. See, everybody thinks they're being original when they say "you lost somebody".
Once I was making a left turn in a *very* busy intersection. A gap appeared in the oncoming traffic, and I made my move. Then I hear "...garble garble FELL OFF!!" from a car driver. Sh*t -- did I just unknowingly deposit my pannier in the intersection? Did I lose a fender? A light? I slow way down (somewhat inadvisably under the traffic circumstances), look back to the intersection, back at my bike, looking, looking, trying to take mental inventory... and the f*ers the car start laughing. All right smart alecs, so it was an imaginary stoker who fell off the bike. Sheesh. Har har. Thanks for screwing with me.
-Greg
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I say "that's funny.I haven't heard that one before"
I then get my own laugh out of it and power away.The smarter ones figure it out in a few minutes,the not so smart ones enjoy the bliss.
dan
I then get my own laugh out of it and power away.The smarter ones figure it out in a few minutes,the not so smart ones enjoy the bliss.
dan
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Originally Posted by transam
you ride by a pedestrian and he/she yells out "the person in the back isn't peddling"? I know most times the people are trying to be funny, but the humor has gotten old. We'd like to have a good comment to come back with.
Just a friendly smile and a wave works for us...
It's works just as well for those who offer comments with a light heart as well as those whose motivation for the commentary is perhaps less than cordial... if you're lucky, it will even peeve them a bit.
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By now I've heard it soo many times, that I generally just ignore the person saying it, and keep on riding on.
Benjamin
Benjamin
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Pilot's normal reply: "I steer, she pedals!"
On riding tandem alone and the 'you lost somebody comment' . . .'wanna ride?'
While these statements get a bit old, they are usually meant as a friendly comment. Beats the 'get offa my road!' from motorisits!
On riding tandem alone and the 'you lost somebody comment' . . .'wanna ride?'
While these statements get a bit old, they are usually meant as a friendly comment. Beats the 'get offa my road!' from motorisits!
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Pedestrians? I get this from my own club members!!
Oh well, gotta love 'em!
kari
Oh well, gotta love 'em!
kari
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Here in New Jersey the well known middle finger salute is acceptable for most all occassions. BUt that would really depend on teh delivery tone of that particular statement: if a good-humored comment, I usually say "yeh, I know..." if she's in a good mood, or "you care to try???" if she's not. If it's venomous, then they get the full treatment.
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Originally Posted by transam
you ride by a pedestrian and he/she yells out "the person in the back isn't peddling"? I know most times the people are trying to be funny, but the humor has gotten old. We'd like to have a good comment to come back with.
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An expensive answer would be to get a Counterpoint tandem where the stoker is in front. I have never gotten that comment in nearly 20 years. Besides if the stoker isn't pedaling I can see it. When we are moving slowly having the stoker pedaling makes it a little difficult to steer so I have the stoker stop. And, the Gee Whiz factor is so high many watchers are speechless.
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Since I have to ferry the tandem to meet stokers at various places, I ride stokerless, and I hear the "you lost somebody" joke a lot. My responses:
-No, she's really back there. Really. (look at the joker suspiciously, as if they are a bit insane).
-Well, he was getting a little obnoxious with all the back seat driving. Now he's walking.
-Look alarmed--"oh my God! I wonder how far back that happened."
Best tandem joke I've heard, from a cyclist coming the opposite direction:
"She's following you awfully close!"
Worst comment, apparently from someone who doesn't get out enough, "WTF is that!!??!"
-No, she's really back there. Really. (look at the joker suspiciously, as if they are a bit insane).
-Well, he was getting a little obnoxious with all the back seat driving. Now he's walking.
-Look alarmed--"oh my God! I wonder how far back that happened."
Best tandem joke I've heard, from a cyclist coming the opposite direction:
"She's following you awfully close!"
Worst comment, apparently from someone who doesn't get out enough, "WTF is that!!??!"
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Actually one of our best stories about the tandem was we were riding down a trail and someone said "She's not pedaling"
And they were right, and she was embarrassed...
Given where we ride now, they are just stunned - we might be the only tandem they see - or ever will see in the neck of the jungle.
And they were right, and she was embarrassed...
Given where we ride now, they are just stunned - we might be the only tandem they see - or ever will see in the neck of the jungle.
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While it's cliched, in my experience, it's always been in good humor. Even people that might be peeved by single bikes on the road tend to treat tandems in a positive manner. I don't think we've ever got an harrassing comment on the tandem. (Other than a guy making a sexually suggestive comment to my wife in Italy.)