Koyote

I'm glad you know "how society is." But perhaps there is no single homogeneous society.

I note that you are in SoCal, and you believe that only other cyclists and former cyclists know that you ride a bike. But my locale is the polar opposite of yours. I am one of only a couple cyclists here, and am probably on the road as much as the other few combined. Lest you think it is my imagination, I will mention that, very regularly, a friend or acquaintance will say something like, "Hey, were you riding your bike up Hadley Street yesterday afternoon? I think I saw you." Happens all the time. And occasionally a stranger, or new acquaintance, will ask if I'm the person they have seen riding bikes all the time.

At any rate, I regret joining this thread, as I now have people telling me that my own experiences and perceptions are wrong. So I'll drop out at this point.

McBTC

Any who'd think like that must be non-conformists in NYC... or, are on a bike forum~

Rollfast

Another one of those threads where the OP steps back and hasn't been seen in almost three weeks on the site. I assume thou winnest.

LorenMiranda

I live in the eastern side of Washington where fortunately we have a rich bike culture. However I life car free and with our 4 true seasons I get the fair share of looks and questions. Been car free and bike dependent for about 4 years solid...dont wanna change lol

StarBiker

And don't have to deal with bad weather 4 months or more a year. Summer is here and it's awful as usual in the mid atlantic.

And in car land people know who I am, and that is in a busy suburb with cars everywhere and barely a trickle of cyclists.

wphamilton

Just let them think whatever they want to; they will anyway. I stopped at a convenience store on my way to work yesterday, and an older gal - perfect stranger - was going on about the perfect weather making it possible for a bike ride. I didn't disabuse her of her assumptions, and it was a pleasant conversation. But when leaving work, a newer security/receptionist lady commenting on my setting out in the rain, said "but you don't have far to go, right?" I said "yes, only about 7 and a half miles. I was sincere, forgetting that a "normal" non-cyclist would think that's an arduous distance and she probably thought I was sarcastic. I should have just grinned and agreed.

tandempower

The 'half' makes it sound like it is a long ride to you. If you had said, "not even eight miles," or "a little more than seven miles but not much," it would sound more like you considered it a short ride. Really, if you said, 'only,' that also implies you consider it short, but often people use 'only' in a sarcastic way to exaggerate how burdensome they find something, e.g. "he was ONLY the 50th customer who wanted a special order, sheesh!" But in general I think you're right that people don't understand a seven mile bike ride is only about 30-45 minutes depending on the route you take and traffic. They think they are flying along in the cars averaging 40-50 mph when in reality they probably average closer to 20 in crosstown traffic.

Walter S

I think saying "a little more...but not much" makes it sound like you think it's a long ride. I mean why add "but not much" unless you think it is significant. Hey wait a minute - why do we care?!?

wphamilton

Unless you're the inadvertent the humble-bragger (like I might have been), you shouldn't care. Psych stuff aside, it's just habit because most people ask "how far". Should just say "not very far", or "30 minutes ride" or some such, unless someone insists on the miles. Regardless, they'll think whatever they want to about it, no matter how much we try to explain.

cooker

It should be a simple question - somebody asks how far you ride, you tell them. But of course there are subleties and subtext. If you round up you might inadvertently be trying to boost your image - if you round down you might be trying to assuage their worries. If you preface the number with a word or phrase like "only" or "more than" or "It's gotta be at least", you are loading your reply with extra implications. And never mind what you can do with an eyebrow or a thumbs up gesture! Yes it is a minefield of communicative insinuations and innuendos.

McBTC

The title of the thread is a fail from the get-go (sounds like more like a LCF shibboleth to get attention)... many get in as much riding time as a hobby and exercise after driving to and from work and never think twice about anyone, raining on their parade, because of the time they spend on their bikes and trainers.

Rollfast

I'm sure the OP had a valid question.

tandempower

And add to that the cultural gimmick of expressing weakness in order to get love by expressing dismay about everything requiring even slight effort as being negative effort to endure. The other day someone saw me carrying a big load and said, "I hope you don't have too far to go with that," and I just cheerfully responded, "that's how I get exercise!"

Exercise is positive. Endurance is positive. Distance is achievement. Strength is a reward. Love doesn't need to encourage weakness.