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Do you share your interest in cycling at work.

Old 06-13-19, 06:46 AM
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Barrettscv 
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Do you share your interest in cycling at work.

I'm a Sales Engineer and most of my co-workers are golfers, a few might also be joggers but almost no one is a cyclist. I'm certain that the majority of my colleagues think that only children ride a bike.

I almost never discuss my passion for cycling at work. Do you freely share your cycling hobby with coworkers? What is their response?
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Old 06-13-19, 06:57 AM
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Several people where I work cycle. We even have a loosely formed BUG (Bicycle User Group). So yep, I talk about cycling at work.

Actually a lot of people where I work are active in one way or another ... rowing, running, walking, hiking, the gym, swimming, etc. so on a Monday morning, it's not uncommon to hear people talking about their active weekends.
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Old 06-13-19, 07:43 AM
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When I was working, yes. I wouldn't go overboard about it but I would usually mention on Monday where I had ridden that weekend. It got to a point where several of my co-workers would ask me on a Friday if I had any plans to ride. But I really never shared my passion (OCD) regarding cycling with them since I knew it was a personal thing and I didn't want to bore them to death with stories of me changing out a cassette that weekend or stuff like that.
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Old 06-13-19, 08:36 AM
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gotta bring society into the future kicking & screaming ... be a leader
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Old 06-13-19, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Barrettscv
Do you freely share your cycling hobby with coworkers? What is their response?
yes & it's no big deal
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Old 06-13-19, 08:54 AM
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I'll admit it, I talk to cycling to everyone whether they like it or not. If somebody doesn't like it, they can fight me...
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Old 06-13-19, 09:19 AM
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I work for a small company (35 employees) and no one else cycles. If someone asks me what I did on the weekend, I'll mention where I rode but that is about the extent of it. Occasionally someone will ask a question about it and I'll answer but that isn't very often.
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Old 06-13-19, 09:39 AM
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I have been the office chair of May Is Bike Month for the last few years and I have few cycling related items in my office. But to borrow from the traditions of another group, my public relations policy is based on attraction, not promotion.
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Old 06-13-19, 10:00 AM
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I do. I have been a super charismatic cycling proponent for years at work. I do have to tone it down but if folks ask me anything, I’ll freely share...
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Old 06-13-19, 10:03 AM
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About 10% of my coworkers are also interested in bicycling in one way or another. I am part of a group of three who regularly go out and do hard and hilly 1 hour rides at lunch. I'm the oldest in the group by far so it's a bit of a struggle to keep up, though my attitude is that keeping up with the young fellers keeps me young too. Luckily, we have a shower in the building adjacent to ours.
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Old 06-13-19, 11:15 AM
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Yes, and because of it, I got back in the saddle 3 years ago after a 20 year hiatus from riding. Last year I got my super and one of the co owners to join me in the local Ride of Silence. Now they're hooked on R of S for sure. My super does tri's.
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Old 06-13-19, 11:17 AM
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Since I've been cycling to work for 13 years coworkers sometimes ask me about it. I'm also well known as the "bike guy" and often do repairs for people, sometimes at bargain rates, sometimes for free. I've sold or given away many a bike to coworkers over the years, and have had a few given to me.

There have been a few people who have cycled to work here in the past, but none regularly, and none presently that I'm aware of. We had a small "ride on lunch" group going for a couple of years. We also have a "team" of 14 riding in the Tour de Farms MS charity ride two Saturdays from now. I'll be our fourth year in the event

I sold this 100% working bike to a guy on third shift for $10 this morning. Quite a bargain, I'd say:

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Old 06-13-19, 11:19 AM
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Luckily, I work for the US government (there's a sentence you thought you'd never see!!). Lots of cyclists here, always comparing their Strava times. There are several guys in the office here that regularly compete even.

Not me, I'm a commuter, and I ride for fun, but at least we can talk about bikes. I'm also the odd guy out because they all ride standard DF bikes, and I ride a recumbent and a velomobile.
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Old 06-13-19, 11:27 AM
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As little as possible. People at work know I ride, but I'm tired of the questions about how far I ride and the expressions of disbelief. There are a few at work who also ride, including one who regularly rides in the same group as me, and I'll talk to them, but I avoid discussing it with others. If they bring it up, I answer with as little detail as I can while still being polite.
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Old 06-13-19, 12:28 PM
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I'm willing to answer any questions people have, but I generally try not to initiate a conversation.* I'm a convert, and converts are generally boring to listen to -- think of people who stopped smoking, people who've lost a lot of weight (like me), people who've started eating vegetarian or even (shiver) vegan, etc. I'd rather make cycling something people think they'd like to do (like me!) instead of something they need to pick up a phone and call someone to avoid the local bore coming down the hall.

*One and a half exceptions to the "Don't start" rule. 1. If I came in late because of a mechanical issue, I'll explain that to the folks around me. 1.5. When I get the "Aren't you scared someone will kill you on your bike?" question, I'm happy to explain that I'm alive today because of all the cycling I did, and so riding in the streets and roads is NOT going to cut my life short.
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Old 06-13-19, 01:23 PM
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I keep a MTB at work. Too far to commute. But I can ride around here some. Most know I ride, a few ask. I'm not insufferable with my discussions, but I don't stay quiet either...

Oh. The print of the xray showing my hardware from my 2011 bicycle crash is always out for all to see...

I could add, the overall group I work around, has tried to start a monthly ride. The first one fizzled, but I couldn't have gone anyway. Hoping the second, and others go as planned. They are trying to structure it much like their monthly "wellness Walks...

Last edited by zjrog; 06-13-19 at 01:36 PM.
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Old 06-13-19, 03:34 PM
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Do you share your interest in cycling at work.
Originally Posted by Barrettscv
I'm a Sales Engineer and most of my co-workers are golfers, a few might also be joggers but almost no one is a cyclist. I'm certain that the majority of my colleagues think that only children ride a bike.

I almost never discuss my passion for cycling at work. Do you freely share your cycling hobby with coworkers? What is their response?
I have previously posted about cycling chat at work:
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
...Personally, I find any discussions about cycling with motorists futile

When off the bike, e.g. at work they are usually pleasant, but vacuous, for example when I’m called a saint. When they complain, it’s often about cyclists riding two or more abreast, no lights, ninjas, etc…valid complaints IMO.

The most antagonistic remarks though that I try to assuage are taunts about what it would do to the driver if they hit me, most often spoken on the Winter when streets are icy or narrowed by snowbanks.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
My cycling reputation, mundane as my cycling might be to the hard-core cyclists, is always a source of amusement and conversation with my friends and acquaintances; e.g. in bad weather, “You didn’t ride your bike today, did you?,” or at fancy social events, “Did you ride your bike here?.” Always asked with amusement and respect.

I in turn often ask people where they live, because invariably I have ridden in their neighborhood, and that question usually sparks an engaging converstion.

One of the nicest compliments I have received at work is that I am credible, and I think my cycling reputation probably supports that image.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
"Is Bicycling the New "Golf" and Then Some?"

I read this thread in the context of the above quotes, i.e. golf as an adjunct to career advancement. I took up cycling early in my adult life before setting out on my career path. When I joined my current organization in 1982, golf and tennis were those “advantageous” activities. Nonetheless, I think cycling was a career advantage to me, maybe because I was ***que.

Currently those traditional sports are essentially out of the picture (no more tournaments, etc), but I have several strong cycling colleagues. Indeed the organization held a three months fitness challenge this Spring, and not to brag, but my cycling brought me into third place individually, and our team came in first.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 06-19-19 at 05:45 PM.
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Old 06-13-19, 05:11 PM
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I worked for and with "Golf Bores" for many years and didn't reply to the "What did you do this weekend" non-question beyond a brief polite non-insider-cyclist response, no point in adding to the boredom.
If anyone saw me cycle to work on the weekend or doing laps in full kit in the middle of the night on the corporate campus while waiting for a system update and testing to be completed it never came up in conversation at lunch with my peers, although the security guys thought it was weird. I was "volunteered" by HR to ride the bike leg of a mixed gender charity relay format triathlon for several years for their largely ignored Wellness Campaign. At least it wasn't corporate golf yet again.

If someone else rode their bike to work, good for them.
If in my department, same as anyone else who arrived by any other means: Be on time and ready to work.

-Bandera
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Old 06-13-19, 05:17 PM
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Absolutely I do - but it's easy because cycling is encouraged and supported at my workpace. We have a secure covered lockup area, showers and a bike repair station with tools and supplies.

Bike to Work Week is a big thing here as well, I'm co-captain of our workplace team and all workers are encouraged to participate. The boss rides in when possible and several other managers do the same.
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Old 06-13-19, 05:41 PM
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Not really. It's just how I get to work. It would be like sharing about the subway.
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Old 06-13-19, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Bandera
I worked for and with "Golf Bores" for many years and didn't reply to the "What did you do this weekend" non-question beyond a brief polite non-insider-cyclist response, no point in adding to the boredom.
If anyone saw me cycle to work on the weekend or doing laps in full kit in the middle of the night on the corporate campus while waiting for a system update and testing to be completed it never came up in conversation at lunch with my peers, although the security guys thought it was weird. I was "volunteered" by HR to ride the bike leg of a mixed gender charity relay format triathlon for several years for their largely ignored Wellness Campaign. At least it wasn't corporate golf yet again.

If someone else rode their bike to work, good for them.
If in my department, same as anyone else who arrived by any other means: Be on time and ready to work.

-Bandera
A few of my co-workers know that I race, but if it comes up the conversation usually goes "Oh, my friend/neighbor/cousin races! He does the Whatever Century every year! Do you do that race?" And then I have to explain that centuries aren't races but yes that's a long way to ride and it's quite an achievement, yadda yadda yadda.

Or, "Are you excited to do the Amgen tour?" And then I have to explain that although I would love to race the Tour of California, it's not open to 45+ Cat 3's.
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Old 06-13-19, 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
I have to explain ...... And then I have to explain
Yep, I found that by just politely sliding out of conversations by well meaning associates who are being nice and supportive about what they think you are doing serves both parties well.
Cycling as a sport is so far from the mainstream of American life as to be basically unintelligible, trying to translate is like waving semaphores at geese expecting an intelligible "honk" in return.

-Bandera
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Old 06-13-19, 06:43 PM
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I have many coworkers that ride bikes. Some commute to work, some are weekend warriors, some ride hybrids, some ride centuries on high end carbon rigs, even have a few mechanic types, the whole 9 yards, lol.

It's great and I can strike up a bike conversation pretty much anytime.

I work at a university, which seems to lend itself to the bike community in all its variety.
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Old 06-13-19, 07:08 PM
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A few people at work commute by bike to work. I share with them my weekend activities, bike shop visits, what I have learned.
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Old 06-13-19, 10:05 PM
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Nah. I might have mentioned it in passing but I've rarely found co-workers to have much interest in anything other than what they enjoy doing. Fortunately there's always that one guy or gal who fills the air with incessant chatter about themselves, so the rest of us are relieved of the burden of needing to share much about ourselves. The physical therapy clinic I'm visiting now has one of those, a chipper, chatty, clueless and mostly harmless receptionist who, as Douglas Adams described in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, appears to be one of those people who believe that the moment they stop talking they'll suddenly vanish.
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