Stupid/Funny/Ignorant things your co-workers say:
#126
genec
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I used to get "why are you always early?"
I tended to leave earlier than I really needed to allow for uncontrolled situations, such as flats. I also like to cool down before starting work, so generally I was in the office a bit early, before the coffee seekers huddle around the coffee machine. I always found that amusing... that the first thing many folks do when the get to the office is seek coffee and then stand around doing nothing but drink coffee for the first 1/2 hour of the work day.
I tended to leave earlier than I really needed to allow for uncontrolled situations, such as flats. I also like to cool down before starting work, so generally I was in the office a bit early, before the coffee seekers huddle around the coffee machine. I always found that amusing... that the first thing many folks do when the get to the office is seek coffee and then stand around doing nothing but drink coffee for the first 1/2 hour of the work day.
#127
aka Tom Reingold
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Not necessarily stupid or ignorant, but this morning as I was locking up my bike, a coworker getting out of her car said, "It just amazes me that you time getting here so well."
I don't know why that would be difficult. She obviously knows how long it takes her to drive here. Why couldn't I figure out how long it takes for me to ride? It's not like there will suddenly be a hill or an extra 5 miles unexpectedly appearing on my route.
In fact, my timing is probably more consistent than most drivers because I generally don't have any traffic delays.
I don't know why that would be difficult. She obviously knows how long it takes her to drive here. Why couldn't I figure out how long it takes for me to ride? It's not like there will suddenly be a hill or an extra 5 miles unexpectedly appearing on my route.
In fact, my timing is probably more consistent than most drivers because I generally don't have any traffic delays.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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#128
genec
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#129
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I suppose that the most ignorant thing that my co-workers say is, "15 miles? I could never do that." Of course you can. You just need to work up to it. After you ride the 15 miles in, you've got 9 hours behind a desk to cool down before you do the 15 miles back.
I also get the classic, "Did you ride to work today?" and "Are you riding home?"
I also get the classic, "Did you ride to work today?" and "Are you riding home?"
#130
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I get asked "How many miles?" very regularly - that is expected. When I reply with "3 miles one way" I invariably get a condescending "Oh, that's not much" as if they would have too, but for the distance. Very irritating.
#131
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#132
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You're in San Francisco so those 3 miles are probably all up hill in one direction too. I love that city, but man, those hills are nasty.
#133
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#134
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That is irritating. I get the opposite even though my commute isn't very long. I'm amazed at how many people think six miles (12 r/t) is a long way to ride a bike.
#135
I would not consider them "Stupid/Funny/Ignorant."
#136
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I had a casual conversation while I was riding to a party in a park with a woman who was jogging. We were chatting while we were waiting for a light to change and she asked me how far my commute was. I told her 15 miles one-way. She told me that she also commuted to work on her bike. Then she apologized for the fact that her commute was only 4 miles. I told her that it was great that she rode those 4 miles instead of driving that distance, which is what most people in this part of California do.
You're in San Francisco so those 3 miles are probably all up hill in one direction too. I love that city, but man, those hills are nasty.
You're in San Francisco so those 3 miles are probably all up hill in one direction too. I love that city, but man, those hills are nasty.
#137
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I've bike commuted to work for years, and still, when it's raining, there's always someone who asks "Did you come on your bike today?"
#138
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Test my theory and let us know your results.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#139
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Try expressing it in time instead of miles. Most people can imagine 30 to 40 minutes of moderate exercise. They don't even know they're capable of getting places on a bike. It seems harder than working out at the gym for 40 minutes.
Test my theory and let us know your results.
Test my theory and let us know your results.
Oh, and, yes I do read your signature.
#140
aka Tom Reingold
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Oh, and, yes I do read your signature.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#141
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#142
aka Tom Reingold
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It works! Good spelling, too. I normally spell it cow-orkers, but you can leave the hyphen out.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#143
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#144
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My last commute was about 6 miles, and I'd get confused looks some times when people were trying to figure out if that was a long distance to ride or not. When I mentioned it was about a half hour of exercise it did seem to be more understandable to people who could relate to spending a half hour exercising in the gym.
#145
Senior Member
Not my co-workers, but other office goers in my building always ask "Are you a bike messenger/courier?"
My transformation from bike commute clothes to office clothes is pretty radical and no one recognizes me as the same person.
My transformation from bike commute clothes to office clothes is pretty radical and no one recognizes me as the same person.
#146
Junior Member
I like to use furlongs. Really an underrated unit of measure.
#147
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My coworkers are always offering me rides home and act surprised everytime when I tell the no thanks I enjoy riding, it's the winter when I get the most comments usually "are you nuts". Funny thing about riding throughout he winter is I'm a cold weather guy I prefer to and run more races in the winter and I prefer to MTB in the winter so they look at me even crazier when I tell me I love the cold, they also think it's weird that I wear shorts til 30f.
#148
aka Tom Reingold
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[MENTION=185763]Fizzaly[/MENTION], are you nuts?!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#149
Farmer tan
I enjoy the opportunity for some cycling small-talk anyhow.
#150
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My favorite comment was a couple years ago as I was walking out of the back door of the office. A couple co-workers were standing there watching me put on my helmet and goggles and one of them said, "Looks like you're ready to be shot out of the cannon. Can I watch?"
I laughed pretty good at that one. It was all in fun.
I laughed pretty good at that one. It was all in fun.