zacster

After the last few rides in, my co-workers have started to notice that I've been cycling. I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Do I look that bad? I try to clean up, but I'm also riding harder so I'm probably still sweating after.

VRC

Maybe it's your bicycle giving you away?
At my work, when people hear or see you coming on a bike one day that becomes their #1 topic of conversation from there on out. "Did you bike today?" "Do you ride on the bike I saw in your office?" 😂

Anyway, if you are riding harder you should go faster and have more time to clean up!

salcedo

Maybe you just look happy and relaxed after enjoying a pleasant morning ride instead of being trapped in a smoggy can of road rage

Daniel4

Maybe you look healthier and have a toned physique. Are you radiating hormones as well?

52telecaster

you're happier... they notice that a lot.

rumrunn6

you can avoid more comments from colleagues by arriving before them. but you can't avoid talking about it altogether. most comments are probably positive but there always seem to be some skeptics. plus there are those that are jealous, intimidated or feel more insecure about themselves. try to stay humble & modest. used to work with a female bloodhound. one time after a lunchtime walk she said: "oh you're sweaty" & made a weird face. I didn't smell but she was perturbed by the possibility I think

catgita

Someone I have worked with for 20 years recently asked me if I am now riding my bike to work most days now. Um, well, this is a small office, I park my bike in the hallway, potential clients are shown my bike (and he is in sales), I wear full kit to morning meetings, and have been doing so daily for 8 years. Maybe he might pick up on a clue now and then?

CliffordK

13 years on this forum, and 5000+ posts, and your co-workers have just now noticed that you ride a bike?

A few different jobs over the years, a lot of people noticed my bike. It wasn't too hard to spot, especially at some places when I was the only one that rode.

I'm pretty much car-free now, but generally just doing errands. Some store employees have noticed me. A few things give me away. Backpack, bike helmet, cycling jacket, right pants cuff stuffed in the sock. That little clickity-clack of cleats on the floor. Tights? Skunk stripe? Drenched to the bone

Oh, and then there is buying a little tiny item and asking for it to be put on hold since I wasn't prepared to carry it home.

zacster

I'm on the 31st floor of my building, nobody sees the bike, and I've already changed. It is only recently that I started riding hard enough that you can tell that I've been cycling in. No tights, although I wear them, no stripe, I have fenders, drenched, well yes. That I think is the clue.

Iridium56

I wish I could commute by bike. But I'm scared of becoming road kill. San Antonio,TX is not the most bike friendly city. I have even had jerks in cars yell at me to "get out of the street and on to the sidewalk." While I was on a bike lane.... on a residential street..... while I had right-of-way. Whatever.

caloso

I commute year round and occasionally see coworkers in the elevator.

In the spring: are you still riding your bike? it's so windy!
In summer: are you still riding your bike? it's so hot!
In the fall: are you still riding your bike? it's so rainy!
In the winter: are you still riding your bike? it's so cold!

PortlandEddie

As long as you took the precautions for you not to be "smelly" that's probably not it. Maybe they want to ask you about biking to work. Maybe they want a bike too? I'm sure with the recent events with bicycles in New York they want to know more...? Always assume they have good intent. If they snub their nose at you then they wouldn't be asking. I ride 3ish times a week and other's love asking how was the ride?, what bike do i have, other's have started riding too!

skidder

Take a toothbrush with you and brush when you get to work. You're probably happily smiling while riding in and your co-workers are probably noticing the bugs that have splattered on your teeth.

(old 'happy motorcyclist' joke)

Gaelen

It also gets dark from time to time, that really blows the minds somehow.

Cyclist0108

You are in NYC. It is the temporary good will one experiences after a terrorist attack. For a few weeks after Sept 11th, for example, people were happy to see me flying with kids, the idea being, I suppose, that you don't bring the kids along for a hijacking.

a1penguin

The pile of cycling clothes and towel on my chair at work. helmet on the desk and the collection of lights and gps charging on the desk give me away.

Sullalto

I had no problems taking the san antonio river greenway from downtown to brooks city base for a couple years.

I took the leon creek greenway from De Zavala/10 to whatever mall it ends at as well, and then to downtown. I think I only had two or three heckling incidents.

The most aggressive heckling I got was downtown when I was walking on the sidewalk and refused to yield to a cyclist.

Sullalto

God, I love it when it's dark. I hade the greenway to myself for miles at a time. It was glorious.

Now I just live in the middle of nowhere with no traffic, which is also glorious from a cycling perspective.

Motolegs

Own it. Be proud of what you are doing. Find a way to eliminate smelling like a chest beating gorilla.

work4bike

My bike is my primary form of transportation and I'm kind of easy to spot from other cyclists, since I'm the only one that has large panniers (and I'm always in the road; never on the sidewalk/bikepath). It's quite common for people (I don't even know) come up to me and ask me how many miles I ride per day and other questions. I've even been asked these questions at stop lights.

We dedicated cyclists are a curiosity.

zacster

I think one thing to watch for is the helmet. They are a ***** to get the smell out.

OmegaWolf

I usually take my helmet off when I get to my desk. YMMV

tengtengvn

I bike to work when I can. The reaction from other co-workers has been positive (I think). But it's kinda sad that we have a big office and I'm the only one riding a bike. Occasionally, I ride my Segway to work.

noglider 

It might be admiration. Anyway, you're in NYC, and bike commuting isn't weird here any more. Anyone who still thinks it is will be left behind.

rjmeyer67

Ditto! Then the assumption that I've had too many DUIs. So many just don't get it.