TFS Jake

What is the weirdest thing that is a side effect of you commuting? i.e. shaving your legs, weird looks from coworkers, etc.

I have started losing my car keys...a LOT...

travelmama

More sweat and salt on my face?

DX-MAN

Well, never USED to shave the extremities...... Dunno if that's the weirdest change, though.

I get a little irritated when I roll up to the automatic doors @ work, and they don't open right up so I can dismount in the vestibule.

I no longer get stopped going out the door in the evenings, so some greeter can "see my receipt" for the bike....

I also get a little irritated when co-workers who know me don't recognize that a bike inside the store is most likely MINE!

ItsJustMe

Shaving legs? This is the commuter forum, not the road forum, right?

The only thing I can think of is that my car's battery is flat a lot more, if I forget to drive it somewhere once a month or so to charge it up. And I'm changing my car's oil at only about 2500 miles, because it's been a year since the last change.

pathdoc

Although I wouldn't call it weird, people jus start talking about exercise and such when they see me in the AM. I'm hoping my actions encourage others to live in a more healthy fashion and I think they have.

colleen c

Weirdest thing since commuting?

Hmmmm let see here, well I have lost 7 lbs so far! That's weird since it is so hard to lose weight

One if the noticable side effect is me waking up before 4am on raining days where I drive instead of biking. My alarm is set for later time but I wake up earlier anyway.

Oh yes BTW. I shave my leg of course, duh. However with the colder morning commute, I'm tempted to grow out my leg hair (eeeeewww) just to check out my coworkers expression

genec

Knowing how to get to places all over town without the use of the freeway... This has actually caused me to give directions to drivers without considering that THEY can use the freeway.

Bander

Driving home from work one time I had a brief moment of panic when I noticed I was not going the right way and needed to quickly figure out how to get back on track. Then I realized that I was not actually going the wrong way, I was just on my car route which differs from the route I take on bike.

dynodonn 

Nothing that I can think of, pretty much everything I do has some relevancy to commuting by bicycle that really wouldn't be considered weird.
On the other hand, my family, friends, and co-workers might be able to come up with some ideas of their own.

xtrajack

My truck went from being "my" truck, which I had the only key for, to being "the truck" and now the key is in the kitchen in case the pretty one wants to use it.
When it was my truck no one else ever drove it.

AdamDZ

Nothing really weird happened to me because of my bike commuting, all is rather predictable and quite normal outcome.

Adam

tsl

Done that.

I've also had drivers ask me where to park, and have been unable to answer their question.

The biggest change is that as a driver, I left home at the last minute. In the three seasons, it's not uncommon for me to leave 60 to 90 minutes early so I can take the long way to work. And this is on top of timing things so that I arrive 15 to 30 minutes early so I can cool down, clean up and change.

rumrunn6

I developed style. it may not be glamorous but I now have a "look". my boss says: "that's a good look for you"

whatev

colleen c

Ahh, so that's why there's so many car on the road.

After a moment of thoughts from my last post, there are some significant things that's happening since I restarted commuting several weeks ago. I notice how other are telling me to drive instead of biking for the next day because there is a chance of rain although the forecast is for 10% precipitation. They telling me like they are jealous I'm getting my daily excercise and they are being left out. Also those who do know I'm losing weight again have been offering me food more now than before I restarted commuting. Dunno, I might be imaginating things but that seem to be the vibes I've been getting.

Arcanum

I've actually gained weight since I started riding a lot.

rumrunn6

people around me evolved as I rode more and their comments have run the gambit from positive to negative and sometimes open to interpretation.

muscles soak up water as they develop and a weight increase can be expected. as your metabolism rises and stays higher, and as you adjust your nutrition you should see some weight loss.

Artkansas 

Since I started commuting in the 2nd grade, I guess the weirdest change was puberty. But it's been a while since that happened.

destikon

Weird/good change:
Lost 65lbs.

csisfun

I hate public transport even more!

asok

I started stashing extra clothes at work so I don't have to worry that I forget my socks (again).

My bike got dirty. Really dirty.

Tober1

I've started wearing tights to work. I usually wear some baggy shorts over top so I don't feel completely 'exposed'.
And amen to Csisfun. I can't stand really rainy/cold/snowy days when I have to take public transport..

caloso

They promoted me to Principal.

Doohickie

I think it's mostly just knowing the city better. If I'm driving with the wife and there's traffic I just cut through a neighborhood, knowing how to get through to the other side most efficiently.

annc

I check my helmet mounted mirror when walking through parking lots even though I'm not wearing a helmet. I don't even have my bike with me. It's a really strange feeling when I catch myself doing it.

Doohickie

YES! I do that! I was leaving a restaurant with my wife. We had to cross the street to get to the car, and there was a bike lane on that street. As soon as I was in the bike lane, I started walking along it and angling my head to line my mirror up with traffic behind me so I could see if the road was clear before crossing. Mirror. Duh.