genec

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.

noglider 

I think you manage your time well before you leave home, because nothing detracts you from leaving on time. If you were detracted, you'd say fudge it and then drive in.

genec

At that particular company, several of the senior execs were involved... so the top seemed to be mostly bad people... and they laid off quite a few good people.

LokiWolflord

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?"

treadtread

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.

jrickards

No, I just ride in, I get a new bike every morning.

LokiWolflord

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.

bmthom.gis

You should say "I am not going to lose my man card to a bunch of mormons who do it every day"

Giant Doofus

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.

Jim from Boston

I take those comments as cheerful greetings, like "Nice weather today?," and IMO that's a sign of respect, distinction, and even affection; not a bad way to be recognized.

I would not consider them "Stupid/Funny/Ignorant."

treadtread

I live on the Peninsula - I added a small hill to my route just to add some challenge It still takes effort and discipline to bike every day - its the casual dismissal of that which irritates me.

Reynolds 

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?"

noglider 

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.

Giant Doofus

That's a good point. I'm usually asked "how far?" so I answer in distance. I could add "it's only about a half hour each way."

Oh, and, yes I do read your signature.

noglider 

Try stating the time before the distance. Give it time for it to sink in. See what happens.

Nice of you to mention it. You're the first so far.

jacobinchina

That's what I have started to do. I think I may even have got some cow orkers to consider biking to work a few times a week...

noglider 

It works! Good spelling, too. I normally spell it cow-orkers, but you can leave the hyphen out.

RubeRad

Try expressing it in kilometers instead of miles. If you want to sound sophisticated, actually say the word "kilometers". If you'd rather sound impressive just leave it out and say only the number, let them think miles.

no motor?

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.

GhostSS

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.

TrekCommuter

I like to use furlongs. Really an underrated unit of measure.

Fizzaly

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.

noglider 

@Fizzaly, are you nuts?!

f4rrest

+1

I enjoy the opportunity for some cycling small-talk anyhow.

kookaburra1701

We had a major snowstorm here last winter (-22C for several days) when normally we only get a light dusting that is melted before noon. I kitted myself out with a snowsuit, parka, wool cap, goggles, balaclava, the works. One of the security guards saw me coming in before I'd taken everything off and asked me where I parked my Taun-taun.