Annoying Comments From Those Who Don't "Get It"

[YesNdeed]

Every now and again I find myself indulging in cycle speak with normies, and I often regret it. Whether it's because conversations take a natural direction from what I did on my day off or after work, or that I just couldn't pass up volunteering some interesting detail of a ride, I often find myself explaining things that become an arduous task, and met with mixed reactions, with those who don't ride and don't get endurance miles among MANY other aspects of what we love to do. So, why not a thread for the comments made by those who not only don't understand cycling, but may not have a comparable passion themselves?

Let's start with a simple one. I've got plenty more, if this doesn't get things going...

Them: Do you bring your dog along on your rides?

Me: Well, if my dog were a Malamute, um, still I probably wouldn't.

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by YesNdeed

Me: Well, if my dog were a Malamute, um, still I probably wouldn't.

Not probably. you wouldn't. We used to have a female malaumte, about 100#s of pure muscle who could run at about a 7:00mile pace. Used to take her for run/walk using my mtb. she was going about 15-18mph when she decided to STOP and it was like someone threw a boat anchor out. I was flying in the air attached to my bike for long enough to realize i was helicoptering about 3 feet off the ground and that in another second it was going to be painful.

She was a GREAT dog...running using bike not really an issue if one anticipates. that crash was pilot error on me. I just got absent minded and paid for it.

back to your ask...those around you just aren't interested and it's not your job to educate them. let it go and move on.

that said, it is a conversational skill to ask and navigate a conversation in which you have no knowledge. challenge yourself to do better than those you are interacting with when the conversation turns to something you don't care about.

[MattTuck]

Once was talking to a guy about cycling and he referred to the peloton as 'the pelatron' Somewhere in Colorado, an old master probably felt a disturbance in the force.

[bironi]

Don't let it annoy. Your choice.

[bigbill]

Yesterday, I guy made a comment that my bike is painted like a Specialized. I've seen the Gulf Livery Spesh bikes, yeah, nope. Even those that get it don't completely get it.

[Dead Man]

I'm pretty sure I'm the sole dedicated road cyclist.. surely the sole racer for 30 miles in any direction, in a town of 12,000 Dodge diesel driving what the hells a grown ass man doin ridin around in the street on a damn bi-sickle types.... so yea, I can relate. I guess I'm so used to the shocked responses to the distance/speed/dedication questions and so used to people having abso****inglutely not even the barest clue about what road riding or racing really look like, it just doesn't even phase me.

I do find it irritating when people do that whole "oh yus ride a bicycle, huh? Boy my uncle Sammy rode a bicycle and lemme tell you...." and then proceed to tell you all sorts of things about riding a bike, as if you don't know anything about riding bikes.

[Louis]

So, how do you pansies explain your hairless legs?

[unterhausen]

the opposite sometimes happens in the strangest places in Eastern Pennsylvania. Talking to some old dude in a restaurant, and he'll say, "yeah, the boy used to go down and race at Trexlertown."

I fired my podiatrist after he said, "if I wanted to ride my bike 100 miles, I'd drive my car." Just the last straw, he impressed me as someone who hadn't developed emotionally since he was in high school, and that just didn't fill me with confidence in his medical judgement. And the fact that he kept telling me I should get a cortizone shot after I told him repeatedly that my retinal specialist strongly recommended against them. Because there is a possibility that it would effectively make me blind.

[geordanh]

I was recently in a conversation with a well adjusted and generally sophisticated individual from a major metropolitan centre with one of the highest rates of bike commuting in the US that went like this:

"Are you doing anything interesting while you're in town?"

"I brought my bike with me to do some road riding. I'm looking forward to it"

"Road... riding? So like... you're going to ride a bike ...right on the road? ... Why would you do that?"

"Yeah, you know, like how they do in the Tour de France, except way more slowly and pathetically"

"I honestly have no idea what you are talking about"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[YesNdeed]

That 👆🏻.
I love all the comments thus far, but the ones you respond to with "So how bout those Lobos (insert your go-to bull****)?" are the ones I'm most interested in.

[Wolfman]

One that my dad says when he's just realized that he's in one of those conversations is to reference one of the local professional sports teams and say, "How about those _____? Man! They've got to fire that guy!"

Typically, the other guy will be in complete agreement and give him plenty of ammo for the next couple minutes of small talk.

[cachagua]

"Mah daddy says you keep ye'self bent ovah like that, ye goan RERN ye back!"

I got this from a couple of kids at a swimming pool in the rural South when I was about fourteen. So far, my back's not rerned yet...

[oldpotatoe]

I love it when they call us 'bikers'..

biker-

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

I love it when they call us 'bikers'..

biker-

This, everytime a ride comes through the area there are signs in the village that say welcome bikers! I always get a good chuckle out of these

[El Chaba]

I avoid discussing the sport with people from outside of it unless they genuinely seem interested in getting involved themselves...When confronted with the typical stupidity such as questions for which the answer should be obvious, I usually answer with, "Oh, I wasn't asking for permission...."