Conversations with non-cyclists

[Mr Phoebus]

The receptionist at my GP's took a look at my bike with tri-bars fitted and thought they were the mounting point for a child seat.

Yeah, maybe the child could shout out directions.




I explained what they were for and she chipped in... "Oh, so rest your chin on them?"

I quipped back "only if you're Jimmy Hill."

 

[Brandane]

Went to visit a mate who lives in Lochgilphead. It's a long way from home, so took the car but put the bike in the back so I could ride the Crinan canal path. So I phoned him to say that I would be coming over a bit earlier than planned, specifically so that I could do the canal path.

Mate.... "Ach, don't be daft; just come up to the house!"

So I try to tactfully explain that the reason for coming over early is to cycle, and not to sit in the house. I did the cycle along the Crinan canal, and agreed to meet said mate at the Cairnbahn pub, about 3 miles from Lochgilphead. He arrived by car, so we only had the one pint and then decided to head for his house.

Mate... "Hang on and I'll get the back seats down so you can put the bike in..."

Me.... "Nah, I'll manage to cycle it, thanks!"

Some folk just don't get it, but then the world would be boring if we were all the same .

A few months down the line, mate has got himself a mountain bike and now sometimes goes for a cycle along the Crinan canal. Can't see him ever being any more than an occasional cyclist, but it's a step in the right direction...

 

[Bluebell72]

P.S. Nice avatar.

Thankyou, likewise.
Mine is from 'Sprinkle Me Pink' my favourite PP cartoon.

 

[Stephenite]

Thankyou, likewise.
Mine is from 'Sprinkle Me Pink' my favourite PP cartoon.

Fnaar would love that one!

 

[fossyant]

All of the above, and a joke from my shoulder consultant..

OK so you can do 100 miles in five hours, how quick on a bike.... I nearly killed him !

That's the NHS stance - you can ride 100 miles - what's up with you.

Shortly after that, I finally got him to operate. and the end result is, mechanically GREAT, but bloody hell does it still hurt ! He will get a verbal 'slap' next week when I finally see him - SIX months post op. !

 

[Headgardener]

From a severly overweight lad in the Boys Brigade company of which I am an officer, after I had cycled six miles to Calshot. Then walked to meet the company boys who were walking towards me and was preparing to do the return six miles home "you must be mad".

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Them: You must be a total idiot cycling in the rain!

Me: actually it tends to be quite refreshing

Them: Yeah, but.....

 

[marshmella]

Went to visit a mate who lives in Lochgilphead. It's a long way from home, so took the car but put the bike in the back so I could ride the Crinan canal path. So I phoned him to say that I would be coming over a bit earlier than planned, specifically so that I could do the canal path.

Mate.... "Ach, don't be daft; just come up to the house!"



Mate... "Hang on and I'll get the back seats down so you can put the bike in..."



Reminds me of the time a few years back when my regular cyclist brother -in-law was commuting to Halesowen, the conversation went like this:

Me: "You're going to Halesowen on ya bike?"

Him: "yeah"

Me:" That must be about 15 miles"

Him: " About 12"

Me:" look, i go part of the way, perhaps i can fold the seats down in the car and get your bike in, it'll save you a few miles."

Him: " I'M A CYCLIST"

Me: ....."Oh, right you are then"

It was long before i ever had a bike. I shamefully didn't understand.

 

[downfader]

There is a loss of understanding as to what REAL distance is.

 

[Winnershsaint]

To set the scene. I've got high blood pressure. In my fifties and take tablets (reluctantly) for it. Went to docs in April did the old BP and it was slightly high so he puts me on an additional set of tablets.
Me: Will these new tablets have any side effects?
Doc: No, why d'you ask.
Me: I need to know if they'll have any effect on the amount of cycling I do.
Doc: No, they won't have any effect on a bit of gentle cycling.
Me: What about not so gentle cycling?
Doc: What do you mean?
Me: Well I cycle at least 100 miles each week at around 25-30 Kph, and in July I'm doing a 110 Km ride.
Doc: So you'll be ridng all day then?
Me: Nah! for around 4-5 hours.
Doc rollseyes in disbelief.
Doc: So you're quite fit then.
Me: Apparantly so, but you're probably more of an expert on exercise physiology than I'll ever be. (TWAT is that allowed on here?)
Exit surgery.

 

[ColinJ]

I cycled down to Coventry to visit my family in summer 2007. I arrived just as my mum's carer was sorting out her evening medication ...

Carer: "Hi Colin - your mum said that you were coming for a visit. Have you just cycled up from the station?

ColinJ: "No, I've cycled down from home."

Carer: "Hebden Bridge?"

ColinJ: "Yes"

Carer: "Yorkshire!"

ColinJ: "Yes"

Carer: "How far is that!"

ColinJ: "About 140 miles."

She stared at me for a few seconds, then started laughing ...

Carer: "Yeah, right, you brought your bike down on the train didn't you!"

I took the GPS off my bike and showed her the trip distance reading ...

ColinJ: "227 km, that's, er, 141 miles!"

I told her that I knew people who had ridden 1,200 km on Paris-Brest-Paris and 1,400 km on London-Edinburgh-London. Compared to riders like them, I hadn't done anything special.

She looked absolutely stunned!

 

[al78]

I cycled down to Coventry to visit my family in summer 2007. I arrived just as my mum's carer was sorting out her evening medication ...

Carer: "Hi Colin - your mum said that you were coming for a visit. Have you just cycled up from the station?

ColinJ: "No, I've cycled down from home."

Carer: "Hebden Bridge?"

ColinJ: "Yes"

Carer: "Yorkshire!"

ColinJ: "Yes"

Carer: "How far is that!"

ColinJ: "About 140 miles."

She stared at me for a few seconds, then started laughing ...

Carer: "Yeah, right, you brought your bike down on the train didn't you!"

I took the GPS off my bike and showed her the trip distance reading ...

ColinJ: "227 km, that's, er, 141 miles!"

I told her that I knew people who had ridden 1,200 km on Paris-Brest-Paris and 1,400 km on London-Edinburgh-London. Compared to riders like them, I hadn't done anything special.

She looked absolutely stunned!

To be honest I would find that really impressive. I know how I feel after around the 70 mile mark, to continue on and do the same again would be unthinkable (at the moment anyway).

 

[ColinJ]

To be honest I would find that really impressive. I know how I feel after around the 70 mile mark, to continue on and do the same again would be unthinkable (at the moment anyway).

To be even more honest - I did 77 lumpy miles on Sunday's forum ride and it half-killed me!

I did a lot of riding from summer 2006 to summer 2007 so I was pretty fit by the time I did that 141 mile ride. I wasn't down at my best riding weight, but I was 2 stone less than I am now.

(I did the return ride a week later but Snake Pass was shut for resurfacing. I had to do a detour via Strines and Ewden Bank and managed to get up it on the bike for the first time ever - it is over 20%!)

 

[Fletch456]

Loved reading lots of those conversations, they sure made me chuckle.FAO - Speecy1 - For you and tumbleweed generally. I've written what I thought was funny and just darn useful, intelligent comments before and had very little response. It's just the way it is sometimes. It's about timing too for example...not many people may be online...the topic you started / added to may move down as other people post so going to somewhere less obvious as the comments are listed in date order.And..don't go..certainly not on that basis...there's room for everyone.

 

[Globalti]

Last year I had Baker's cysts on my knees, caused by flogging up hills. Went to see my GP, Dr Shanker, ex-Indian Army and as dapper and charming as you like.

Dr S: "Why don't you try some leg-strengthening exercises?"

Self: "Don't you think that's what cycling does?"

Dr S: "Errrrrr....."