Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
How do your none cycling friends perceive you
- Thread starter johnnyb47
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Not Wayne Kerr I hope.
No, Wayne King
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I'm generally regarded as rather eccentric anyway, and riding a bike whilst owning more than one car just adds reinforcement to this view. When I turned up to a works drink on an old Raleigh MTB, I got some very funny looks and comments of "why didn't you just get a cab, it's not like you can't afford one. You're nuts to ride a bike" One colleague who runs half/full marathons kind of "gets it" though, although he doesn't ride - and I hate running.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
I've turned up to various Cats Protection stuff on a bicycle. The other branch volunteers are kind of used to it now, and they know that the bike comes inside with me as well LOL. I've yet to turn up to a cat show on a bike though, as that's usually thwarted by engineering works on the railway...
- Location
- Inside my skull
Years back I cycled to a works lunchtime Christmas drink and everybody else drove. By the time the others arrived I'd finished my first pint. Because I was cycling it was also OK to have a second.
RoubaixCube
~Tribanese~
- Location
- London, UK
Most of my work colleagues thought my 8mile commute to work was like swimming the English Channel.
When I tell them I do 60+ milers they are all in shock and think I'm some sort of robot.
When I tell them I do 60+ milers they are all in shock and think I'm some sort of robot.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Not Wayne Kerr I hope.
Yes, I was thinking 'Kerr'!
I was told to go and pick up some electronic test equipment - "Just ask for the Wayne Kerr". I thought it was a joke, but then discovered that Mr and Mrs Kerr either had a GSOH or were very naive when they named their son 'Wayne'! (WK Website.)
I used to be banging along to my acquaintance's about the benefits of cycling. The more I did the more they would say 'why'. I dont bother too much with them these days having cultivated new cycling friends.
I cycle on a turbo with Zwift/ Trainer Road during winter and do the odd sportive/TT and foriegn holiday tour spring/summer.
Im fitter than Ive ever been since my teenage years and now into my fifties cant see giving up cycling. I will move over to ebikes when I can no longer get up steep climbs.
I cycle on a turbo with Zwift/ Trainer Road during winter and do the odd sportive/TT and foriegn holiday tour spring/summer.
Im fitter than Ive ever been since my teenage years and now into my fifties cant see giving up cycling. I will move over to ebikes when I can no longer get up steep climbs.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
They're in Bognor Regis (sorted quite a few items from them over the years)...name always brought a smile!Yes, I was thinking 'Kerr'!
I was told to go and pick up some electronic test equipment - "Just ask for the Wayne Kerr". I thought it was a joke, but then discovered that Mr and Mrs Kerr either had a GSOH or were very naive when they named their son 'Wayne'! (WK Website.)
AuroraSaab
Veteran
This is great advice. It sounds like cycling has been really good for you but it is no substitute for social contact with friends and family. It's easy for hobbies to become all consuming, or work for that matter, but it's really important to make sure you invest time and effort in maintaining friendships.
Tom B
Guru
- Location
- Lancashire
My non cycling colleagues just accept it and sometimes marvel at it especially when I am riding home in the small hours. A quirk of my commute is that at rush hour the bike is significantly faster than the car so they often comment when I can either plan on being home home before them or riding out of nursery as they are pulling up having already been home, picked up the kiddie seat and.but the oven on.
Another thing that surprises them is when we are given a training course or a meeting at another location my first thought is what route to take on the bike and not moaning about how long I'll be stuck in traffic.
In terms of social circles most people I socialise are outdoorsy so it raises no eyebrows. I'm not one for wearing tons of team or cycling wear so fitting in isn't usually an issue.
It always raises an eyebrow if I pop in to work or a colleagues house in a car. More than a few are surprised I hold a car licence.
A few couldn't understand that I couldn't use the car for 3 months last spring because I hadn't insured it because I didn't need it. Then when I found out that it was far cheaper to insure it and have the start date 28 days in advance they found it crazy that I chose to keep it off the road for an extra month.
My mother is outraged we take our little lad out for 50mile rides in the bike seat and have done since he was 9months. She also couldn't believe that I covered the 3miles from her house to the local retail park in 15mins. A trip she allows about 40mins for in the car
It raised a few eyebrows at nursery when I rocked up on the bike with the lad in the kiddie seat on the bike in the ice and snow. They took me to one side and infairness had a chat about it, I simply pointed out that I might be the only parent collecting/dropping off on bike but I was probably he only parent with winter studded tyres and taking a route that was mainly traffic free and would be home before the rest of them unless we was unavoidably delayed in the park snowman building. I then proceeded to ride up the steep driveway impassable to cars without issue. One of the nursery staff spent most of her young years in a bike seat with her parents and childhood cycletouring so got it. I still half expected a social services visit.
Now they've got to know us they dont bat an eyelid as we share our trips and antics with them on their app.
Another thing that surprises them is when we are given a training course or a meeting at another location my first thought is what route to take on the bike and not moaning about how long I'll be stuck in traffic.
In terms of social circles most people I socialise are outdoorsy so it raises no eyebrows. I'm not one for wearing tons of team or cycling wear so fitting in isn't usually an issue.
It always raises an eyebrow if I pop in to work or a colleagues house in a car. More than a few are surprised I hold a car licence.
A few couldn't understand that I couldn't use the car for 3 months last spring because I hadn't insured it because I didn't need it. Then when I found out that it was far cheaper to insure it and have the start date 28 days in advance they found it crazy that I chose to keep it off the road for an extra month.
My mother is outraged we take our little lad out for 50mile rides in the bike seat and have done since he was 9months. She also couldn't believe that I covered the 3miles from her house to the local retail park in 15mins. A trip she allows about 40mins for in the car
It raised a few eyebrows at nursery when I rocked up on the bike with the lad in the kiddie seat on the bike in the ice and snow. They took me to one side and infairness had a chat about it, I simply pointed out that I might be the only parent collecting/dropping off on bike but I was probably he only parent with winter studded tyres and taking a route that was mainly traffic free and would be home before the rest of them unless we was unavoidably delayed in the park snowman building. I then proceeded to ride up the steep driveway impassable to cars without issue. One of the nursery staff spent most of her young years in a bike seat with her parents and childhood cycletouring so got it. I still half expected a social services visit.
Now they've got to know us they dont bat an eyelid as we share our trips and antics with them on their app.
Last edited:
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
I got this too. When I was at carpentry college it took an hour to ride in; I probably lived further away from the college than all my colleagues, but I was also the only one consistently on time. The car (as opposed to train) commuters were the consistently late ones, always complaining about the cold and the traffic lights.
The fact I was on time and nice and warm, and usually more awake and less stressed than they were, never seemed to compute...
Mrs M
Guru
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
I cycled into Aberdeen for the bikes after sales service.
Dropped the bike off then went for a coffee and sandwich while the work was done.
Met a colleague and his friend, they were amazed I’d cycled all that way (7miles), then was going to cycle home too.
Dropped the bike off then went for a coffee and sandwich while the work was done.
Met a colleague and his friend, they were amazed I’d cycled all that way (7miles), then was going to cycle home too.
