Looks like I am not going to be commuting. :(

[gambatte]

Ignore them, ............. Typical comments from a non cyclist.

Kinda what I thought. Knows her job, knows nowt about cycling.
Seems many people have no idea of how 'easy' some exercise is. You wouldn't believe how many people look aghast when I say I run 5-10 miles, 3 days a week. If they only knew I'd added in a couple of 15-20 per week when I marathon trained last year. I'm not a good runner either.

 

[hennbell]

I once got a phone call from the local council regarding my winter cycling activities, they threatened to ban cycling on the roads I most commonly use. I told them that I would enjoy meeting my own personal police officer twice a day as I was not going to stop any time soon.
Then I got a call from a police officer. As he got out "Hello my Name is Constable..." I shut him up with an "O fer F***s sakes, do you not have anything better to do?" He went on to describe the the blizzard conditions were so bad that he was going to close up shop and go home. I asked him If he thought it was safe to drive a 1.5 tonne car in zero visibility (as he described it). Then I asked him how his police training could tell him cycling in the snow was more or less safe than driving a car.

Don't give up

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

fair enough matt, ignore the stupid woman, who should have handled the interview with more sensitivity, especially given her client base....sounds like a dumbass!

 

[Peowpeowpeowlasers]

• The weather is terrible in winter
• I would be tired after a stormy day in the morning
• There are maniac drivers who are late to work taking risks on corners (must be talking about herself)
• The bike will be really heavy with panniers (she said bags) on the back.
• I would have to get up very early and get home in the dark (to which I stated I would have good quality lights on)
• I could get t-boned by a car at a junction who hasnt seen me (even though I told her I wouldbe wearing hi-viz)

She clearly underestimates my capabilities. I did give a few reasons to her queries but I didnt want to get into an arguement as she was the one who was organising me to get a free laptop, printer, dictaphone, and much more.

Obviously she knows bugger all about cycling. The weather isn't "terrible" in winter, it's just colder and slightly more wet. You won't be tired in the morning, you'll be far more alert and awake than everyone else who doesn't cycle. "Maniac drivers" - yes, they exist, no they shouldn't put you off cycling. While she'll be in hospital suffering from heart disease, you'll still be riding your bike. Heavy panniers? Lol, I commuted to college with all my stuff in a rucksack. Plus it was faster to cycle than it was to get the bus, and in rush hour I can destroy the average vehicle commuter.

And only the most inattentive cyclists get t-boned.

She sounds like exactly the sort of person who thinks that cycling is something that children do. Tell her to mind her own farking business.

God people like that piss me off. Stupid cow.

 

[stephen.rooke]

and you could be on a bus and get hit by a lorry and burn in a fireball, doesnt mean its going to happen, lifes too short to just do what someone else wants you to do

 

[steve52]

cycling and health, i road 80 miles to see mum,we then road to the seaside 17 miles away for a picnic, then we road back,and i rode home, im 54 and she is 75, mind you she dose struggle up the hills, and i can scalp her any time, we are so unfit

 

[Crankarm]

The free items were totally seperate to the convo going on. I am getting them no matter what (unless my needs change, which I doubt).
I dont know what she could have offered travel wise as i have no difficulties with my mobility or fitness (obviously). I am not entirely sure what relation travel arrangements had with my disability as I would have to be forking out of my grant and loan for the Arriva bus anyway, and the DSA wouldnt cover that as it is for everyone.

Matt, I am really not sure about you. The comments you tell us this woman said to you are almost troll like.

I have come across people like this, but they generally don't have such a vivid idea of what cyclists encounter which is the impression you have given of her. I don't know. You are probably 100% legit but a sneaking feeling is telling me you are a troll given your previous threads and posts. Just my gut instinct. Are you bonj by any chance?

As for this woman's opinions of cyclists and cycling throughout the year particularly winter, the comments you attribute to her are just not the ones I have heard before in all the years I have had to endure ignorance about cycling. How does she think other cyclists manage, student cyclists as well, who cycle in all weather most fowl (did you notice the deliberate mistake?)? Surely you could tell her you plan to take the bus or get a taxi when there are storms and only cycle when the weather is dry or fine?

I don't know Matthew I still think you might be a troll.

 

[CopperCyclist]

The free items were totally seperate to the convo going on. I am getting them no matter what (unless my needs change, which I doubt).
I dont know what she could have offered travel wise as i have no difficulties with my mobility or fitness (obviously). I am not entirely sure what relation travel arrangements had with my disability as I would have to be forking out of my grant and loan for the Arriva bus anyway, and the DSA wouldnt cover that as it is for everyone.

I don't think you're a troll at all for whatever it's worth. You've got a settled history on the forum and I think wee can take your post at face value.

Getting back to it... in that case surely she is only offering her 'opinion' of cycling in, which is therefore worth exactly as much as a random member of the public. Ignore it and carry on!

 

[BrumJim]

Details on the woman: She was old, she was helpful, she was kind, some of her comments seemed a little......snide. I.e. She kept mentioning "I dont mean that personally" even though I knew she didnt and the question wasnt personal. She also had a habit of saying "I dont want to push you or put words in your mouth" when that was exactly what she was doing.

You are learning faster than I did. Other similar phrases are;
"I'm not racist but ...... (they should all go back to where they came from or similar)"
"I'm not sexist but ...(women shouldn't be doing that sort of thing)"
"I've got your best intentions at heart....."
"Buy our product because its really tasty"

 

[Crankarm]

I don't think you're a troll at all for whatever it's worth. You've got a settled history on the forum and I think wee can take your post at face value.

Getting back to it... in that case surely she is only offering her 'opinion' of cycling in, which is therefore worth exactly as much as a random member of the public. Ignore it and carry on!

I just have this nagging feeling ................ in 6 months time Matthew reveals that he's hoodwinked the CC forum ............ Hope I am wrong. Has he posted a helmet based thread yet or listening to musak with headphones in your ears as you ride?

 

[HovR]

I just have this nagging feeling ................ in 6 months time Matthew reveals that he's hoodwinked the CC forum ............ Hope I am wrong. Has he posted a helmet based thread yet or listening to musak with headphones in your ears as you ride?

You'd have to be one really dedicated troll to keep the act going for 10+ months, and almost 2k posts. I'm pretty sure Matt's genuine.

 

[Norm]

Has he posted a helmet based thread yet or listening to musak with headphones in your ears as you ride?

Two from two there, Crankster.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I just have this nagging feeling ................ in 6 months time Matthew reveals that he's hoodwinked the CC forum ............ Hope I am wrong. Has he posted a helmet based thread yet or listening to musak with headphones in your ears as you ride?

Does anyone remember the legendary 'I've been contacted by a local journalist' post by Matt? That was quite embarrassing for him (sorry to bring it up Matt), but Internet opera at its utter best. If that was a work of fiction, then 'Chapeau' to Matt, and you can put me down for the first copy of your book!

 

[Crankarm]

You'd have to be one really dedicated troll to keep the act going for 10+ months, and almost 2k posts. I'm pretty sure Matt's genuine.

Yeah a rather trollific troll.

Sorry to hijack but what is a troll's deeper belief system that is the reason for their being known as?

Trollosophy.

 

[Matthew_T]

Does anyone remember the legendary 'I've been contacted by a local journalist' post by Matt? That was quite embarrassing for him (sorry to bring it up Matt), but Internet opera at its utter best. If that was a work of fiction, then 'Chapeau' to Matt, and you can put me down for the first copy of your book!

Strangely enough, I am working on a book (not cycling related).

I am not a troll. I must be a genuis to be able to keep it up for this long as well as make fake newspaper prints, fake photos of my cat, steal peoples photos of their bike, and make fake videos. If I were a troll, would I really be this legit?
And if I were a troll, dont you think I would just be giving people abuse?