Mad

[Iainj837]

Do any of your colleagues think your mad for commuting the kind of distances that we do ?

They ask where have you cycled from when I say Glastonbury they gasp in disbelief. How long does that take you ? When I say about 50 mins they are shocked

 

[gbb]

My commutes only short, but they're still shocked you even consider getting on the bike in the cold. 'You must be mad'
I always say by the time i've defrosted the windscreen..i can be half way there.
Yes...plenty think we're insane

On another angle, i explained to one colleague why i went in the opposite direction to home the evening before. 'Oh, just to put a few extra miles on'...'make it worthwhile' i said.
'But why would you do that' was the reply

 

[Iainj837]

Yes people tend to want to keep their mileage down on their cars and we want to put more mileage on our cycle mileage. We must be mad but @ least we are doing our bit for environment

 

[Iainj837]

by the time i've defrosted the windscreen..i can be half way there.
Yes...plenty think we're insane

On another angle, i explained to one colleague why i went in the opposite direction to home the evening before. 'Oh, just to put a few extra miles on'...'make it worthwhile' i said.
'But why would you do that' was the reply

The other night I finished work I had to defrosted the windscreen which took about 10 mins i would be 10 mins further on

 

[rnscotch]

Yep they think i need locking up, especially yesterday when i said I couldn't feel my toes, they were so numb that it felt like I had rocks in my shoes. I swear, they'll fall off someday!

Then the look on his face as i sat in discomfort for 10 mins while they thawed out sometimes i think we are mad but i would not change it, it's a phenomenal feeling you get on your bike.

 

[Sprocket Dog]

Yep, even from other cycle commuters.I cycle 15 miles each way from Sidcup to Regent Street, W1 and it takes me about 70 minutes door to door.Having used a motorcycle to commute for the eight years before cycling, I'm used to the 'nutter' comments. I suppose the same could be said for my lack of understanding as to why anyone would want to cram on to an underground train when there are other more appealing options.

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

A neighbour asked my misses (quietly) why doe's he ride a bike all the time when he's got a car ? The lazy people ( that's what I call them anyway) cannot understand why you do anything that takes a little effort, I quite often see the neighbours from our little square down at the shops in their cars, as there is an alleyway between the two squares it is a little faster to walk than to drive. If the car windows are frosted I can get there and back before they have gone !! lazy lazy.

 

[Plax]

My work colleagues used to do it a lot when I first started "You're crazy cycling in this weather" etc. Now they have just accepted it as the norm, although they do make comments when we meet new people and the conversation crops up. Usually something like "oh yes Plax cycles even when there is a monsoon and gale force winds. Crazy" etc.

 

[Sprocket Dog]

All the time. I remember when I went to a job interview and the person asked how I was going to get to work. When I told him that I would bike the 7 miles his jaw hit the floor. He probably uses his car to travel the 200 yards to his local corner shop for a packet of fags and some milk.

Did ye get the job though?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Do any of your colleagues think your mad for commuting the kind of distances that we do ?

I got that when I first started, now I only seem to get it from new starters, the others seem to have accepted it as something I do, 12 miles a day to and from work. Although I don't think they can get their heads round my liking for 50-60mile Sunday rides.

 

[hackbike 666]

Nah i've been here twenty years.I think they are used to it.

 

[downfader]

Mad? They think I'm insane. I've said this on the bikeradar site before - people I work with drive a mile to work, some live around the corner. I think they're the mad ones - I'm only heading 5 miles in, 5 miles out.

One of the women (the one who drove from just around the corner from work) said to me "..its quicker by car!" I said, no - I'm faster getting home than the bus and often get home before the cars that head the same way. She just looked at me as if I was lying.

Then theres the "its too dangerous to ride on two wheels, thats why I use a car" brigade. One proper accident in 17 years - most of them have written off a car or two through their own stupidity, in retrospect its quite safe (although I often say its bloody rude how some people use the roads)

 

[ausalex]

My commute is only 2.6 miles (if I take the direct route) people still think I'm mad.

 

[hackbike 666]

All the time. I remember when I went to a job interview and the person asked how I was going to get to work. When I told him that I would bike the 7 miles his jaw hit the floor. He probably uses his car to travel the 200 yards to his local corner shop for a packet of fags and some milk.

I said that 25+ years ago and they asked how would I get in for the really early turns.I don't think they believed me,I don't think I believed me either.Now I do the really early turns for fun.I was so sure I was going to get a motorbike or car but never did.I got the job though.

 

[threefingerjoe]

I'm envious of some of you! I only have a 10 mile round-trip commute. They still think I'm mad for riding in the winter, though.

The other day, a fellow rider (in another department) told me that one of his workmates came in and asked, "Who's the lunatic in Maintenance who rides his bike all winter?" My fellow rider and another guy answered immediatly, "JOE!" After relating this story, he then explained to me, "You gotta understand, though, that "Bob's" idea of exercise consists of walking outside to smoke a cigarette!"