Non cyclists look upon cyclists as weird

[johnnyb47]

Hi.
Do you ever experience people who don't cycle, judge you as a strange character for cycling. I find it really funny sometimes when talking to non cyclist friends about some of the goals I've managed ,and then to see there attitudes and expression on there faces.
Being proud this year of managing to cycle across wales in a day ,I tell them about it when the subject of cycling crops up. Some of the comments you get back are hilarious."You must be mental" or " you've got to much spare time and need to get out more and get a life mate".
To a non cyclist some look upon you as if you've got some sort of disease or mid life crisis going on ,and hope one day it can be cured with therapy lol.
Just tonight a friend of mine has been doing a spot of matchmaking for me and told the "other party" I enjoy cycling but don't worry he's not obsessive with it , as if it could be some sort of potential disease i could be harbouring for the future. They often look at it as "what's the point of cycling there just to stop for a drink and bite to eat only to come back home"
As hard as I try to explain why, they just don't get it.
It is funny though watching there reactions of thinking I'm one bulb short of a pack :-) :-)

 

[classic33]

I got similar cycling to work, either in Leeds city centre or doing the four day weekend on split shifts.

Classed as completly mad for doing Dublin to Ennis in the one go/day.

 

[BSOh]

I get smirks at times from the grown-ups in my family. As if they think its somehow childish to own a bike. But they play computer games. Go figure.

 

[classic33]

It's this time of year that the comments about being completly nuts for cycling come to the fore. Moreso if its wet & windy or there's snow on the ground.

 

[johnnyb47]

I get smirks at times from the grown-ups in my family. As if they think its somehow childish to own a bike. But they play computer games. Go figure.

I couldn't of put those words better my myself.

 

[MichaelW2]

Acceptable obsessions for adults include men in shorts kicking a ball around a field, cars, beer. If you include Radio 4 listeners, add political party leadership challenges. Everthing else is trainspotting.

 

[screenman]

I will be swimming up and down a 25 metre swimming pool a 100 times starting at 7am, I bet you think I am a bit odd. I do.

 

[classic33]

Acceptable obsessions for adults include men in shorts kicking a ball around a field, cars, beer. If you include Radio 4 listeners, add political party leadership challenges. Everthing else is trainspotting.

What's wrong with trainspotting?

 

[Profpointy]

Acceptable obsessions for adults include watching men in shorts kicking a ball around a field, cars, beer. If you include Radio 4 listeners, add political party leadership challenges. Everthing else is trainspotting.

FTFY

 

[classic33]

I will be swimming up and down a 25 metre swimming pool a 100 times starting at 7am, I bet you think I am a bit odd. I do.

Not that strange, early morning swims.

 

[Jason]

It can get obsessive though. My neighbour can't have a conversation about anything but cycling,watts, and zzzz
I no longer cycle with him.

 

[flake99please]

Apart from my most immediate family, I dont care what anyone else thinks of me.

 

[screenman]

Not that strange, early morning swims.

Not that strange to us maybe, but some do not understand why and think it is an odd thing to do.

 

[Drago]

'Weird' in this case means 'not bone idle lazy'.

 

[gavroche]

Only in the UK you get this type of reasoning. On the continent, cycling is well respected and valued.