'Why don't you get a car?'

[Ethan]

While at the LBS today getting my new rear mech, some bloke came in with his son.
His son, who I'd guess was no older than 14/15 (Keeping in mind I'm 19 here. Don't want to sound like an old grumpy fart. Only a young grumpy fart please?) seemed really into his mountain biking, clearly very knowledgeable. While he was sorting out which bike he was looking for, his dad was chatting to one of the other staff members.
I know the staff member in question fair well, hes not to much older than I am, he loves his road racing and his enthusiasm usually rubs off on other people, well clearly not this kids Dad!
They blabbered away for a good 10 mins while I just pottered around wondering what upgrade I'm going to spend money I really don't have on next.

As I went over, I heard the father say to the staff member: 'You're not a kid anymore, why do you ride a bike? Why don't you get a car?'...
Poor kid, you could see he was embarrassed!
The member of staff replied, in good Humour '3 grand for a bike which lets me act like a kid again? Seems like a good deal to me!'

It always amuses me when people think we cycle because we don't drive. As if the notion of competitive cycling or cycling for the fun of it is an obscure, childish and possibly sometimes an evil thing to do!


Have you lot experienced this sort of thing?
It always gives me a good giggle, especially when a friend of mine said similar yet then said 'mind you, I fly remote control aeroplanes for fun, so I guess I can't talk'.
Its a funny thing this cycling lark.

 

[rollinstok]

Its a fact that in many parts of the world, if you cycle tour, you are considered to be very poor. In Morocco It took some explaining that I wanted to cycle about for enjoyment. They thought ( quite accurately ) that I was a bit of a loony and wanted to look after me. They just cant get their heads round someone from the decadent west plodding around on a pushbike.

 

[Bigsharn]

People ask me why I don't have a car. I tell them I do, but my bike's faster.

I've never owned a car, but it shuts them up

 

[YahudaMoon]

It's 4.52 am !!!!!!! and I'm working of sorts :))

People ask me why I don't have a car. I tell them I do, but my bike's faster.

I've never owned a car, but it shuts them up

I'll remember that one :-D

@ Ethan. Sounds like Wills Wheels ?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

"Mr Greg must have a great many weighty financial burdens that he has to ride a bicycle to work no?"

said of me only this week by a south Asian colleague on secondment in the UK.

"C'mon, you can tell me, did you kill a kiddie?" asked of me in a mid-Wales local in 2010, assumption being that, as they never see me driving any more and having known me for 30 years, there is some dark reason why I'm on a bike. I think Robert Penn writes of thee same experience in "it's all about the bike" but knowing where he lives it might be the same pub!

 

[MattHB]

I did my slightly longer Friday commute yesterday in 35 mins on the bike, rather than the hour it would take in a car I just remind them of that, then politely ask 'are you putting on weight a little?'

 

[DiddlyDodds]

People ask me why I don't have a car. I tell them I do, but my bike's faster.

I've never owned a car, but it shuts them up

In town it may well be , but up the motorway not so good , especially when i have the caravan on the back , can be a right bugger trying to peddle up the A64 when the caravan catches a side wind.

 

[fossyant]

My niece spends £300 per month to insure an old Lupo, and she is 19. Insurance alone would buy a very nice bike. No brainer really.

 

[MattHB]

My niece spends £300 per month to insure an old Lupo, and she is 19. Insurance alone would buy a very nice bike. No brainer really.

It's really crazy. I overheard a student at work the other day expressing his amazement that his insurance was only £2500

 

[NormanD]

I've replied with on a few occasions
to car owner : It costs you something like maybe £2000 to £3000 a year to look like a potential heart attack candidate!
Me cyclist : It costs me £0 not to feel like one

you can see the brain matter working overtime in them

 

[fossyant]

It's really crazy. I overheard a student at work the other day expressing his amazement that his insurance was only £2500

She doesn't earn much as a 'nail technician' but the vast majority of her cash goes on insurance. She had to have the car. I had a car at 18, but no way would I have paid thoses sums. I would rather do without and have 300 in my pocket.

 

[Headgardener]

My bike is my only means of transport, as medicaly I am not allowed to drive (I'm an epileptic), without having to cadge lifts or rely on public transport.

 

[mcshroom]

She doesn't earn much as a 'nail technician' but the vast majority of her cash goes on insurance. She had to have the car. I had a car at 18, but no way would I have paid thoses sums. I would rather do without and have 300 in my pocket.

Snap. We have a trainee in our department who bought himself a new car. With insurance and the finance on his car that's a massive % of his income gone and he's always on about being short of cash . The really daft thing is he actually catches the train to work

 

[fossyant]

Snap. We have a trainee in our department who bought himself a new car. With insurance and the finance on his car that's a massive % of his income gone and he's always on about being short of cash . The really daft thing is he actually catches the train to work

Christ, all that for a car not used..