Wierd Conversations

[Brommie77]

This won't apply to all depending on their commute, but part of my commute is on the train, and more often than not fellow passengers start a conversation.

One of the most common tends to be along the lines of "So, you cycle then?" in a dead serious manner.

Bearing in mind that I am usually wearing a yellow cycling jacket, carrying my helmet and usually standing/sitting next to a folded Brompton it just seems a really daft conversation starter.

So, I was wondering - what is the strangest communting conversation that you have had with the general public?
Yes I know this is an odd topic, but why not? (Polite answers only...)

 

[adds21]

Non-bike related, but I was sat in a cafe with my kids (5 year old, and 1 year old at the time) when a respectable looking older gent walked past the table and said of my blue eyed, blonde 1 year old daughter, "What an adorable child, she looks just like she's getting ready to invade Poland".

 

[suecsi]

I get a few acknowledgement nods from fellow Brompton riders but otherwise no-one has tried to start too much of a conversation, I do get some funny looks though for some reason. I'm short but not terribly curvy so in my cycling tights (sometimes under a dress), flat boots, hi vis Altura jacket and black helmet with black reflective Moglo skulls on, I'm always conscious I look a bit 'blokey' so I always wear red lipstick to assert my feminine side. Maybe they think I'm a transexual?

 

[fossyant]

In a meeting, a chap says "Oh is that your bike outside ?" - bear in mind there was a rack full of them !


Yes he did spot my 'flashy' one outside ! You don't get many bright red 'commuting' bikes.

 

[Brommie77]

I get a few acknowledgement nods from fellow Brompton riders but otherwise no-one has tried to start too much of a conversation, I do get some funny looks though for some reason. I'm short but not terribly curvy so in my cycling tights (sometimes under a dress), flat boots, hi vis Altura jacket and black helmet with black reflective Moglo skulls on, I'm always conscious I look a bit 'blokey' so I always wear red lipstick to assert my feminine side. Maybe they think I'm a transexual?

That description really begs a photo to support it

Whereabouts do you ride?

 

[Brommie77]

Not quite on-topic, but someone once overheard a snippet of a weird conversation that went: "BUT, what he didn't know was that her mother had a bicycle!"

Answers on a postcard please.

Maybe that could be the start of a brand new topic??

 

[turnout]

I was pootling around North Norfolk near Waxham. A flock of sheep appeared and I waited for them to turn into the farm yard.

An old farm hand appeared and sidled up to me as we waited for the sheep. He cleared his throat. I looked over.

"I'm eighty-four!" he said.

"Well done" I replied.

 

[jig-sore]

"careful mate, there's mud everywhere"

"no reply from me because im lying in middle of the road" !!!!

 

[MacB]

I was pootling around North Norfolk near Waxham. A flock of sheep appeared and I waited for them to turn into the farm yard.

An old farm hand appeared and sidled up to me as we waited for the sheep. He cleared his throat. I looked over.

"I'm eighty-four!" he said.

"Well done" I replied.

Excellent, I love it when people hit an age where they have to announce how old they are, whether it's a little kid or an older person.

 

[Arfcollins]

Excellent, I love it when people hit an age where they have to announce how old they are, whether it's a little kid or an older person.

I'm 58.

 

[Headgardener]

Non-bike one here as well. Aged about eight or nine I was walking through Worcester with my school and I am the tail-end charlie of a crocodile of kids all in pairs except me whose on me own. When some old bloke says "you should be at school" just like that! Never did find out what else he said as we turned a corner and carried on to where ever we were going.

 

[johnr]

I'm 58.

I'm 57 3/4, so, no doubt like you, spent a fair proportion of my teenage years being told: 'I fought the war for the likes of you'. I never got tired of quoting John Lennon - 'who's side were you on?'

 

[Ste T.]

When my daughter Boo was three years old she proudly put her own shoes on, but unfortunately on the wrong feet.

Boo " I put my shoes on dad"

Me "well done mate, but they're on the wrong feet."

Boo (After thinking about it) " But they're my shoes......and they're on my feet!"

 

[upsidedown]

I stop at a Tesco petrol station most mornings to get bananas and milk, always dressed in a yellow jacket, shorts, helmet and gloves. Most mornings they asking I've got fuel. I suppose I could point to the bananas but I think it would be lost on them.

 

[suecsi]

That description really begs a photo to support it

Whereabouts do you ride?

I've lots of photos of the Brommie, but none of me yet.

I use SouthWest Trains and cycle home to Feltham station, change at Twickenham, train to Kingston, cycle from there to the office which is half way between Kingston and Surbiton. Even though the distances are short at the mo, my theory is the Brommie is an investment for when I inevitably (current company might get relocated too far away for me) - end up commuting back into Central London some time in the future.

Lots of cyclists in Kingston because of the University and FE College, and at my end lots of people cycle to Heathrow for work, they usually have hi vis jackets that come with the job .....