Work collegues talking rubbish

[Paulus]

The usual question people in my work complex ask is "How far do you cycle to work?".
When i say 18 miles you can see the horror in their faces.

"What? Every day?" Yep, and back too...
"In the rain?" Yep in the rain...
"With all that traffic?" Yep...
"You're mad!" Yep....
"I could never do that" I know...

The answer should of been, Cos' your fat and shoot.

 

[cyberknight]

Ulp... This is a sensitive one...

I am a middle-aged man, slightly short for my weight and no longer the fabulous looker I never was...

But I make an effort and I try to ride off all the cake I eat. I eat a lot of cake.

A few years ago, I'd come to my desk in a large, open-plan office before going down to the showers. I was in a bright pink maglia rosa thing and tights.

A woman maybe five years my senior with whom I worked came up and said loudly in front of my team "My god! There is an age beyond which lycra on a is not a good look on men".

Of course, she was right, but it sounded quite nasty when she said it. I bit my tongue and smiled.

After she'd had her gloat and wandered off, the whole team looked at me and asked why I hadn't said anything about how she might look in lycra.

She is maybe 5' 2" and notably broad in the beam. Also, one of those people who just doesn't get it on office wear, so still looks like a squashed Princess Diana doll wannabe in 2011. I can only write this acidly because of anonymity.

First, she was right. Lycra on men my age is a worry.

Secondly, whatever I'd said could have been deeply hurtful even if I'd meant it as a joke.

I really am not pretty in lycra, but she was hurling stones from a greenhouse. It did make me feel better that the whole of my team rather took against her after that. Aren't I horrid to admit that?

There are times when you could quite justifiably destroy someone's self-esteem with a nasty, vicious retort... but I'm really glad I didn't. Out loud.

Simple have her for harassment or discrimination , its none of her business what you wear while not working and to ridicule you in front of other co-workers is a form of bullying , talk to the supervisor or union rep and make it clear you will not tolerate this sort of abuse.

 

[yello]

There are times when you could quite justifiably destroy someone's self-esteem with a nasty, vicious retort... but I'm really glad I didn't.

Credit to you. There are times when it's simply not necessary. I'm sure most people around saw the 'pot v kettle' in her statement so you come out doubly the good guy... despite not looking good in lycra.

I'm lucky (I think). At 50, I reckon I still still look okay in lycra (apart from the hairy legs perhaps). Well, that's what my wife says anyway... and we can trust what our partners say now can't we

 

[HLaB]

The one I used to find funny was my old colleague (who also lived close to me) and hopefully inspired by me but more likely the wealth benefits, got him self a bike through cycle to work, commuted in all weathers like me and would usually talk about his ride at the weekend. However, despite all that he insisted he wasn't a cyclist

 

[Red Light]

A woman maybe five years my senior with whom I worked came up and said loudly in front of my team "My god! There is an age beyond which lycra on a is not a good look on men".

I would have been inclined to say very innocently "Oh, do you think I'm putting on some weight?". She most probably wouldn't have got it but everyone else would.

 

[TVC]

From a work mate who travels to work by bike:

Him: Why do you cycle on the road?

Me: Because that's where you're supposed to cycle.

Him: I'll never ride on the road it's too dangerous

Me: But you ride fast on the pavement and shoot across junctions without looking, isn't that dangerous?

Him: But cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians

Me: Pedestrians?

Him: Yeah, so if they hit me it would be their fault and I'd get straight on to my lawyer

Me: Any who, must get on.

 

[400bhp]

I would have been inclined to say very innocently "Oh, do you think I'm putting on some weight?". She most probably wouldn't have got it but everyone else would.

^^^This

 

[PeteT]

Ah yes, some of those comments sound familiar from my commuting days. However, believe me, they paled into insignificance when my colleagues found out my other hobby is railway modelling....

 

[Bayerd]

As I'm mostly out meeting clients I can't commute at present due to the distances involved. I mentioned that I was due to rida a C2C on Saturday. His reply was '... that, it'll be far too cold to be out that long on Saturday, you must be mental!'



He's probably right with the mental, the furthest I've been so far on a ride is 65 miles, this is double that.....

 

[gb155]

Couple of days ago a colleague saw me round the corner from work, I arrived 20 mins after him.

HIM: I always thought you were fast

ME: I am, most of the time

HIM: Why has it taken you 20 mins to come from that jct half a mile away , I was here in 2 mins

ME: Since WHEN Do I do DIRECT routes to work

HIM: Ohhhhhh, How far ?

....................

 

[Red Light]

He's probably right with the mental, the furthest I've been so far on a ride is 65 miles, this is double that.....

When I did my double century +10% i had never cycled more than 85 miles before. You'll be alright.

 

[cloggsy]

My boss says "Cycled in today Hip Priest?" every day.

My answer would be "Yes Holmes, how did you guess..."

 

[cloggsy]

Nicest thing a manager has ever done for me!

She obviously fancies you

 

[yello]

However, despite all that he insisted he wasn't a cyclist

I can understand that.

Ask him what he thinks a cyclist is and you'll find out why he doesn't think of himself as one.

 

[fossyant]

Couple of days ago a colleague saw me round the corner from work, I arrived 20 mins after him.

HIM: I always thought you were fast

ME: I am, most of the time

HIM: Why has it taken you 20 mins to come from that jct half a mile away , I was here in 2 mins

ME: Since WHEN Do I do DIRECT routes to work

HIM: Ohhhhhh, How far ?

....................

I get the same.

"Why do you ride the long way?" Then it twigs... "Ah just because you can".. some of them are starting to get it, most of my colleagues don't have much against cyclists, just think it's bonkers riding xx miles.

The person I saw yesterday for acupuncture, even said "Have you ever thought of doing less, with all this bombing around on a bike, a full time job and a young family" - I think my face told the answer way before I said "Erm, I'm actually not doing enough at the moment" "Only 5 days a week, 20-30 miles a day - not getting out at weekends much !" I did have to say we cyclists are a bit 'bonkers'.