Ever have someone belittle your riding?

[Cdalekat]

I bike commute to work in a major metropolitian city - even though it's not NYC, it could best be described as "urban warfare."

Some of my co-workers think it's really cool and wish they lived close enough to bike to work.

But this one newish co-worker completely belittled what I'm doing because it's *only* 3.5 miles (one way). He thought that because of how I dress, I must have been riding much further. So *only* 3.5 miles - that's no big deal!

Makes me mad! :mad:

Anyone else have something similar happen to them?

[Trek420]

3.5 miles each way, that's 7 miles a day....140 a month.

So, and how much does this guy ride? ;-)

Sounds insecure to me.

I have a similar situation on my current work location. A 28 year old guy shut up when he was bragging that first trip upstairs in the morning he takes the stairs. Another coworker pointed out that I take the stairs on every single trip in the bldg at the ripe age of 48. This week he noticed my taking the elevator "tired?" he said. "No, rest week". Not a peep now.

Or, some Monday around the water cooler calmly mention the 30, 60, 100 mile ride you did or are training for. No a problem, you ride every day.

[jobob]

Well at least you bike to work. Much better than I can say!

Does the pompous nit drive, and if so, how far does he drive? If it's less than, say, 10 miles, you can get all holier-than-thou with him and say something along the lines of, "gee, it's only 10 miles, I don't see why you can't bike that" :p

[CorsairMac]

Its me the lucky one again - not only am I the only woman with 11 guys (oh yeah) but they all think its cool that I ride to work. When it rains at least 2 or 3 of them offer me and the bike a ride home in their trucks coz they don't want me out in the rain with the idiot drivers. I even let them pick out my last jersey and they couldn't wait to see it! Did you ask the "nit" (Love the name) just how far He rides? or better yet - invite him out on a ride with you! Maybe a little lunchtime "hop". Best yet - just ignore him - after all...you aren't riding for him! :cool:

[cyclingnewbie]

He's probably jealous of the incredibly fashionable cycling clothes! Seriously though, I'm just a recreational rider and I have had people make fun of me because I have on cycling clothing, helmet, gloves, etc. They make cracks like "Ready for the Le Tour?" or "A little over dressed, aren't you?" and "At least you have the stuff to look like a serious rider". What's wrong with wearing functional clothing when riding, either on the bike path or to and from work? He probably thinks you should be able to zip along 3 1/2 miles in a skirt and pantyhose, with a pretty basket on the front of your little bike. Argh!!!! Wouldn't you just love to get the nit (love that!) on a bike and ride him into the ground and leave him out in the middle of nowhere with rubber legs and deflated lungs?? (Oh, oh. Female aggression is showing through again.....)

[Twice Daily]

When I was in school, I would ride to campus from student housing each day...it was only about 2 miles away, but even at such a short distance, the crotch seam of my jeans was more than uncomfortable...any consistent bike riding, even in short spurts, benefits from functional bike clothes...

What if you were running/jogging to work? Would he expect you to go the distance in your business attire?

Some people are just stupid...next time, tell him to kiss your well-padded bike-short cladded a**!

[CorsairMac]

Originally posted by Twice Daily


kiss your well-padded bike-short cladded a**!

hmmmm.....methinks this could be another potential jersey quote???

[Trek420]

cyclingnewbie says "He probably thinks you should be able to zip along 3 1/2 miles in a skirt and pantyhose"

would love to see HIM ride in that. It's hard work, you should have seen the guys struggle on the AIDS ride on Red Dress Day.

Ever tried to find SPD compatible pumps? ;)

[smurfalicious]

I've never had my riding out and out mocked. I did have a coworker, quite jealous of my BF ask if I bought my bike just to hang out with him. Umm, no, but it is a nice perk.

Today at the trailhead I was hanging around waiting for some friends who had dissapeared off to some whoops trail that only existed in their minds. I was done with my efforts to see how many gears I could have left and still climb this burly hill, so I parked my butt on a nice big rock. I was making idle conversation with some guys who just came back in, and one of them made fun of my bike!!! She's a 15.5" and has big fat aluminum tubes so yeah, she looks small, but fierce. He said, "It's like a little BMX/cruiser." Uhh yeah, with XT components and grip of carbon. GRRR! Of course it's small to you, tons of fun.

love and cookies
-smurf

[pedalfaster]

30 lashes with a dead inner-tube for the clueless co-worker!!!

At least you are not *driving* those 3.5 miles to work (some people do!).

Props to you for choosing to live and work in reasonable proximity.

And how does he know that you don't add an extra 10 (or 20 or 30....) miles on the way home???



People!!! :p

[pkq]

I've not had your experience. My colleagues know better. I dish out as well as I receive. Plus, I'm really Southern and them being Northern makes me a scarey Redneck. LOL

My colleagues and I share weekend activities during Monday's lunch time. When I began to seriously ride again, the guys were incredulous that I rode 70 miles in one day on a Saturday. There were a few silences as they digested all the information about the ride. Then one guy 27 years of age, after a silence, said, "I didn't drive my car 70 miles over the whole weekend." We all shared a good laugh.

Give the newbie a chance cause stupidity is a genetic problem, not a choice.

[gabrielle]

What a dumbbell. Does he ride? I doubt it. I don't bike to work any more (too far), but when I did, I dressed for biking. That way I didn't get grease or mud (yes, I got to ride singletrack to my old job!) on my work clothes, tear holes in them, or what have you. Plus, I wanted to be visible for the section on the road - hence the neon orange & purple shell.

Give the new guy some time, maybe he was just nervous & making a failed attempt at witty conversation. Everyone has days when they stick their foot in their mouth & if it's his nature to make comments like this, it will soon become obvious. Then you just wait. People like that usually trip themselves up. :)

My own personal recent dilemma dealing with "nits" was some other riders harping on me about my speed (or lack thereof I should say). The funny thing is, they've ridden with me before, they know I'm slow, I don't keep it a secret, so if they wanted to go fast maybe they should have called somebody else! And I *hate* it when people ***** at me for not going fast enough up the hill after they chose to follow me when I gave them the choice. :P

gabrielle

[maryellen]

come to think of it, someone at work once asked me what I was doing over the weekend. I said I was riding to a particular town, and he asked the mileage (75 miles). He responded that "people do ride longer than that." I felt like saying, "um, do you?" but I didn't as he was my boss's boss!

[Cdalekat]

Thanks all - I knew everyone here would understand!

Though it is a little disheartening to learn that there are plenty of other rude co-workers out there. :(

I'm thinking nitwit is just unfriendly all-around. On Friday (after I posted) I heard him making a sarcastic comment about holding the door open for someone. Geeze - if you don't want to do it, then don't!

[CorsairMac]

probably a wise choice MaryEllen - after all.....we all have our "sybil" voices telling us what we Want to say - but our "social"voices saying the things we Should say! :p

[yogabear]

I can only think of one instance in which my riding was belittled. I was just getting back into racing after an extended bout of chronic fatigue syndrome and Epstein-Barr virus (I am recovered now thankfully). I was at my first race in a few years.

I have a beautiful '97 Ocoee Litespeed mountain bike (12inch, so don't feel badly whoever owned that 15.5" LOL). I didn't want a huge 2 carat diamond engagement ring like my hubby wanted to get me (men always have to outdo their dads LOL), so I asked for every biking girls' dream bike...

Anyway, I asked for a half carat diamond and a new mtn. bike...I always refer to my Litespeed as my engagement bike LOL. Well, there was a hairy section of trail in this one race so I walked it and did the cyclocross hike a bike bit. This one smarty gal on the side of the trail said, "Oh, that must be why you have such a nice bike because it's lighter when you have to walk!" Nice, huh? I replied, "No, it's my engagement bike that's why it's nice and why aren't you racing right now?"

Talk about a cheap shot...I pedalled away but I did cry for a few miles...It felt so demeaning and dehumanizing...I figured "what's the use?" But, then, I found my inner biking Goddess again...Maybe one day I will return to mtn. bike racing...

BTW, read that book "The Four Agreements" by M. Ruiz...don't ever take anything someone says personally! :)

Hugs,

Lisa

[ChainsOflove]

Sounds like that co-worker is an idiot.
I had the opposite experience where the other women in the office thought i was a super-badass because they were terrified of the idea of riding in the boston traffic!!

[jobob]

Heck, I think you're a super-badass to ride in Boston traffic !!
- Jobob, "Big & Ugly" alum

[caligurl]

GEEZ! i hate people like that... i haven't had anyone belittle me to my face.. maybe they do behind my back.. i've always been quite honest about being a beginner from day one!

fortunately where i work they are all mostly very nice and considerate! i've been on south beach since january (basically now just eating healthy ). ... and EVERYONE has been VERY supportiive of that even! they either don't ask if i want the junk treats.. or only ask one! no one even pushes food on me or belittles that like i've read about some people having done to them! it's just RUDE!!!!!

(and.. like other's have said.. can the person even ride themselves??????????)