Embarassing laundry question

[spokewench]

Mary - I'm so proud of you for riding your bike and persevering. People like the one you describe are ignorant and cruel. They deserve not one minute of attention.

I wear sports clothing, but sometimes, polypropelene (sp?) can really smell after several wearings. After a while, sometimes, I just throw those old undershirts away cause I can't get the odor out of that fabric. I have some problems with synthetics so I don't usually wear them to work, etc. cause they make me have BO. But, of course, I do wear them to work out and it is normal to sweat and smell a little when you are working out - everyone else does too!

[Ninabike]

Mary - This might be kind of on the expensive side, but if all else fails, maybe you could get a pair of bike shorts with a chamois and take the chamois out and sew it into your tights.

[mary9761]

Thanks again for the feedback. I have a feeling that I'll be taking the insert off again and trying another type of fabric to cover the seams. When I wash the tights again yesterday (with other bike clothes AND rinsed/soaked in vinegar, the problem was back. Sooooooo unless I have to wash these by hand, then machine by themselves and soak in vinegar every time (NOT necessarily convenient to do) I think I'll experiment with a cotton blend material like the tightie whities are made out of, at least it will be breathable and perhaps won't cause whatever irritation must be causing the problem in the first place. It's JUST these tights and none of my biking shorts.
The thing again about the situation with the person who said the nasty things is that I don't know that I've even MET the person. I don't know that they've been close enough to me to have smelled anything real OR imagined. I don't notice anything except these tights myself. The strangest thing about the person who said these things is I have no idea what I might have done to anyone for them to think they needed to say them. I hope I don't find out that I know the person. I'm just hypersensitive right now and somewhat walking on eggshells. I've always had lower self esteem and had to deal with this sort of things in Elementary and beyond, but this is making me angry for the fact that it was said and that I'm not able to shrug it off. Oh well, they've been quiet again for a while so, maybe they gave up again.

[doc]

The thing again about the situation with the person who said the nasty things is that I don't know that I've even MET the person. I don't know that they've been close enough to me to have smelled anything real OR imagined. I don't notice anything except these tights myself. The strangest thing about the person who said these things is I have no idea what I might have done to anyone for them to think they needed to say them. I hope I don't find out that I know the person. I'm just hypersensitive right now and somewhat walking on eggshells. I've always had lower self esteem and had to deal with this sort of things in Elementary and beyond, but this is making me angry for the fact that it was said and that I'm not able to shrug it off. Oh well, they've been quiet again for a while so, maybe they gave up again.

Maybe you could get friends who post on the same board to shame him. If there were several entries that stated what a huge uncharitable jerk he is, and how logic would suggest he must therefore be perfect in every way, perhaps he'll at least get the message that it isn't OK to do.
Another point could be that a person could be helpful e.g. quietly tell a person (privately) that there is spinach in their teeth or they can be mean and destructive and laugh at someone else's expense. You might be pleasantly surprised at how many other posters agree with your friends!
A final point could be made at what a coward he is to hide behind an anonymous board.

[Ninabike]

Mary,

You have been such an inspiration to so many of us on the TE forum. The article you published some time back was so beautifully written and revealed what a person of strong character you are. I know it's difficult to shrug aside insults, but take comfort in the fact that you have helped more people than you know. I have referred a few people to your article, but you might want to post it again for new TE'rs. You go girl!!!

Nina

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Article? What article??
Wanna READ it!....

[Ninabike]

Article? What article??
Wanna READ it!....

Mary, I hope you don't mind.

Lisa, I'm not too good at posting links on the computer, but go to the "search" box, and type in "Asked to Write an Article". The post is dated 11/8/05. You will forever be inspired!!

Nina

[Geonz]

That fellow is probably still in "frat boy" stage of life... hasn't learned that most of the rest of the world (um, the civilized part!) doesn't "appreciate" that kind of "humor." I'd almost *want* to know who the yahoo was 'cause I'd know not to waste time in conversation with him... and also, these guys *revel* in being anonymous. (Who knows what else he does for fun...)

[mary9761]

I have rewritten that article a while back to update a LOT of information. I'll find it and try to go ahead and update the original thread. I'm glad I can be an inspiration.
Jimmy at The Bike Line regularly tells me he's amazed at what I've done on that little bike. He says he tells people about me all the time too. Just the other day after I told him my mileage for the year and now lifetime miles on the Little Navigator that Could that when people asked him about doing long rides etc on comfort/hybrid bikes that he sold, that they might be able to do things like that. Now he says when he's asked what someone can do on bikes like mine... You can do ANYTHING you want to on that bike, and proceeds to tell them about me

[Brandi]

OMG! That is awful!!!!!!! I hope you don't ride with this person? I am beside myself and don't know what to say.

[Tuckervill]

Mary, it's not you, it's them. Sometimes things can feel personal (and sure, this was directed at you, personally), when they're not personally about you, at all. It's about them. Their need to feel superior. Their need to lash out. You may have just been an easy target.

I think it's coincidence that these tights are a problem at the same time as this poster. Sometimes things are just coincidences.

One time I got a phone call in the middle of the night from someone who was trying to scare me. Thing is, I was house-sitting at someone else's house and very few people knew I was there. (before the days of cell phones and caller ID) I really, REALLY thought that someone was trying to target me. I was scared for days and days. I was so scared that I can still call up that feeling just by thinking about it. I mean, what if someone who did know I was there told someone casually and that person told someone who knew me, you know? Maybe someone followed me there. Who knows?

Well, I know now that it was just a coincidence. It had to be. They would have gotten the homeowner on the line if I had not been there.

Do NOT let this jerk wreck one minute of your existence. So your tights smell because they're polyester. It's just a coincidence. Don't give the guy the satisfiaction of taking up your time and essence over this. Just don't. You're GREAT. You're an inspiration. I haven't been on my bike since October 1st. Thanks for keeping on riding. When I grow up I want to be YOU.

Karen