Anyone make fun of you?

[Grog]

I've had two complete strangers ask me about bike riding as I am coming and going from work. As the conversation progresses about how much I ride, where, etc., both have asked why I'm so fat if I ride so much. I've also gotten the comment, " gee your a really strong rider for someone so heavy" It does kinda sting. I just know they are looking at me and thinking no way she rides that much . . . It bugs the heck out of me that I am still so overweight and a bit of a mystery too. But I still keep plugging away at it. Although I sometimes get the whole "why bother" mentality. But, I'm hooked on cycling and my daily commuting. It's good for me. Even if I'm not losing weight, I enjoy it! bikerHen

Maybe one day if you need to shut someone down, you could tell them: "Funny that you ask. Actually I really struggle to keep the weight ON because I love going downhill FAST so much."

I've seen you ride. You're WAY fitter than a lot of skinny people.

[Aint Doody]

I ditto Grog on that score, Bikerhen. And you're a lot of fun, too.

[pardes]

At first everyone thought it was cool, an old lady lab manager riding her bike to work. They never expected it to last.

Then they got sullen when I rode in the rain.

They they snickered among themselves that I didn't ride the 50 yards from the bus stop to the lab door. (It took longer to put on the helmet, reattach the panniers, and dodge traffic than it took to walk the bike 50 yards.) Of course they assumed that meant I was tiring of biking....

Then they saw Amazon boxes arriving with winter riding gear.....

Some are still very supportive but even they think it's just very very very odd.

I shrug and ride on. It makes me feel good, no it makes me feel GREAT to ride a bike, to leave the car behind, to reacquaint myself with weather and day length and seasonal changes up close and personal.

I have yet to find a single down side to riding a bike but then, it's all in one's attitude.

So just smile like Mona Lisa with your secret that you've tried to share and which fell on deaf ears.

[GLC1968]

My parents used to worry about my riding "on the roads" as if that was so much more dangerous that riding on mountain trails! Obviously my family has never seen me on a mountain bike - that's the only time I ever get hurt! I'm a menance on studded tires!

No one I know thinks I'm weird for riding (at least, not that they've told me!). In fact, I used to get lots of people telling me that I was an inspiration to them at my last job. As word gets out how far I commute now, I'm finding that people are starting to think the same thing...I'm some sort of inspiration.

I think it's because I'm female, I'm overweight, and I'm just a regular person. I figure they are probably thinking that if I can do it, so can they. It pleases me to no end!