Explaining winter biking

[PamNY]

I think I posted this last year; it's probably going to be an annual topic for me. I live in an apartment building (high rise) so the bike and I go in and out through the lobby.

Every single bike ride begins and ends with "You're going for a BIKE RIDE? In THIS weather?" I am so tired of explaining/responding. It's all in a friendly spirit, but still. I've started pointing out that people go skiing in winter.

Not surprisingly, the only two people who react to me with equanimity are a current and former triathlete. From them I get attagirls, even though I'm only going 16 miles or so.

Pam

[Kalidurga]

Don't explain. Just say "Yup!" and go on your way.

Caveat: I'm one of those people who think you're crazy, even though I understand why you do it

[tulip]

How about looking at them, looking at your bike, looking back at them and saying, "Obviously," or "Sure looks that way."

If they ask you why, say "Because I can."

I understand why you do it, although since I don't have my commute anymore, I'm much less apt to do it. But when I had my commute, I rode into the 20s. Below 20, however, and I didn't.

[GLC1968]

I would just say "yep!" and go about your business. If they ask why, I like tulip's answer or just a simple "why not?".

Let em think you're nuts...it's more fun that way!

[lph]

How about "Oh, yeah! (big smile) And I don't even have to scrape ice off my windshield!"

What I don't get is all the people asking me - in Norway, where everybody, toddlers, teenagers, adults and grandmothers (especially grandmothers) goes xc skiing, it's considered downright unpatriotic to not like skiing - asking me "gee, isn't that awfully cold?"

There are a few differences between dressing for skiing and biking, but they're minuscule.

[pfunk12]

It does get old though...doesn't it, Pam? I used to hear it daily when I was a long-distance competitive runner. "You're going to run in this weather?!" (insert any kind of weather imaginable). And like you, I get the same thing when I commute to work on my bike. I usually tell people that I am not cold at all. In fact, I'm sweating and happy! And they are cold and miserable. But I agree with the other posters - a quick (and cheerful), "Yep!"

[blackhillsbiker]

When I ride my bike, my boss and the pressman both heckle me for riding in the winter. When I don't ride my bike, they give me a hard time about not riding. I try to smile and shrug it off ("You didn't ride today, did you?" is kind of a dumb comment when they can see my bike behind my desk, and "Where's your bike? Didn't you ride today?" when the bike is not there...). They don't realize that the bike is often the only thing that helps me survive that place. Sigh.

Deb

[bluejellybean]

Deb, I swear we work in the same place, just on different sides of the border!

When I ride my bike, my boss and the pressman both heckle me for riding in the winter. When I don't ride my bike, they give me a hard time about not riding. I try to smile and shrug it off ("You didn't ride today, did you?" is kind of a dumb comment when they can see my bike behind my desk, and "Where's your bike? Didn't you ride today?" when the bike is not there...). They don't realize that the bike is often the only thing that helps me survive that place. Sigh.

Deb

[blackhillsbiker]

Deb, I swear we work in the same place, just on different sides of the border!

That's why I'm thankful for TE. I meet kindred spirits from all over. I'm glad I met you.

[Crankin]

I get those kind of comments, regardless of the weather, more just general comments on the amount of riding and other sports stuff I do. It's more like, "you rode your bike 40 miles? You're crazy."
When I was working, the students were the worst. They could not fathom that I rode my bike a whole 6.7 miles to school.