Cycling as conversation-starter

[redrhodie]

At a cycling event today I was asked several times "Do you ride a lot?"
I know all these people were making small talk (very small) but I found myself stumbling around for an answer.

Compared to not riding at all, I guess I do ride a lot (except for when I don't).
Compared to professional riders and those ultralong distance riders, I ride only a little.

Yeah, that's a strangely weird question when it comes from another cyclist. I was at the lbs, and someone (a customer) asked how many miles I ride in a year. I was a little taken aback. It felt almost like when someone asks how much you make.

[marni]

to which I have learned to reply "as many as I can" with a goofy grin. If the questioner persists or asks how many miles I shrug and say "what difference can it possibly make?"

Really, I will always be riding more than some people and less than others, and I do it for myself not for someone I might never meet again. Plus I would rather log 20 miles of good hard effort, smooth quality and safe riding than 40 miles of mindless noddling along.
The people who know me and know that I ride are aware of about how much I ride, and really it's not anyone's business but mine.

If worse comes to worse, I excuse myself and go urgently looking for something in some other part of the store, or if out on a ride, claim I can feel my muscles getting stiff and need to start riding again right now.

marni