Things non-cyclists say to cyclists

byke68
byke68 Posts: 1,070
edited March 2012 in Commuting chat
Just seen "sh*t mountain bikers say" but what about the stupid things non-cyclists say to us?

Is that seat comfortable?
you've just done 40 miles?!
How much!!
How do you get get your feet out?
why haven't you got gears?
isn't it too cold?
arn't you tired when you get to work?
have you seen how narrow those tyres are?
wouln't catch me wearing them shorts/tights/top etc
you went all the way to... (insert a place of your choice)!
you should pay road tax like us!
whats in your bottle?
how can you walk in them shoes?

Anyone got any more silly questions/remarks said to them?



"Even on a clear day I can't see the point"
Cannondale Trail 6 - crap brakes!
Cannondale CAAD8
«13456

Comments

  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    I bet that cost a bit.

    (squeezes tyres) Are those solid?

    It's too dangerous with today's traffic.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • rf6
    rf6 Posts: 323
    You're mad.
    I'd want an engine for that money.

    Bless 'em.
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    "Do you run red lights?" (I thought an outrageous question and so answered that I cycle in London in a similar manner to how people drive there.) After a while the guy started to become quite flustered...
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • CarlosDSanchez
    CarlosDSanchez Posts: 455
    "Did you get wet this morning?" (it had been pi55ing down since 5am)
    Dolan Preffisio
    2010 Cube Agree SL
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    "You didn't cycle in THIS did you????"
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • HebdenBiker
    HebdenBiker Posts: 787
    "Eeeeeh - you must be mad, you."
    My Blog
  • clarkey cat
    clarkey cat Posts: 3,641
    'do you run red lights?'
    Dolan Mythos
  • thelawnet
    thelawnet Posts: 719
    It's much too far for me to cycle. [it's about five miles]

    Where's your helmet?
  • Ginjafro
    Ginjafro Posts: 572
    How do you manage the hills?
    Giant XTC Pro-Carbon
    Cove Hustler
    Planet X Pro-Carbon
  • kurako
    kurako Posts: 1,098
    On a similar weather related theme to some of the others..

    "Do you ride every day?"

    Yes.

    "What happens when it rains?"

    I get wet.
    Univega 700
    Univega Via Strato
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    I get the "Are you mad?" look when I tell people at work where I ride from.

    Also get "rather you than me" quite a bit, mostly meaning traffic, sometimes about the weather.
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • pst88
    pst88 Posts: 621
    "You want to get some tyres with some tread on... I bet those are lethal in the wet!"
    Bianchi Via Nirone Veloce/Centaur 2010
  • navt
    navt Posts: 374
    "You saved how much on public transport?!"
  • velohutts
    velohutts Posts: 288
    WHY ?
    Your not cycling in this are you ?
    Do you want a lift ??
    You must be mad.
    Why are you looking at more cycling stuff ?

    re the last because it is nice and shiny and nice .......(for info of soon to be wife)
    Enigma Esprit Di2 - Go tI ! Summer !
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    ''But you've already got a bike, why did you buy another one?''
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • Applespider
    Applespider Posts: 506
    Standing in the office in helmet, leggings and a jersey - "Oh, did you cycle today?" I mean - why else would I have cycle gear on.

    But yes, the most common are those who ask whether you ride on the pavement or go through lights. Occasionally I point out to them that it's like me asking if they ever drink drive since it's something stupid that most drivers don't do.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Looking over my rigid framed, horizontal top tubed, more of a town bike really 'MTB' dressed in knobblies:

    "That's a proper road bike isn't it?"

    My tongue still has scars from where I bit it:

    6784466619_beb30c5e23.jpg
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    "you're insane" is probably what I hear most often

    (if you don't count "look at the size of that!" :wink: )
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    - [Laughing and pointing] What the hell are they?!

    - They're overshoes.

    - [More laughing, followed by people reaching down to touch them]
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Look at those tiny wheels!! [pointing at the Brompton]
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    I was bent over signing in on the fire register at work as a group of office bods walked past and one of the uttered "cheeky". I just reminded them that it I hear thing s like that all the time and that I was carrying a full waterbottle.
    The usual questions are how far?, how long?, Aren't you cold?
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • vermin
    vermin Posts: 1,739
    How about "You're starting to look more like a gimp every day" ? (On first seeing my winter overshoes)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,734
    Why don't you ride in the Tour de France next summer? Looks like you'd really enjoy it.
    _
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    "How fast???!!!! That's faster than I go in my car!"

    :mrgreen:

    :P
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    All of the above

    But this one is my favourite, Rick beat me to it. From my Dad......
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Why don't you ride in the Tour de France next summer? Looks like you'd really enjoy it.

    PS:- This was when I still rode in trainers and was in my 30s. And not only had I never raced, I hadn't even been on a club run :?
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Q:How far? How long does it take you to get to work?
    A:It's quicker than the train/tube
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    Sorry Mate, I didn't see you
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    I was called Max Wall at a previous plce of employment as I wore cycling tights and bulky fleece.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    "Why are you wearing socks over your shoes?"

    "What do you mean it cost more than £500?"

    "Why would anyone want to cycle up a mountain?"

    "You know, you really should wear a helmet." (To which the answer is "f*ck off.")
  • notsoblue
    notsoblue Posts: 5,756
    JonGinge wrote:
    Q:How far? How long does it take you to get to work?
    A:It's quicker than the train/tube

    ^This

    Its funny how you normalise things like riding 10 miles to work. There are people on this forum that ride double that each way and are perfectly used to it. But for non-cyclist even my commute is worthy of Mark Beaumont levels of praise...
    FCN 4 PX SL Pro SRAM Red
    FCN 8 Scott Sportster '05

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