Public misunderstanding of Cycling

Sciencemike

Yesterday, not for the first time, someone asked me whether I'd ever done the Tour de France!
Does this happen to other people?
I've played a bit of village football, cricket and rugby, but I've never been asked whether I have played for England, so why does Jonny Non-Cyclist think that anybody who can ride a few dozen miles would/could take part in one of the toughest sports events in the world?
Does Jonny think the Tour is like the London Marathon: elite at the front followed by thousands of amateurs?
Any explanation?

milemuncher1

Sciencemike wrote:

Yesterday, not for the first time, someone asked me whether I'd ever done the Tour de France!
Does this happen to other people?
I've played a bit of village football, cricket and rugby, but I've never been asked whether I have played for England, so why does Jonny Non-Cyclist think that anybody who can ride a few dozen miles would/could take part in one of the toughest sports events in the world?
Does Jonny think the Tour is like the London Marathon: elite at the front followed by thousands of amateurs?
Any explanation?

Wait until you meet Johnny "yeahbutmymateridesfurtherandfasterthanyou" Elevenerife.

fenix

I once had a bloke in the gym telling me he raced MTB. And he was off to the downhill championships in Holland.
He had a 23 speed bike too.....

People are Idiots.

Alex99

Sciencemike wrote:

Yesterday, not for the first time, someone asked me whether I'd ever done the Tour de France!
Does this happen to other people?
I've played a bit of village football, cricket and rugby, but I've never been asked whether I have played for England, so why does Jonny Non-Cyclist think that anybody who can ride a few dozen miles would/could take part in one of the toughest sports events in the world?
Does Jonny think the Tour is like the London Marathon: elite at the front followed by thousands of amateurs?
Any explanation?

Yes, I've had this more than once. One of my neighbours almost told me off for being negative about myself, like I won't have a chance in the Tour unless I believe in myself. This wasn't when I was 21 BTW, not that I ever had the remotest possibility... So, yes, some people do seem to think the Tour is something like the London Marathon. One time, after the usual "no I'm not going to ride the Tour, ever" follow up, I did point out that it is like asking kids in the park if they're just off to the world cup.

Alex99

Fenix wrote:

I once had a bloke in the gym telling me he raced MTB. And he was off to the downhill championships in Holland.
He had a 23 speed bike too.....

People are Idiots.

That would be a 2x10 with a 4 speed IGH that only works in one chainring/sprocket combination. It's the next big thing. Bet you feel silly now.

slowbike

It doesn't help when you get people going round saying that they go for long rides with their mates - but drop off the last 10 miles back because they can't quite keep up with their mates who average 30mph for that bit ...

Hmm - yer right ... unless it's downhill all the way there's no way they're doing 80odd miles and averaging 30mph for the last 10 ...

pblakeney

My Dad asked me that very question when I was younger.
As he is a tennis player/fan, I asked if he was going to play Wimbledon. Point was taken.

mamba80

PBlakeney wrote:

My Dad asked me that very question when I was younger.
As he is a tennis player/fan, I asked if he was going to play Wimbledon. Point was taken.

Wait till you ve a kid who cycles, tonight we got asked "Are you going to ride in the Olympics like that Chad Biggins bloke ?"

i replied "Isnt he the rapist ?"

chippyk

A few weeks after our new neighbours moved in, I was heading out and was asked 'are you a professional cyclist?' I was slightly over weight 40 something in badly matching kit on a tired looking Bianchi with a proper hangover.... Erm no, I'm actually

chris_bass

i find people seem to think that any cyclist is a 'Bradley Wiggins Wannabe'.

If cycling ever crops up on talksport i find the presenters are worse than most people.

milemuncher1

I did have a chortle to myself tonight. Someone I work with asked me to bring my medals from the last 2 year's Ride London Surrey 100 rides, so I put them in the pocket of my 'bought from Aldi' Team GB Jersey, and off I went. I stopped at a coffee shop en route, and the usual clown / village idiots were in there for "the free paper init". One of them noticed my (bought from Aldi) Team GB kit, and said "where's your medals then, hur hur dur hur" etc. etc. etc. So I took the medals out of the pocket. I think he nearly choked. It wasn't what he meant, but it still shut him up a treat.

andcp

mamba80 wrote:

Wait till you ve a kid who cycles, tonight we got asked "Are you going to ride in the Olympics like that Chad Biggins bloke ?"
i replied "Isnt he the rapist ?"

One for our older readers.
Mid 90's, one Saturday morning, out with the MTB lads and a local drunk (yes, Saturday morning) sees me breathing heavily on a short sharp climb and says "keep going son, you'll be as good as that Stan Boardman one day" - I never did get to be as good a cyclist as Stan....

awavey

Chris Bass wrote:

i find people seem to think that any cyclist is a 'Bradley Wiggins Wannabe'.

and even more bonkers women cyclists get that same line too, and no its no good replying back to them actually Im more of a Lizzie De...Deign...née Armitstead kind of gal instead.

cougie

New guy at the bike club bumped into Mr Boardman at the cycling café.

"Oh my God - you're Steve Boardman!"

He never lived it down.

Alex99

PBlakeney wrote:

My Dad asked me that very question when I was younger.
As he is a tennis player/fan, I asked if he was going to play Wimbledon. Point was taken.

0-15

Alex99

Chris Bass wrote:

i find people seem to think that any cyclist is a 'Bradley Wiggins Wannabe'.

If cycling ever crops up on talksport i find the presenters are worse than most people.

I bet they refer to cyclers or bicyclists.

rick_chasey

ChippyK wrote:

A few weeks after our new neighbours moved in, I was heading out and was asked 'are you a professional cyclist?' I was slightly over weight 40 something in badly matching kit on a tired looking Bianchi with a proper hangover.... Erm no, I'm actually

That's definitely a dig, rather than an actual question.

trek_dan

99% of Jonny Public don't think I pay road tax. Nuff said.

step83

Had the question a few times "do you race" usually they time it perfectly to when I'm sat in a coffee shop ramming cake down my face. I'm not slim by any stretch of the imagination so I've no idea where they get it into their mind I race.

chris_bass

Alex99 wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

i find people seem to think that any cyclist is a 'Bradley Wiggins Wannabe'.

If cycling ever crops up on talksport i find the presenters are worse than most people.

I bet they refer to cyclers or bicyclists.

as well as other things!!

markhewitt1978

Guy on a cycle path said "My good man, how goes the tour" - which normally would be amusing, but on that occasion I'd just fallen off and my left leg and arm were covered in blood and I was making a painful ride for home - I could have clouted him!

homers_double

drlodge

trek_dan wrote:

99% of Jonny Public don't think I pay road tax. Nuff said.

You don't! 100% of the public don't pay road tax.

trek_dan

drlodge wrote:

trek_dan wrote:

99% of Jonny Public don't think I pay road tax. Nuff said.

You don't! 100% of the public don't pay road tax.

I know that any article on any online newspaper article or any debate about cycling in general usually results in but cyclists don't pay road tax coming up.

markhewitt1978

Cyclists don't pay road tax
Cyclists run red lights
Cyclists ride on the pavement / don't ride on the pavement
Cyclists are arrogant
Cyclists cause traffic jams / pollution.

fat daddy

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Cyclists don't pay road tax
Cyclists run red lights
Cyclists ride on the pavement / don't ride on the pavement
Cyclists are arrogant
Cyclists cause traffic jams / pollution.

I have witnessed cyclists doing all of these ... done a couple myself

slowbike

Cyclists don't pay roadtax

Yes - we can shout back that nobody pays Road Tax - because there's no such thing as Road tax, it's vehicle ex blumin pedantitary - but that's what's referred to when we generally talk about road tax.

Cycles would probably attract the same level of road tax as electric cars - zero emissions - £0 ... so the fact that I don't apply for or pay road tax for my bikes is a moot point ...
I do however, pay a heck of a lot of VED/road tax for my camper van - not so much for my car though... so the next person that shouts "get off the road, you don't pay roadtax" is welcome to pay for my vehicles to be on the road - and if they do, I'll use the paths instead.

dinyull

Rick Chasey wrote:

ChippyK wrote:

A few weeks after our new neighbours moved in, I was heading out and was asked 'are you a professional cyclist?' I was slightly over weight 40 something in badly matching kit on a tired looking Bianchi with a proper hangover.... Erm no, I'm actually

That's definitely a dig, rather than an actual question.

Definitely.

ForumNewbie

Sciencemike wrote:

Yesterday, not for the first time, someone asked me whether I'd ever done the Tour de France!
Does this happen to other people?

Hmmm, can't say that's ever happened to me. You must at least look like a pro if you have been asked that a few times.

Sciencemike

I look no more like a pro cyclist than I do a pro footballer or rugby player, but no one has ever thought I might have played in the Premier League/Premiership.
Jonny doesn't seem to understand the enormous difference between club cyclist and Tour cyclis

crescent

In 2013 I told a friend I had been to the national championships in Glasgow (my home city). He asked me in all seriousness how I had done? Err... fine, I was only spectating. Mark Cavendish won on the day. He seems to have slightly overestimated my ability on a bike.