crazy biking

I live 5 miles away from where i work out here in the boonies, and each day now that's it's colder my coworkers say "your crazy to bike when it's so cold out" has anyone else heard these comments and what do you say to them?

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Permalink Reply by Gin on December 2, 2010 at 1:27am
Some of my short, stock responses:

Biking is my habit.
I choose not to own a car and I enjoy biking more than transit.
It's actually not that hard when you have the right gear--which is much less expensive than a car or a transit pass.

But my favorite: I hate being cold more than anything. That's why I ride my bike all winter.

For folks who are genuinely interested (or become interested due to my positive response), I bust out a bike winter sticker and maybe a gaiter (always carry an extra for these bike winter missionary moments) so they too can became year round bike warriors. ;-)

Gin
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on December 2, 2010 at 3:06am
Its a great opportunity to expand peoples horizons. You are doing what they feel is impossible. This past week or so I have been telling coworkers who make similar comments that I feel sorry for them they have a chilly 4+ block walk to the train to and from work while I get to stay warm creating heat and riding directly to and from my destination.

Amazing how perceptions can be so inaccurate.
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on December 2, 2010 at 3:29am
forgot to mention other compelling reasons to bike they may grasp: I dont get colds from other people on the train sneezing/coughing all over the place and I dont have to listen to their annoying cellphone conversations.

I just really dont see the downside of riding to work?



chixieonfixie said:
Its a great opportunity to expand peoples horizons. You are doing what they feel is impossible. This past week or so I have been telling coworkers who make similar comments that I feel sorry for them they have a chilly 4+ block walk to the train to and from work while I get to stay warm creating heat and riding directly to and from my destination.

Amazing how perceptions can be so inaccurate.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on December 2, 2010 at 4:16am
Gin,

I LOVE that response!

Gin said:
I hate being cold more than anything. That's why I ride my bike all winter.


Permalink Reply by knowbody on December 2, 2010 at 5:34am
Cameron Puetz said:
Really if your plan is to jump in the lake in December, does the bike ride to get there really make you crazier? Also how long is the Great Lakes surfing season and are there any guides for how to find spots?

my point exactly.... though riding through 45 knot winds with a feather weight pointy object with many sharp projections (fins) makes life a little bit more interesting at times.

we have a year-round season if one is willing to go to whichever side of the lake(s) that the wind is blowing towards (having as much coastline as the east and west coast put together!) the water is warm enough for most people through october though i was just in it yesterday and it seemed fine to me.

surfing the great lakes spills all the beans! it's such a shame that in doing such a great job peter strazzabosco created a pariah of himself amongst his peers.
Permalink Reply by cutifly on December 2, 2010 at 5:45am
How tight ?

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
One of my coworkers kind of did a double-take yesterday as we're leaving and I'm wearing shorts with tights underneath.
Permalink Reply by Eric R on December 2, 2010 at 7:06am
When I lived in my home town (about 20,000 pop. located in the Central ILL) I often rode and walked to places by choice instead of driving, which of course is the default for transporting one's self, and the response from everyone was the same when they saw me "do you want a ride?" or at times they would forcefully tell me to get in the car as if I was a lost, crazy man.

I am usually a little more sarcastic now when people comment about riding in Chicago in the winter. I usually tell them, "Yes, I am super human that is the only reason I can be outside in the winter".



Eduardo Acosta said:
I get the questions "isn't it too dark to be biking?" while they're looking at my bike with a bike light on my handbar or when I"m coming into work on a rainy morning they ask, "Did you get wet?"


Co-workers, family and friends started to feel sorry for me and offer me rides everywhere. "You know my offer is still on the table is you want me to pick you up or drop you off..."
Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on December 3, 2010 at 3:20am
I AM SUPERMAN!
(I think that's a song)




Eric Roach said:
When I lived in my home town (about 20,000 pop. located in the Central ILL) I often rode and walked to places by choice instead of driving, which of course is the default for transporting one's self, and the response from everyone was the same when they saw me "do you want a ride?" or at times they would forcefully tell me to get in the car as if I was a lost, crazy man.

I am usually a little more sarcastic now when people comment about riding in Chicago in the winter. I usually tell them, "Yes, I am super human that is the only reason I can be outside in the winter".



Eduardo Acosta said:
I get the questions "isn't it too dark to be biking?" while they're looking at my bike with a bike light on my handbar or when I"m coming into work on a rainy morning they ask, "Did you get wet?"


Co-workers, family and friends started to feel sorry for me and offer me rides everywhere. "You know my offer is still on the table is you want me to pick you up or drop you off..."
Permalink Reply by JeffB on December 3, 2010 at 3:43am
I just encountered this last night. I walked into the locker room of the little fitness room in our building with my helmet and this guy says "whoa man, you're still riding in this?!? You're making me feel bad; I gave up a few weeks ago." So I just told him that its not nearly as bad as people think and that I get warm within 5 minutes of starting. I showed him the light windbreaker I was still using (the Eddie Bauer Nysqually Shell; its great) and my balaclava and explained that I could either ride warm for 30-40 minutes, or walk in the cold for 5-10 minutes to my train station, wait another 5-10 minutes in the cold for the train, stand for 20-30 minutes in a crowded train, and then walk another 5-10 minutes to the office. Best part was when he said that I convinced him and he was going to start up again.
Permalink Reply by Gin on December 3, 2010 at 3:55am
Nice work, Jeff! Gold star.

I am happy to see some sunshine this morning. I was getting grumpy with the gray. The other more serious reason I bike year round is to help keep depression from nipping then gnashing at my ankles.



JeffB said:
I just encountered this last night. I walked into the locker room of the little fitness room in our building with my helmet and this guy says "whoa man, you're still riding in this?!? You're making me feel bad; I gave up a few weeks ago." So I just told him that its not nearly as bad as people think and that I get warm within 5 minutes of starting. I showed him the light windbreaker I was still using (the Eddie Bauer Nysqually Shell; its great) and my balaclava and explained that I could either ride warm for 30-40 minutes, or walk in the cold for 5-10 minutes to my train station, wait another 5-10 minutes in the cold for the train, stand for 20-30 minutes in a crowded train, and then walk another 5-10 minutes to the office. Best part was when he said that I convinced him and he was going to start up again.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on December 3, 2010 at 6:13am
Marty,

Notice the 'I'm wearing shorts' part.

These shorts in fact.
cutifly said:
How tight ?

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
One of my coworkers kind of did a double-take yesterday as we're leaving and I'm wearing shorts with tights underneath.
Permalink Reply by Holly on December 3, 2010 at 6:33am
Eric-- I know just what you mean. Where I'm from, there's the same thought that crosses people's mind when they see a person on a bike. One easy way to tell the difference between someone with a DUI who's on bike and someone who really *wants* to be on a bike is that the DUI rider usually rides an unlubed, squeaky 10 speed with drop bars flipped upside down! Easier to grip? Oh, and they're usually smoking, too! Hee hee!

Cameron Puetz said:
I lived in a small (Pop. < 700) town in Northern Wisconsin for awhile and got the same reaction whenever I rode or walked anywhere. The entire town was about 1 square mile; it really wasn’t that big of deal to walk all the way across town. When I first moved there my neighbors thought that I was some sort delinquent who had too many DUIs or something since I biked places.


Eric Roach said:
When I lived in my home town (about 20,000 pop. located in the Central ILL) I often rode and walked to places by choice instead of driving, which of course is the default for transporting one's self, and the response from everyone was the same when they saw me "do you want a ride?" or at times they would forcefully tell me to get in the car as if I was a lost, crazy man.

I am usually a little more sarcastic now when people comment about riding in Chicago in the winter. I usually tell them, "Yes, I am super human that is the only reason I can be outside in the winter".



Eduardo Acosta said:
I get the questions "isn't it too dark to be biking?" while they're looking at my bike with a bike light on my handbar or when I"m coming into work on a rainy morning they ask, "Did you get wet?"


Co-workers, family and friends started to feel sorry for me and offer me rides everywhere. "You know my offer is still on the table is you want me to pick you up or drop you off..."

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