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Odd comment of the day...

(17 posts)

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  1. SRD
    Moderator

    ...or why you shouldn't make small talk with other cyclists...

    At waitrose, unlocking the tandem, when another female cyclist approaches and sighs. The racks are full/blocked because a bike has fallen over (because the racks are poorly designed.). Moving my bike, so she can get in, I sigh sympathetically and say - 'they've been promising us more racks for years'.

    To which she replies 'or you could get a smaller bike'.

    Like its my bike that was blocking her? or causing her any trouble?

    Is she that hostile to 'strange bikes' ?

    She was in hiviz, helmet etc, and I was in jeans, t-shirt and messy hair. Maybe she resents us copenhagenized folk?

    So much for solidarity among sisters. Maybe she just hadn't had her coffee yet.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    How very odd. It's not even as if the tandem actually takes up more rack space anyway is it?

    I've had some nice chats recently (I normally anti-socially avoid conversation).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    Personally I wouldn't try putting that bike on those racks!

    Bad racks, not enough of them and WE were definitely promised more!

    I think that manager has moved on, but even so. I think it stalled when he asked CEC for advice and didn't hear what he wanted to.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "I normally anti-socially avoid conversation"

    Best way of avoiding anti-social conversations...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    "Personally I wouldn't try putting that bike on those racks!"

    we have a new stand, so it stands up okay. and there is -just- room to back it out neatly.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. geordiefatbloke
    Member

    Perhaps her intent was to say that "one could get a smaller bike"? I.e. not directed at you, just joking if bikes generally were smaller? But you were there so you will know if it was barbed or not ...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    So much for solidarity among sisters.

    Maybe she just wasn't a particularly nice person? I sometimes meet men who aren't very friendly.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. Rosie
    Member

    Never mind solidarity among sisters, worrabout solidarity among cyclists?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "worrabout solidarity among cyclists?"

    Well...

    There's Cyclists and 'cyclists' and cyclists and people who ride bikes.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. Morningsider
    Member

    Helioseses(?) fit in the racks at Waitrose nicely - from the times I have seen one there. Its long wheelbase means its wheels don't have to sit on the annoying ground level cross-beams of the racks, meaning it is less likely to topple over.

    I wouldn't read too much into the comment - most cyclists aren't campaigners, or think too deeply about cycling matters. Personally, I would have replied "I do have a smaller bike, but I left it home." maybe adding "to annoy you." depending on how I felt.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    I have been cycling in pink this week and has been a fair bit of solidarity.

    This afternoon I was off to black wells to buy the fifth disc world novel for my son. I held door open for people going in and out and was called a feckin idiot. as I was wearing a new hat called a Brompton which is a bit fedora, a bit homburg, a bit cowboy. In fact it is rather nice. However, I forgot how much opprobrium wearing a hat can bring. Still, given that I do not care all seems fine with the somewhat wet world.

    Off to Dublin tomorrow afternoon for recitation of James Joyce's Ulysses on Thursday. There is often a bakers boy rally with around fifty cyclists in Edwardian flat caps cycling delivery bicycles around and about.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Helioseses(?)

    Hēlioi.

    Greek plurals explored here!

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=746&page=76#post-66882

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. Gresham Flyer
    Member

    Just wondering SRD, how much you feel your "messy hair" prompted the offending comment-presumably as the other cyclist was be-helmeted you were unable to judge the condition of her hair? Maybe it was also messy so not a factor.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. SRD
    Moderator

    Hmmm....dunno. I *do* sometimes wear a helmet just to cover up my messy hair....

    I really don't know what was going on. Just trying to give you-all a feel for the exchange.

    I did feel as if maybe I wasn't a 'proper cyclist' in her book.

    Occurs to me I was in my POP t-shirt too...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    @srd remember the grumpy cyclist has moved on from the catty remark at wait rose racks. Same as the person who called me a feckin idiot for holding a door open for people whilst wearing a hat. Indeed they can't even remember making their remarks

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. paulmilne
    Member

    @gembo - called a feckin' idiot just for wearing a hat and opening doors? This surely heralds the collapse of western civilsation. I've got a natty Italian trilby I sport when weather dictates, so I do sympathise.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. Big_Smoke
    Member

    Well my Cully is a tall chopper/beach crusier inspired destroyer so fitting her on racks can be a chore. It does hightlight the problen we face where the racks are never up the job.

    http://bikeyface.com/2013/07/28/racking-up-points/

    Posted 9 years ago #

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