Not Athletic
Because people notice I bike somehow I keep finding myself in this conversation:
It’s funny people think I’m athletic. Obviously they didn’t know me way back when.
I only survived gym class because I pretended to be really angry when the game didn’t go my way. Taking a game too seriously seemed to be the way to be taken seriously when playing sports.
And I haven’t gotten any more athletic after that. I’ve just found a lifestyle that works for me.
Commuting by bike doesn’t have to be an athletic undertaking. It just takes time to get used to it.
And now that it’s second nature for me I find myself having awkward moments like this:
Are you ME?!
Most of the time when people would comment on my bike, they’d say something like “You ride your bike? That must be good exercise!” (Some used to say “You must save a lot on gas!” but no one says that anymore now that gas is near $2 a gallon).
Then I’d point to my fat gut and correct them by saying “Exercise? No, not really. You have to sweat to get a good workout. I ride my bike because it’s easy! (My bikes only go about 10-12 mph. Health benefits? What health benefits? Hasn’t done anything for my weight, high blood pressure or cholesterol).
Later I realized what they’re REALLY saying is that exercise (or saving gas) is the ONLY reason they’d get out of their car and on a bike. That survey where 60% of people were ‘interested’ in learning more about bike riding/may have a latent desire to ride a bike? All lies told to the survey takers.