Wife Thinks Commuting by Bike is Unprofessional

[mimbresman]

We just moved into a new place. It is a little farther from my workplace than the old apartment. The old apartment was only 2 blocks away so I could walk to work in 5 to 7 minutes. The new apartment is about a mile away from work. Still walkable, 20 minutes or so, but a short 5 minute bike ride or a 5 minute car trip. I've got to convince my wife that I can ride to work with minimal fuss and muss, and maximum enjoyment.
Being a school teacher, she thinks I won't get respect from the students riding to work. The few times I have ridden to work in the past, I didn´t see a problem. The students know I am a cyclist and are amazed how light my bikes are when I park either one in the classroom. (I don't like to park it out of my sight in back of the school. I am going to have a new director next year and she might think otherwise about parking the bike in the classroom, but I'll cross that bridge later...)
Convince my wife for me...please.

[jerman]

You are setting a good example for the kids at your school. You are promoting exercise and less dependency on oil. You go man!

[OTBSkinloss]

You'll get respect or not based on your actions in class. How you choose to get there is beside the point.
Tell your wife, I said it was OK. If she continues to give you a hard time, tell her I said, neener neener! :p I'm sure she'll come around after that. :D

[davkatreb]

Tell the woman that she knew she was marrying a cyclist. Tell her that hot women are a dime a dozen. If that doesn't work, well, she's a Latina, right? You'll think of something.

"Not professional"? Jeebus, mans, what does your tuna do for a living? Thought so.

[RandomV]

My favorite middle school teacher rode his bike all over the place. In fact, he still does. He's the fittest old guy in the whole school system.

On the other hand, the worst teacher and coach (cross country) I ever had was also a cyclist.

I guess what I'm saying is that riding your bike or not isn't what will make kids respect you. It's how you behave in the classroom.

As far as how to convince your wife on that point? Shit, man. I've never been able to convince a woman of anything! If you figure out a way, let me know...

[LeeMcGough]

Tell her you are a teacher, not a lawyer, and cannot afford to purchase any of that awful gasoline.;) . Or you could try explaining to her that two 5 minute drives, 5 days a week is about as a damaging to an automobile engine as running it without oil all of the time, because it basically is. The car doesn't get up to proper operating temperature until a couple of minutes of driving have been done. If logic doesn't work, get someone to steal and torch your car for you, and when you receive your cheque from the insurance company, accidentally buy yourself a very, very, very nice bike with it. Then you will have no choice but to ride.
Unprofessional? Odd.

[davkatreb]

It's Latin America and you're the man. No-brainer.

[dangerousdave]

You are setting a good example for the kids at your school. You are promoting exercise and less dependency on oil. You go man!


kActually if you paly it up abit you'll get far more respect than the other teachers... esp. if you commute by all other means but car... ie., winter time try xc skiin i to class... I know this- because I did this. It has just the right amount of anti-establishment while still being dorky enough as an adult to appeal on many many levels of student understanding and prof. peer level too... who knows you may actually start a trend, my wife did...
Good on ya!!!

[markie]

Well you won't get respect from your students if you tell them you stopped riding your bike because you wife made you!

:p

[robcycle]

I'm not sure, but perhaps you can incorporate cycling, or some aspect of it, into your course. You seem like a creative guy, I'm sure you can manage it. Also, it may help to the children to identify with you. They ride bikes as well. And as for not getting respect ... If its the kids she's speaking of, its already been said ... The react to how you are in the class, not how you get there. If its your collegues, they should judge you by the job you do, and if they're worried about how you get to work, well ... perhaps they could benifit from focusing on the students and not the staff's transportation. Ultimately, its your decision, you have to ride to work, you have to deal with the people there. If you're OK with it, then its your choice. It seems odd that your wife would have a problem with you doing something that would save you both money. Perhaps she has a problem with you riding the bike to work. Could she be embarassed that you ride a bike to work? I mean no disrespect to you or your wife, but perhaps the problem is her's.

-Rob.

[cMc]

IIRC, don't your students roll in V12 Ferraris? Like your Hyundai is going to impress them. Show her a pic of Al Einstein riding his bike to work. Or don't.

Cycling to work is only unprofessional if you drink a 40 oz. of malt liquor on the way. Sounds like wifey is pushing some other agenda, and this is just one small part of her diabolical plan to transform you into a soulless, cubicle-dweling ATM machine.

[tryandgetme]

when my ex-girlfriend told me I was crazy for mountain biking, I reminded her that she knew I was nuts from the beginning. Then she was ok with that. If people think you're nuts, they ask less questions.

My current girlfriend loves riding as much as I do. I'm not letting this one get away from me :D. I won the lottery!

[OTBSkinloss]

Cycling to work is only unprofessional if you drink a 40 oz. of malt liquor on the way.

So you're saying I should wait until I get to work? :confused:

[Kamikaze]

IIRC, don't your students roll in V12 Ferraris? Like your Hyundai is going to impress them. Show her a pic of Al Einstein riding his bike to work. Or don't.

Cycling to work is only unprofessional if you drink a 40 oz. of malt liquor on the way. Sounds like wifey is pushing some other agenda, and this is just one small part of her diabolical plan to transform you into a soulless, cubicle-dweling ATM machine.

You need to understand the intricacies of the Venezuelan society. Hyundai's actually used to be "fancy" cars. Like Corollas, Corollas were the shit down there -and probably still are- Civic's? dude you must be swimming in dough if you have Civic.

Now, are the students going to respect him if he rides to work? A few years ago when mountainbiking was the thing in Venezuela they would have worshiped his bike and licked the tires. Today? I'm not sure how MB is seen, but rich kids will recognize a fancy Ti bike. And he does have the "he's gringo so whatever he does is cool" card playing for him. But if he rides a beater Huffy bike they are going to piss on his coffee, most likely.

Are they rich kids on a fancy school, Mimbres? Because if they are rich, spoiled kids, they probably already think they are better than you, being honest here, so what respect do you have to loose? :D

[mimbresman]

You need to understand the intricacies of the Venezuelan society. Hyundai's actually used to be "fancy" cars. Like Corollas, Corollas were the shit down there -and probably still are- Civic's? dude you must be swimming in dough if you have Civic.

Now, are the students going to respect him if he rides to work? A few years ago when mountainbiking was the thing in Venezuela they would have worshiped his bike and licked the tires. Today? I'm not sure how MB is seen, but rich kids will recognize a fancy Ti bike. And he does have the "he's gringo so whatever he does is cool" card playing for him. But if he rides a beater Huffy bike they are going to piss on his coffee, most likely.

Are they rich kids on a fancy school, Mimbres? Because if they are rich, spoiled kids, they probably already think they are better than you, being honest here, so what respect do you have to loose? :D

Venezuelan society...price of gas is not a factor. Depending on the exchange rate (black market exchange) gas is somewhere about $0.08 or $0.09 per gallon for 95 octane.

Because of the condition of the roads and price of gasoline, SUV are kings of the road here. The newest status symbol is the Hummer H2 (of course the H1 is the supreme ultimate...), the Toyota Landcruisers and the new FJ Cruisers are also held in high esteem. Any SUV, Blazers, Tahoes, Explorers, 4-Runners, etc. are kings here.

Little cars like my Kia Rio sedan are dime-a-dozen and considered pretty cheap wheels. Some students come to school in brand new BMW 700´s or Mercedez Benz G-whatevers. So my car is not impressive by any means (I don´t care, its paid for and its well maintained and is very reliable).

Venezuela is a warped society. :confused:

[FishMan]

I would think it would be one thing if you lived 10 miles away and you showed up all sweaty or something, but 1 mile is nothing. I used to have a 1 mile commute to work (those were the days). You just barely get warmed up and then you are there. You can wear whatever street clothes you want and you won't get all sweaty. What part is unprofessional?

[jesser]

If cycling makes you happy your wife should accept it. You could be a heavy drinker, do drugs, be dishonest, but no you choose cycling and your wife can not accept that. I am getting married on august 4th and my soon to be wife knows that cycling as well as HER makes me happy.

When i was in high school my english teacher started a class called communication skills/mountain biking for life. This teacher was a hero in our school. We learned how to fix up bikes and donated them to less fortunate kids. We would go on ride during class ( we had one class a week that was 1.5 hours long. Shit we even took a week long field trip to moab. Shit cycling saved our lives. With all due respect your wife NEEDS TO ACCEPT THIS. kIDS ARE ASTONISHED BY YOU, HATS OFF MAN YOU CAN INTRODUCE THEM TO AN AWESOME CULTURE THAT IS FOREVER CHANGING. Those kids need you!!!

Not to mention you are saving on fuel costs, even if it's only a mile each way.

[hairygrump]

Professionalism isn't in how you get to work, it's in what you do once you're there. You could roll up in the freaking Batmobile, dressed in a suit and tie with Alan Greenspan hitting you on your Blackberry and those kids would still find a reason to call you "that hippy queer that drives that queer-ass Batmobile... GAWD!"

Or whatever that sounds like in Spanish. Point being you can't win for losing with teenagers.

Plus, it's a mile. When I lived that close to work I mostly took the 20 minutes and walked it (unless I needed the bike for errands or something after or during work). That's probably better exercise than the 1-mile bike ride anyway.

[OneSpeedWonder]

As far as how to convince your wife on that point? Shit, man. I've never been able to convince a woman of anything! If you figure out a way, let me know...


Amen



Oh! And as for riding a mile to work,Mim's,don't listen to her,just do it for yourself,not the kids or the teachers,just for you , your happy smile ,and chilled attitude will show them ALL to be wrong dissing you,ride on ,dude!!!

[RickB]

Time for a new wife. There are lots out there. ;)

[real_ss_budgie]

Shit, man. I've never been able to convince a woman of anything! If you figure out a way, let me know...

heres a tip....keep your mouth shut.

works for me every time.

harry potter

USD

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[mimbresman]

Time for a new wife. There are lots out there. ;)

This one's a keeper! :)

[WunSpeedWunder]

Screw you ,prick!!!:eek: heres a tip....keep your mouth shut.

works for me every time.

harry potter

USD

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[real_ss_budgie]

Screw you ,prick!!!:eek:
you wish.....whats the go flapjack no ride today?

[WunSpeedWunder]

you wish.....whats the go flapjack no ride today?

Nah,today I was a Handyman,hanging blinds in the lounge ,etc. Tomorrow with no Budgie or Smartypants on the start line there's a good chance of a Peckert podium!!!!!:D

[real_ss_budgie]

Nah,today I was a Handyman,hanging blinds in the lounge ,etc. Tomorrow with no Budgie or Smartypants on the start line there's a good chance of a Peckert podium!!!!!:D
good luck on your adventure, goblin....doubt it thou..way too many snadbaggers out there now in SS class...fuggers

[WunSpeedWunder]

good luck on your adventure, goblin....doubt it thou..way too many snadbaggers out there now in SS class...fuggers

Don't care for the sandbaggers,they only steal points from those of us that are hardcore enough to race the whole season!!!!This is ,of course, IF they finish in front of me!!!


Fuggers did finish in front of me,one part-timer and three fit as f*ck youngsters(we don't worry about these guys!!)so fifth place is good enough......dfl IS better than dnf/dns!!!!!

[Scott G.]

This perhaps may be politically insensitive and flippant, but it is precisely why not enough people bike to work that people like Chavez, Bush, and Ahmadinejad are in power.......just look to the gas pump;)

We just moved into a new place. It is a little farther from my workplace than the old apartment. The old apartment was only 2 blocks away so I could walk to work in 5 to 7 minutes. The new apartment is about a mile away from work. Still walkable, 20 minutes or so, but a short 5 minute bike ride or a 5 minute car trip. I've got to convince my wife that I can ride to work with minimal fuss and muss, and maximum enjoyment.
Being a school teacher, she thinks I won't get respect from the students riding to work. The few times I have ridden to work in the past, I didn´t see a problem. The students know I am a cyclist and are amazed how light my bikes are when I park either one in the classroom. (I don't like to park it out of my sight in back of the school. I am going to have a new director next year and she might think otherwise about parking the bike in the classroom, but I'll cross that bridge later...)
Convince my wife for me...please.

[mimbresman]

This perhaps may be politically insensitive and flippant, but it is precisely why not enough people bike to work that people like Chavez, Bush, and Ahmadinejad are in power.......just look to the gas pump;)

I've always thought along similar lines though not with specific presidents in mind. If more people rode bicycles, the world would be a happier place. Too many cars, too much power and status associated with cars.

[poison idea]

stop riding. wash down disgusting quantities of greasy deep fried meat chunks with a 12 pack every afernoon and suck down a coupla sticks of margarine throughout the day. then when you are good and fat you get to throw dinner plates against the wall and scream, "This is what you wanted! You did this to me!" in a high falsetto

[nogearshere]

Well you won't get respect from your students if you tell them you stopped riding your bike because you wife made you!

brilliant.

do what works for you on the day, seat of your pants flippant and je ne sais quois type behavior...rebel without a clue...you get it.

biking teacher story. i had one, a french teacher. took abuse like a mofo BUT at the same time was in good shape and rumoured to be sleeping with half the faculty and the sr class (not sure about the mixture of male vs female)...secretly i thought he rocked a bit harder then the rest of the teachers. his big problem...well he kept picking his nose, and without losing a step said booger finger would then twirl in his beard - presumably so he could enjoy it again later...

mimsy. dont put boogers in your beard...baird...

[real_ss_budgie]

bump off a square.......

[justageek]

My wife said the same thing, and yes, i let her tell me what to do, she won the battle, BUT... I'm still fighting the war, i got fat, and out of shape. Now i'm in Germany, my wife unfortunately (Because I love her) cannot be here, but since she's not here, she can also not stop me from commuting on my bicycle! VICTORY IS MINE!!!!:D :D" now i just have to get a bike here

[shaggydog]

[I think it is cool that you ride to work. I ride 10 miles each way to a conservative workplace. You do it and there will be others and soon you will the trend setter. Bravo! :)

[brunop]

i had a teacher who rode bikes and i gave that mofo mad dap.

but ya gotta divorce the tuna man. shit ain't happenin'.:eek:

jus' sayin'. . .

[OTBSkinloss]

I just wonder why the hell she's out of the kitchen in the first place.

[Hunter-Va]

you could be setting a bad example by driving an El Camino SS if you also own a Prius but your wife drives it.

tell her you got a job teaching so you didnt have to wear a suit and make sales calls, so along with that goes the privelage of riding to work.

if that doesn't work, tell her the kids don't respect you anyway and now that you ride a bike to school its costing you less money every month so if she wants she can spend half of the gas money you would have spent, and you get to spend the other half on the stuff you want. or you can collectively start saving the gas money for a down payment on a house and not just a security deposit on a leased apartment.

Hunter

[wvcommuter]

I've been riding to school/work for four years........kids make fun of fat teachers not ones that are fit.....

[tryandgetme]

true. in highschool I had this physics teacher that looked like he could snap me in half with his little finger. Did we make fun of him for that? hell no. we made fun of him because he sounded like kermit the frog.

[mimbresman]

Rode the SS to work today. It's an easy back street 8 minute pedal. I parked the bike in the "book room". No problem!

[onegear]

You are setting a good example for the kids at your school. You are promoting exercise and less dependency on oil. You go man!

my thoughts exactly! setting a good example for your students is, well, very educational. :-)

driving a car a mile is worthless. you'd be surprised how many pollutants are pumped into the air in just a mile.

[vanilla_bryce]

I'm a school teacher as well. I live about 4-5 miles away from the school and I ride to work every day that I can. I just finished making a single-speed out of an old bike I had lying around, got all sorts of stickers and shit on it, and when I show up at the school pushing that thing through the hallways to my classroom, I get crazy respect. My students absolutely love me because they feel they can relate to me, and I think I set a pretty good example for the rest of the staff. I'm fairly young (25) and I'm keeping in good shape and I've been brainstorming activities to work bicycling into my classes. I'm even thinking about starting a bike club. Commuting to work on a bicycle is one of the best things you can do. It's great for the environment, as well as your bank account, and it makes you look like a total bad ass. My wife loves that I ride my bike to work, and so does everyone else. Tell your wife that I said it's okay.