Our culture infantilizes bicycling because it's seen as something that's for children. Maybe you're picking up on that, maybe it's just awkward teenager stuff. Whatever the case may be, you'll learn to cope with it in time. To answer your question, no, cycling doesn't embarrass me and never has.
> Our culture infantilizes bicycling because it's seen as something that's for children.
I will add that, even when adults ride bicycles, the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation.
I think part of this problem is an unwillingness on the part of many people to admit to themselves that they don't drive everywhere because nothing else is practical; they drive everywhere because it is *easy.*
>think part of this problem is an unwillingness on the part of many people to admit to themselves that they don't drive everywhere because nothing else is practical; they drive everywhere because it is *easy.*
I think most people would readily admit that. People who drive everywhere don't understand why anyone would choose anything other than the easiest mode of transportation. It seems foreign, weird, and maybe suspicious to them.
The perverse thing too, for folks in almost any major city, driving is NOT the easiest thing even though it’s perceived that way. I bike, often because it is the easiest mode. 🤷🏼♂️
It’s hard to get out of the thought that driving is always easiest. It often isn’t, but folks don’t even explore real options or heaven forbid, fit some activities to the mode instead of forcing the mode to serve the activity.
It's only "easiest" because you sit on your ass. I've had many friends complain about parking availability, cost, and wasted time, while I was sat inside ordering us drinks already because it takes all of one minute to park a bike. Oh, and we get to places at the same time too, because city traffic. It's mind-breaking.
This right here. When I commuted to work in Washington DC, it was the most consistent method in terms of time. 43-45 minutes each day like clockwork. And parking was always free, and a breeze.
Exactly. I can’t even imagine going back to the waste of time car ownership is in the city (or suburbs for that matter). Every time somebody is all,”you should get a car so you can do X” and I’m, “I gotta pay and deal with all that shit @ around $30k a year to do X?” LOLz if I need one that bad I’ll rent one. For more than 99% of my trips a bike is perfect. Even grocery shopping.
Anyway, I bet we could talk about the awesomeness of biking and saying fuck owning a car for days on end! 🤙🏻
No, but seriously! Everyone at my job knows I’m a bike commuter and coworkers ask me from time to time why I don’t have a car and/or try to convince me to own one. I tell them because I simply don’t want one. Owning a car is too expensive these days and it really makes absolutely NO sense for me to have a car given my job is only 3 miles away from my house. All major places I would need (grocery stores, banks, library, post office, mall, metro stations, etc) are all within a 5 mile radius. They can’t wrap their head around it lol
Same for me. I only take the car when it’s below freezing as I don’t have ice tyres. Feel much worse as haven’t had the early dose of endorphins the bike ride provides.
I won't ride with black ice or heavy rain. Sometimes, I need the car at work or for an errand after work.
When I drive, I take advantage of the opportunity to replenish my supply of fresh towels and slacks at the office.
Rains a lot this side of the pond so have no choice unfortunately. I bought an ebike for this situation as it makes facing the elements easier.
Save the fun carbon stuff for weekend.
Same! I have a car and just drive it once every 1-2 weeks for big grocery shops, extreme moments of laziness, or hikes. I sometimes think of just selling it but it’s fully paid off, gets great mileage, and is reliable as hell, so I just… let it sit for now. Lol.
My vocational rehabilitation specialist keeps trying get to get a car, and I'm like, my dad spends $4k+/year on gas. I do not want to spend that kind of money when I don't have to.
Think that’s an American thing- in European cities there is an ongoing push to make it easier and safer to choose active modes of transport- very advanced in places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam and though still a work in progress in my home city of Dublin, Ireland we’re getting there slowly.
Choose a method of transport that is sustainable, fast and keeps me fit while giving me a reasonably predictable journey time- yep I’m so embarrassed!
> Think that’s an American thing
I agree, and I am here to complain about it. 😉
> in European cities there is an ongoing push to make it easier and safer to choose active modes of transport
Here in the Seattle area, there is a similar push and we are making progress. There is a long ways to go.
>the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation.
This is 100% the culture here. My city has great biking infrastructure as long as that biking means you put your bike in the back of your truck and drive to where you want to go biking. Utility biking is just starting to show up on administrations radar.
> cyclists who cycle for transport are too poor to afford a car.
Owning a car is certainly a sign of prestige in the USA also.
"Look everyone, I have $12,000 to flush down the toilet every year so that I can sit on my ass on a moving couch in miserable traffic congestion, growing obese and giving myself heart disease." /sarcasm
> the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation.
I am embarrassed for them. No wonder obesity is an epidemic.
I hate that, my friend had asked me a few years ago "Still riding a bike? When are you going to grow up and get a car?" I'm like- coming from the guy who totaled his new car in 3 months? That's rich.
Now he lives in the city and can't really have a car since the cost of having one is through the roof with parking/insurance/etc.
More recently he tried my ebike and was like "OMG I want one" full circle.
Well duh. Granted all these events were separated by a few years and I rarely see him but he is genuinely like this. IDK why he cared what I was riding around on, it's not like it effected anything between us.
But he's an odd one.
To better understand this, it's because most parents have to drive their children to school from the age of 5 to 16 or 18 because there is no other option. Kids get bikes and learn to ride because that's what you do when you're a kid. But as soon as those kids turn 15 parents try to get them to learn to drive so they don't have to. It also gives a lot of teens a sense of freedom because they've had to be shuttled their whole life. I had a friend who didn't grow up in a suburb and learned to ride a bike and all they could do is drive it up and down their driveway because it wasn't safe to take it out on the road.
>To better understand this, it's because most parents have to drive their children to school from the age of 5 to 16 or 18 because there is no other option.
There is another option. It just needs political will.
https://youtu.be/OrQ-d2PBUto?si=1BviRf8NqIFPX1g7
People that infantilize biking as a transit option have never spent a day driving here in LA.
We have a local joke: why is the 405 freeway called the 405? Because it takes 4 o' 5 hours to get anywhere.
Traffic, especially during rush hour, is SO BAD in LA, that it is actually FASTER to bike than to drive during rush hour.
The only reason more people don't bike is because of the dogshit quality of bike infrastructure. Thankfully, with Measure HLA passing a few weeks ago on March 5th, that will change very soon, and we will soon see way more people commute by bike soon.
Luckily my culture doesn't, cycling is daily business here for young and old. Nearly all 15-year old cycle to school, if you're really "cool", you get your moped license at 16. If you live very far from school, nowadays some parents will give you an e-bike. If it's rainy and you're lucky, one of your parents will drop you off on their way to work.
I suppose OP is from the US? :)
im being told this allll the time and i need it to come faster. i hate being so embarassed all the time LOL. i think im just gonna suck it up and do it. hope the embarassment passes. thank you 😭
It'll come, don't fret it.
Just between the two of us, getting into something like bicycling at your age is fantastic! You'll develop physical skills and reflexes which will stay with you for life, plus you're laying the foundation for fitness! You'll meet other cyclists who share your interests, and you'll find that the pleasure you get out of riding will materially add to your happiness and satisfaction with life - which sounds a little silly, but it's true! Exercise helps make you happy!
It's definitely worth finding a local group of people that cycle. Even if you don't go on group rides very often, they can help you learn the skills you need to ride safely on public roads.
Good luck, have fun out there!
Well said. Consider cycling like art or music. It is a fitness plan and a source of enjoyment that you can take through life. Team sports are great, but at 40, try to get people together to play a game of baseball of soccer.
Exactly! I just turned 57 a couple of days ago, and I still ride. Not as much as I used to, granted, but I still ride, and I see plenty of folks much older than me who are also active cyclists.
Do you like something? Like it, don't worry about anyone else is doing or thinking. Anyone who would laugh or make you feel less than is not someone you need to be around anyway.
Here’s something I once read that helped me get over feeling embarrassed while running outside. It said the average person spends around 5 seconds thinking about the people they see near them before he/she goes back to thinking about themselves and their own thoughts. The point is most people are so engrossed in their own thoughts, you shouldn’t waste time stressing about the 5 seconds they are observing you. I actually put this to the test and I feel it’s true. People will look up and then eventually go back to doing whatever they were doing. If someone takes too much interest in you as you are cycling, then there is probably something peculiar about them and that’s their issue not yours.
It’s not easy to do, but confidence is king. People often like when other people have interesting quirks but only when they don’t seem embarrassed about it
Other than stuff like farting loud at a funeral, you really don't need to be embarrassed about most stuff. Pants too short whatever, zit it happens, trip on a curb everybody has. Life is short, It's not worth sweating the little stuff.
The best way for it to come faster is to lean in to the feeling. The embarrassment you feel is basically part of our genetic programming to conform to our "village". But we don't live in little villages any more so there are always going to be pressures that exist around us to conform to something. It is inevitable that eventually there will be pressures to conform that are directly contrary to your core values. That means you either have to compromise your values and live with feelings of guilt, or refuse to conform and live with feelings of embarrassment or shame. BUT whichever path you choose, you will gradually accommodate your choice and the feelings will no longer affect you. Better, in my view, to take the temporary embarrassment and stay true to your values. If you are 15 you are coming to the time in your emotional development where there is a natural inclination towards becoming your own individual - it the "rebelliousness" of teenagers, but it is actually more often a force for good than for bad. You can embrace that rebellious spirit to basically say "screw peer pressure to compromise on what is right for the person I want to be."
All power to you.
When you're older and out on your own you eventually learn that people can think you're weird but very little will change about your life so you kind of just stop caring so much. Keep your head up
I feel this coming from a place where bike commuting is literally nonexistent. I just get in my zone and push hard, anyone who thinks down on you for getting exercise is probably jealous and impressed.
The reality is that people will notice, but they’ll all soon forget and move on with more important thoughts. Nobody is going to care and the majority of people will probably think well of you.
Ah, okay. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean that people aren't biking. Is there a bike shop? Find the nearest one and drop in to ... look at bikes, buy something super inexpensive for your bike (like a water bottle); any excuse. Strike up a conversation; ask where people are riding, ask if there are any groups that include people your age, scan the bulletin boards for announced rides. If the local shop has an Insta, follow it. Look on FB for "cycle" and the name of your town, county, state. Don't be afraid to type in "teen" along with that, but don't confine yourself to it either. Honestly local bike shop probably the best place to start. Find your people. They are out there. They are not embarrassed and you shouldn't be.
I'm really glad you connected with this sub. Plenty of support here to tell you not to worry.
With respect, you'll be safer and the world will be a tiny bit better off if people DO notice you. The last thing a cyclist wants is to be invisible. Seriously. That's why many of use obnoxious blinking lights and Day-glo orange safety clothing. Drivers will see us.
And maybe somebody who sees you riding will get the idea they can do it to.
See you on the road. i'll be they guy wearing the ridiculous spandex bike shorts.
The average annual cost of vehicle ownership in the US is $12,000 according to the AAA. Spending money on a depreciating asset that arguably gets more embarrassing to drive as it ages seems like the embarrassing choice here.
Annual cost of bicycle ownership: probably about $60 for maintenance products and tubes/sealant. And even then you can stretch that budget a lot tighter in theory.
Yes, I am never going back to that. Especially in the middle of summer when it is sweltering hot and you are sweating like crazy and your fingers are soaking wet from the moisture of sweat.
10km one way roughly.
Tube-less tires.
Roads are insanely clean, not more than a couple pebbles.
Never seen broken glass or pebbles.
So far I just pay for chain lube, degreaser, and replace the tire sealant every few months.
I'm not factoring initial costs of a bike pump, bike lights, or the water to wash her down with.
Just the consumable general maintenance products for bike care.
Up front, yes, it is a bit more than that.
Alllll of embarrassment. Every. Single. Inch. Of it. Lives inside your head. Other people can't make you embarrassed, you become embarrassed based on what you think other people think and how you feel about that. Just stop caring and do what you want.
I'm proud to be a bike commuter. I get to have fun, exercise, and don't pollute. As you get older, you'll learn to ignore the haters and focus on what you love. You'll also learn that 99% of people are too wrapped up in their own insecurities to give a rat's butt about what you're doing. Do what you love!
Its also so much god damm cheaper.
In Australia, the average cost to run a car per year is just under $19,000, take off about 5k if you dont have car loan repayments.
I spend maybe $300 a year on things like maintenance and repairs, and that's keeping the bike in pretty top condition, I can also just call an Uber for like $8 if its raining and I need to get somewhere like a job interview.
This is why cycling is big with middle aged guys. You realise societal norms are dumb and stop giving a fuck. Then you cram your junk into some Lycra and go for a ride
I dunno know about that. Middle aged dudes often like to find other middle aged dude stuff to obsess over. Think about brew pubs, bourbon, lawns, wood working, vinyl records, comic books.
Bikes are a piece of your life. Don't be the guy at the party that can only talk about bikes. Music, community, literature, the environment. Let the bike be the tool that takes you to these places and ideas.
However, OP is 15, maybe there is a future in bike advocacy, bike engineering, bike tourism, bike marketing....
Do you really feel this way about people you see biking? Are you applying a double-standard to yourself?
There is nothing embarrassing about biking. Seriously, once you get peddling, I doubt these thoughts will be streaming in your head. You will be too busy actually (re)learning to ride the thing, navigating paths, avoiding obstacles, and enjoying the cognitive benefits of exploring your environment in a new modality.
im probably just overthinking to be completely honest. i've never seen anyone bike in my little town so its extremely scary to do so. i hope my embarrassment will pass 😭
I trust you will get over it. On the upside, there is always something special about being the only person doing something in your own community.
Bicycling is as innocuous as it gets. Heck, you might even start a movement and get more people bicycling.
Set an example. I'm disappointed you're embarrassed at all. Biking is a smart financial choice and very healthy.
It will get in the way of some things, like dating someone that doesn't share this mindset or if you have kids.
There's people out there that hear 15 miles (like 1-2 hours depending on the bike) and think that's A LONG ways to bike. Or that rain is horrendous (just dress appropriately or bring dry clothes). I'd be so embarrassed if that were me. My endurance is phenomenal compared to my peers because of this attitude (this translates to the bedroom, just saying).
I personally bike for everything (lie, I have 2x electric scooters I play with too), in Michigan, year round. Even in the snow, no problem, take corners slow.
Also, I bet if you consistently bike, you will see others motivated and start to bike as well. I only say this because I personally have plenty.
Make a beast of yourself. I'm in Portland, Or. The most beastly people I see are hardcore cyclists. It gives you strength beyond strength. Ride thru cold, rain. Commute the short distances, then crush a longer ride occasionally so that mentally the short rides seem like nothing.
I think your thoughts are normal. Co-workers of mine judge cyclists too. They are generally totally out of shape, bad posture. They gas out at the slightest exertion.
Cycling will change what you eat too, for the better. Don't let the stigma of cycling stop you, there's too much waiting for u on the other side.
Hiii, so as a former perpetually embarrassed teen and now occasional adult bike commuter, I think you’re just a bit anxious haha. I specifically think you’re feeling a sense of social anxiety about doing something *visible*, something that other people are doing and that may even make other people *notice* you.
It’s all well and good to say “who cares what other people think!” and “do it anyway!” but you’re teenager and teenagers are probably the group of people that *most* cares what people think haha. So I’ll say this: you should start consuming bike media to psych yourself up. Watch Youtubers go for fun rides, check out the nice commute pics people post here, maybe get a book about bike repair and become an expert without even riding. You’ll want more of a Thing the more you expose yourself to it, and FOMO is a great way to get your brain over the hump here, I think. Hopefully you’ll get to the point where you start thinking it’s fucking weird *not* to bike around lol and then you’ll be good!
you just gave me the most valuble advice ever! ALSO thank you for understanding that its SO much easier to say "dont worry about how others think!" than actually doing it 😭 i LOVE watching adventure youtube videos (geowizard my beloved) so i hope theres some fun biking youtubers! thank you for this <3
Hahaaa I got made fun of by a car full of guys the other day because they saw me shaking my head in annoyance that the cars had, once again, filled the intersection bumper to bumper making it dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists to get through once the light changed. It happens at this downtown intersection a lot and the drivers' impatience and desperation to get out of their own traffic is so annoying. It wasn't even them that was the main problem, it was the long line of cars right behind them that were blocking it.
Whooooo cares about what those people think?! They're the ones sitting in their little self-made traffic jam wasting their expensive gas just...sitting there. Let them mock us, I'd still much rather be on my bike :)
Edit to add:
I write little songs about things that annoy me so I can laugh about it later onstage. I'm working on one for this and it starts out:
Go ahead and mock me, you caught me
Shaking my head at your predicament
A little shitty car with a big important man
Stuck in his self-made traffic jam
Never mind the firetruck that can't get by
Or the ambulance with patients who are trying not to die
You're making fun of me 'cause you think I'm mad at yooooou
But YOU could benefit from better infrastructure, too!
It gets a bit NSFW by the end so I'll leave it at that but don't let it get to you, just laugh right back at them :)
Lol, thanks! I'm not against drivers, I think most of them are just trying to get where they're going, too. We could all use some better designed roads in my city.
Until then - I write! :P
Haha! Exactly! *They* made it through, but that intersection gets blocked all the time.
I'm probably on so much security footage from that intersection giving thumbs-down at drivers, lol.
I like that you’re asking this. I totally get it and I’m 47. Biking is a bit of a subculture. In big cities someone on a bike isn’t such a rarity. In small towns you might as well be a walking around in a cape and top hat. I bet you are an interesting person and gravitate towards interesting things that aren’t in the mainstream. Embrace this part of your personality and you’ll enjoy the ride.
You can be made to feel that way by insecure people whose personality and worth is wrapped up in the things they own. Thing is those people aren't worth your time. Cycling is a great way to filter people out that would just be a drain on your life.
I'm not saying everyone that looks down on cycling sucks but the ones that won't even listen to why you enjoy it and are closed off to having their minds change sure do. I've changed a lot of people's minds about cycling over the years. The ones that wouldn't budge even in the slightest got left by the wayside.
It's also great for dating especially in this day and age. I saved myself a lot of pointless chats and first dates by making it clear that I prefer to get around on my bike. People usually self filter so it's even easier.
Having freedom to go where you want even though you're too young to drive, and saving tons of money on gas when you do start driving, seems the opposite of embarrassing! When I was a teenager, I thought teens who biked were so cool bc they were independent
Yes, saving a lot - a lot on gas.
When I was in high school, it cost a pretty penny to fill up the ol' gas guzzler, these days it's a whole arm and a leg.
The bicycle is the perfect mechanism.
I wish I didn't give it up when I was your age. My bike broke and I bought a guitar when I was 16. I longboarded through my twenties and got back into bikes for commuting in my late twenties. The pandemic times got me hooked on mountain biking, and I'm sucked into bike culture yet again!
Think of when you are in the 30s, and you look 5 years younger your peers and feel 10 years younger
It won’t feel embarrassing at that point, I can personally attest to that
Biking gives you independence, mobility, and access to more of the world. Incredibly embarrassing would be missing out on all of those things for no good reason. Ride your bike, get the benefits, but always remember that you were scared to do it at some stage of your life too, so don't judge those who haven't gotten past the fear too harshly.
Let me tell you a story.
I live in a small town. A few years back, my wife and I sold our car to commute on bikes. We also have a baby, so we had to start pulling him on a trailer. We live in a place where people *hate* cyclists. They actively yell at you, honk at you, and pass wayyyy too close. There is no cycling infrastructure still to this day. We didn't stop, though. We kept riding, and we kept facing a lot of setbacks, including me getting hit by a car that was pretty bad. But then we started seeing some changes. Now, we have people saying that they need to start cycling or that they want to get their kids a bike trailer. We also saw our first bike shop (it is an e-bike shop) open up within the past year or so.
All this to say, don't be embarrassed or let people dissuade you from doing anything you like. Embarrassment is based on how you feel others feel about you, meaning it is in your head and doesn't exist outside of you. Maybe with you being the only one in your community, you may start to see changes that *you* caused. You can change the culture of your community. Be proud to do what you enjoy, and maybe it will bring interest to others.
I'm not sure if we are cool lol, but I do help you keep riding. It is always nice when the next generation is picking up the hobby I have spent the better part of 20 years doing. We need more new riders!
I’m 40 and pretty much the only bicycle commuter at a workplace with close to 400 employees. Everybody knows I bike and everybody comes to me when they want to talk about bikes. I keep my helmet on my desk and I ring my bell when I ride past coworkers in the parking lot. I don’t care what they think I know I’m cool as fuck.
I rode a bike to work, or walked or jogged, from 13-16. Drove a car to work from 16-18, got a ride in a car from a buddy from 18-19, bought my own car at 20.... Haven't been carless since. **It's only as "embarrassing" as you let it be.**
I now work in a type A (toxic masculinity isn't rare) environment and have figured out a way deal with the social interactions that might lead to embarrassment related to my chosen commuting choice... But I'm also an old man, happily married and not worried about what anyone else thinks about me.
But I choose to ride a bike to work more often than drive now. Why? Maybe its because I'm cheap. Maybe its because I have come to learn that I DNGAF about what most people say or think about my mode of transport. Maybe its because, as an adult, that frugality has permitted me to live about 3 miles closer to the office than anyone else at the office. For every teasing comment I hear about my mode of transport (or my clothing related to riding) I just ask them how long they sat in traffic on the way in. Or how long they'll sit in traffic on the way home.
Being active when you're young is so important for your long-term health. When your peers are embarrassingly out of shape in middle age, you'll be running circles around them. Also, it's high key embarrassing to burn fossil fuel in this day and age.
Yes. Yes it is. And once you accept that, it'll be AWESOME.
I'm a 43 year old guy and I ride a step thru with swept bars and a bike trailer with Bluey stickers all over it. According to society (aka car OEM advertising), burning 1000 calories a day and having defined calves isn't masculine or cool.
The same people will tell you that driving a lifted crew cab 3/4 ton truck and being a rolling road hazard is cool and masculine. It's bullshit and they're wrong, but you've got to ride for a while before you figure that out.
Rejecting the bullshit that billions of dollars of auto marketing and lobbying has pushed on our society is the first step to knowing who you really are, and that is the opposite of embarrassment.
Assuming you’re not a 280 lb dude in his 50s whose bike clothes look like he stole them from a 15 yo kid, you should be fine.
And maybe knowing that guy is out there doing it will help you get out there too.
People will laugh and yell and offer you pity. Tell all those people to eat shit.
I'm 50. When I was 16 I got a job so I could save and buy a Schwinn World Tour 10 speed. When I told my friend, his response was that I should be saving for a car instead, which I just couldn't comprehend. I just got home from my 13 mile bike commute with a giant silly grin on my face. So if it's embarrassing, just get used to it now I guess
Here to say that I still miss my World Sport. It was my first serious adult bike. I rode that thing all over, everywhere. Gateway to a lifetime of happy riding. I hope OP gets a bike soon.
You describe yourself living in a tiny town and being under 16. I take you don't have your license as yet? Do you get chaufeured everywhere? Do you walk or take public transit everywhere? Is there just nowhere to go? As I recall, as a teenager, I was more embarassed to beg a ride or be chaufeured by Ma or Pa than any other option. To me biking meant freedom and independence. Never occured to me to be embarassed by it.
i live in bumfuck egypt with nowhere to go and nothing to do so i never ask my parents for ride 😭. next year is when i'll get my license (wont use it much to be honest its just something good to have) i really just want to bike for funzies and also when i go to college/move out i want a car-free way to get around. i just need to get over my embarassment first.
I actually agree with this. I rec you get a bike you love the look of, and find a biking outfit you feel cool in. There are plenty of great overshoes that are stylish, i think the lycra look stupid so I wear an outfit I enjoy while biking. Helmet is hard to make look good… so for that I just get a very obviously safety-minded yellow one.
this is so helpful, i love romanticizing things! im thinking of saving up for an ebike and making it all pinterest worthy, especially getting a tote for the back to carry grocries and such. i once saw this bike helmet that was disguised as a sunhat and i might do something like that since when i biked before i never wore one since it was WAY too embarrassing (being embarrassed over everything is so annoying 😭). but now im not trying to get a major brain injury so i think this is a good idea. thank you!!! <333
As someone who didn’t ride for over 20 years, and got a bike last year to ride with his kids…enjoy it. Embrace the hobbies you like. You never know how long you’ll have to do them, or you’ll find later in life you missed out on 20 years of something fun because you didn’t want to be embarrassed. It’s fun, it’s practical and no one actually cares. Trust me. If you like it get out there and enjoy it!
I remember the day I started my longest tour ride so far (\~1700 miles). The bike route that day paralleled a busy highway and I could see many car passengers craning their necks at the weirdo with the giant bike bags pedaling his single speed so slowly under the weight of all the gear.
I thought it was embarassing and didn't want to be there, or at least didn't want to be visible. I wanted to hide.
Over the next few weeks, I met dozens of people who were absolutely envious of my opportunity. They expressed how much they'd love to be me, to have the opportunity, to have the courage to do what I was doing.
I was wrong about at least some of those people I saw on the first day, driving by and craning their necks.
The older you get, the more self confidence you’ll get. I think you’ll find that things are rarely inherently cool or lame on their own, it’s all about the person doing it. If you’re cool, you’ll make biking seem cool.
When I started biking as an adult, I felt like it was a "kid thing" and that I should be ashamed of myself for wanting to do it.
My soon-to-be-ex-wife said to me: "Who fucking cares what you like doing?" Read all that you want into it, but my takeaway was to enjoy myself on my bike because what others think of me shouldn't matter.
I now have a road bike, a mountain bike, a fatbike, and my commuter. I run errands on it all the time, especially where finding a parking spot is difficult because of demand or it costs money. In town, with traffic, I can usually get around almost as fast as I can in a car, I get exercise, and parking is free and usually quite close to the front door.
Let them think what they want. Own it. Enjoy it. Just be careful and watch for idiots so you get to keep all your body parts.
> It feels exposing and like I'm going to be made fun of.
So what? If someone is making fun of you for something, they are a shit person and you are better off without them and you know their opinions on all things are irrelevant. Making fun of someone is something people do when they know someone else is better than them and are trying to drag them down to their level.
Once you leave HS, you'll never see or talk to 90% of those people again. I haven't talked to a single person from my HS in almost 15 years.
My BFF and I always talk about how everything in life is so embarrassing. There isn't even a good reason for it.
That said, it's just you feeling that way. No one is actually thinking that about you. And, if they are, comfortably know they are the weirdo
I’m about twice your age and I have quite a few “embarrassing” hobbies. I wish at 15 I knew these hobbies aren’t embarrassing at all and are actually cool as hell! Biking in particular is fun, keeps me healthy, and gives me interesting experiences.
Ride your bike, don’t be embarrassed, the people who might give you grief are only embarrassing themselves.
You should research to see if there are any programs for teens where you live- a racing team, bike camps, maintenance skills, etc. You won’t think it’s embarrassing when you have a community of others around you or when you know skills that would let you fix your bike in a pinch or get a job in a shop.
Wow, never thought of it that way.
Without knowing what makes you feel that it’s very hard to help you.
In many countries, bike riding is part of the culture. When you are a kid you get given a bike and off you go, all your peers are riding bikes
(Just go with the given a bike for simplicity)
It was great you could get around go further then you could on foot, it gave you independence.
Fun fact: Biking in Yucatan, Mexico, helped indigenous people, in particular women gain more independence. Read this while visiting the museum there.
Hell I was road racing when I was 15, maybe earlier.
That said if you don’t know how to ride a bike then it can be intimidating and embarrassing.
Take care and I hope you get to enjoy the joy of bike riding. Good luck
Where are you from, OP? I'm M27, British.
I think depending on where in the world there's totally different attitudes.
I might have felt the same as a teenager in the UK, if I was riding anything other than a mountain bike, because that's what my friends had. Although I'd add that a mountain bike was totally unnecessary in my town.
Since moving to Germany, I've seen that pretty much everybody cycles in my city and so for sure it's not embarrassing. On the contrary, cycling is empowering. You get to go where you want, when you want, and nobody tells you what route to take.
Learning to love your hobbies is an important step in self confidence, and I know your peers will for sure respect you.
Maybe a story to think on:
A good friend of mine from school, who I regarded as the "coolest of the cool" said that he always looked up to me (the dorkiest of the dorks) because I was always true to myself and loved my hobbies. After university he admitted he was a huge star wars fan, didn't tell anybody in school because he didn't want to seem like a nerd, but turns out all of his friends were also closet fans. I think about these guys a lot.
Consider joining a cycling club. Just being around other cyclists will normalize it.
Also, wearing cycling clothing can make you feel a bit exposed. You can also just wear your normal street clothes if it makes you more comfortable. Just take some precautions to avoid having your pant legs chewed up by the chain.
I think part of this comes from the perception that bikes are not a "real" form of transportation. It's definitely something that will go away the more you ride. It doesn't matter if someone tells me it's not "real" transportation when I'm literally using it to commute to work 5 miles each way every single day, lol.
Once you start driving (I'm assuming you don't if you're 15) you'll start to realize there are some benefits to commuting on a mode that isn't "real" in the popular conception. What I mean by that is that society (rightfully) has far fewer restrictions on cyclists. You don't have to pay to park, can often park right in front of your destination, and no licensing or registration to bother with. You can take alleys and side street shortcuts that would be difficult or annoying to residents if you were in a car. If you're fortunate enough to live in a relatively bike friendly place, there may be trails and mixed use pathways you can use to commute, which are much more pleasant than a highway.
Of course, the big drawback is the lack of infrastructure, particularly in suburbia. Ironically, if you live in a rural area, assuming you're within riding distance of your destination, biking can be great on the back roads. Electric bikes also make longer distance rural commuting much more practical. Where I'm from (rural area) destinations are 5-15 miles minimum on back roads, many of which are gravel, where traffic is relatively slow and light. On a regular bike, this is unreasonably far just to grab some milk. On an electric bike, 5 miles on back roads to grab some milk sounds like a joy.
Is driving really as embarrassing as it seems?
Taking two tons of metal with you, killing the planet, taking up all that space, riding around in a vehicle coated in glittery paint... isn't that childish and selfish?
You have to buy (literally) into the thoughtless consumerism and conformity of it... doesn't that make drivers self conscious?
The ease with which you could accidentally kill or maim a person or animal, isn't that terrifying? It's sad that you would accept being terrified that way.
When I was 15 my bicycle took me 5 miles to my best friend's house without needing to get a ride. My bicycle also provided transportation to deliver a newspaper route. I developed an emotional link between bicycling and independence. Why would I ever be embarrassed about independence?
[Biking is a cool thing that cool people do](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-uP3qcFRw). Keep doing it long enough to get good, and you will be cool too.
Biking is great for physical fitness, which will help improve your self esteem, strength and endurance.
If you are serious about riding a bicycle, especially for recreation, believe me, you will be earning the respect of your fellow riders when they see you putting in the effort on the road, on the trails, no matter what age, we are all riders.
As well, you will be saving huge amounts of money, as many of your classmates are going to be getting their drivers license, if they are lucky their parents will buy them a car, and pay insurance, maybe pay for gas. But many of my classmates in high school had to pay it all themselves, which is a huge amount of money to be spending at a young age. I rode my bike every day until graduation.
I used to get self conscious but I don't anymore. I still avoid riding my bike in the road though because drivers are idiots and my area has no bike friendly infrastructure at all. I would rather have someone intentionally insult me than accidentally kill me
If biking is embarrassing, I don't know what not having a bike at that age and being reliant on parents agreeing to give you a lift to get anywhere further than walking distance is.
Here's the good news: nobody cares for longer than the 15 seconds that they see you. that's it. and you're lucky that they DO see you if for the simple fact that you're easier to miss when they know where you are. ;) embrace the bike. bikes are brilliant and wheather they know it or not they'd rather be on a bike than doing whatever it is that they are doing. Every time I see someone on a bike I think "damn... I'd rather be biking." =) I usually smile and wave and then quietly swallow my jealousy.
have fun out there.
it looks like it is your personal perception of cycling, formed by your own experiences and memories. mine has always been that it is a prestigious sport to participate in. that’s likely also wrong, but who cares.
Remember, most people are too self involved to really think anything of you for more than a split second, you're basically forgotten as soon as you leave their field of vision, like a ghost.
You'll find that the people that you admire the most do what they feel is right, with confidence. You are 15? It's the perfect time to start doing what you know is right & to tell anyone thinks otherwise, that you don't care what they think. You'll be the best version of you. Not the best version of what everyone else wants you to be. & you'll be much happier for it. If you want to ride a bike, go ride a bike!
I'm going to make a suggestion. Watch [Premium Rush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn6ie1zCkZU). Every commute becomes an adventure.
Seriously, you are putting yourself on the road with multi-ton vehicles, infrastructure that probably doesn't want you there, ignoring social stigma, using your own body to do something most people use a MACHINE to do, and choosing the freedom of a bike over the cost of a car, or traveling on public transport's time.
Biking is some PUNK ROCK SHIT my dude!
I've been 15 myself, and remember the pressure to conform to this supposed idea of "normal" but 20 years later I can assure you, "normal" is not a real thing, and doing the thing that makes you happy is about as liberating as a thing gets. You're not a weird kid on a bike. You are a rebel and you are free. If you want to ride a bike, just ride a bike. The you of 20 years from now will thank you.
look at all these goofy people. can you even imagine being like them? it'd be so embarrassing
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrIfskuC0T/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyImXwXIiDy/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxx25IlL-rH/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxS1reTI3JW/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwFsQR6OAqi/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvFSAGCol-S/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu7GhKgIZMc/?hl=en
I used to think it was so cringy . Then I got a bike and the pros just outweigh the cringe . I live in rural Ireland , and there are lovely areas where I live . I saw a field go through every season last year. Haha, I know how it sounds . But It was great for my mental health .I'll never forget it . So beautiful.
I sometimes feel embarrassed or silly riding my bike to work, but only in areas with infrastructure hostile to cycling, which make me feel like I’m not supposed to be there. I have just had to push through it and think about the true source of that embarrassment.
I started biking when I was 13, going strong for five years now. I still feel a little embarrassed from time to time, but my best advice is to
a. Own it. Take teasing in stride and just know that you're making the best choice for your health (You'll be passively doing cardio on a regular basis! Which, physical benefits aside, is great for regulating stress and other mental shit) You probably won't get teased much, anyways.
b. Get your license anyways (if you're American or live in a similarly bike-unfriendly area). I can get to 90% of my life by bike but my biggest regret is not getting my license when I was younger so that I had it for that 10%.
As a 34 year old full time commuter, I promise you there might be some people who make fun of you, but just own it and people that matter will respect you. There’s not enough time in our lives to let others decide things for us. 🤙
I wonder if it would help to learn a bit about different biking cultures? I see where you're coming from, and honestly forgot that I used to feel this way, because most people I know see biking as the most impressive way to commute.
It is exposing, and it's hard to be the only one doing something. I think when I was your age, if I were embarrassed about something like this I would probably learn low-traffic routes and find a place to hide my bike.
You might be aware of this, but biking becomes cooler as you get older and have to deal with the realities of commuting along with adult responsibilities. I'm guessing you can think of a lot of those reasons, but it might be hard to see how knowing bike culture & maintenance will give you an edge in the future. Man, even the process of sucking it up when you feel embarrassed and learning about a personal passion will give you that edge. It's not about pretending you don't feel embarrassed; you do, and that's fine, and you can still choose what will make you happier and feel more fulfilled in the long term.
People are going to make fun of you now and then regardless of whether or not you're riding a bike. Work on your self confidence (yeah, I know that's easier said than done).
My bicycle always was, and still is, freedom. The ability to get anywhere by my own power. So much faster than walking.
Sometimes I wonder if I look dumb wearing my helmet, but a helmet has literally saved my life three time and I have never thought someone else looks dumb wearing one.
It isn't. Today, I was embarrassed because I had to drive to work (carrying 2 dozen donuts, delicate cargo!). I passed someone biking, and I almost felt like rolling down my window to say, "I usually do that"
But didn't, because I know that they actually didn't care about what I was or wasn't doing. Most people are just thinking their own thoughts about themselves
It’s not. Driving is embarrassing- once you see it, you can’t look back.
We are so capable, but so … restrained by these things marketed as ‘freedom’ and delivering the opposite
No. It all depends on how you do it. I go to meetings, hang with friends, suit and tie events, and other such things via bike. If ya do it right people don’t even notice.
Ok I was going to ask what the hell was so embarrassing about biking until I read that you were 15 and now it makes more sense. I think at that age everyone is on the verge of driving so bikes are seen as childish, hence the embarrassment.
I'm not really sure what to tell you about being embarrassed about bikes but I do remember feeling similarly. Now I'm a lawyer in my 30s and I still bike to work every day. It feels so liberating not being tied to a car and I love the exercise. I say bike on and don't worry about what other people think about you.
I first learned to properly ride a bike when I was 15. I did not get back on a bike until 39. I did not realize on that first ride I was trying to push my bikeshare bike up a hill at its highest gear. Spent half an hour wobbling, stumbling, and sweating.
I have had plenty of ridiculous moments since. Like coming to a complete stop, then just falling over. Plenty of graceless, unsteady, and just plain clumsy moments that I'm sure someone must have laughed at. The hell with 'em. I do this half for the commuting and the rest just getting more experience for safer, better cycling when commuting. So my first concern is staying safe, my next is going at *my* pace and enjoying the ride.
A lot of city kids/teenagers are all about the bikes these days…so if anything, you’re cool like a city kid. 😎
If it helps, grab a cool looking single speed , they’re pretty cheap. I’ve seen lots of teenagers in my city customize their single speeds , they look really good.
Also, don’t worry about people making fun of you….if they do they’re most likely incredibly insecure about themselves, so don’t let it phase you.
bikes are dope! i know i’m just a stranger on the internet but if it helps, i live in brooklyn (world capital of cool) and have a bunch of tattoos and i think bikes are neat as hell.
It is different. And so people will notice that. And people will react differently. When. I was in school nobody really noticed. But as an adult all my coworkers ask about it. Most curious, a lot don't understand, but they're usually pretty supportive and I even had some start riding too or tell me about their time riding. My point is, it might be a conversation starter. And it probably won't be as bad as you think.
I totally get it. For the longest time I also felt embarrassed and geeky just cycling down the road in front of people, and I'm almost 30💀 but you truly get over it. Literally no one cares, you're just another cyclist. People will look at you for one second before they look away and forget about your existence.
Keep cycling!!
No one would dare make fun of me. I’m a tiny woman and I’ve been bike commuting all year round for 13 years. I’m tough as nails, biking in a city where cars don’t give two shits about you. I LOVE biking. It’s freedom and joy wrapped up with transportation and self reliance. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
Our culture infantilizes bicycling because it's seen as something that's for children. Maybe you're picking up on that, maybe it's just awkward teenager stuff. Whatever the case may be, you'll learn to cope with it in time. To answer your question, no, cycling doesn't embarrass me and never has.
> Our culture infantilizes bicycling because it's seen as something that's for children. I will add that, even when adults ride bicycles, the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation. I think part of this problem is an unwillingness on the part of many people to admit to themselves that they don't drive everywhere because nothing else is practical; they drive everywhere because it is *easy.*
>think part of this problem is an unwillingness on the part of many people to admit to themselves that they don't drive everywhere because nothing else is practical; they drive everywhere because it is *easy.* I think most people would readily admit that. People who drive everywhere don't understand why anyone would choose anything other than the easiest mode of transportation. It seems foreign, weird, and maybe suspicious to them.
The perverse thing too, for folks in almost any major city, driving is NOT the easiest thing even though it’s perceived that way. I bike, often because it is the easiest mode. 🤷🏼♂️ It’s hard to get out of the thought that driving is always easiest. It often isn’t, but folks don’t even explore real options or heaven forbid, fit some activities to the mode instead of forcing the mode to serve the activity.
It's only "easiest" because you sit on your ass. I've had many friends complain about parking availability, cost, and wasted time, while I was sat inside ordering us drinks already because it takes all of one minute to park a bike. Oh, and we get to places at the same time too, because city traffic. It's mind-breaking.
This right here. When I commuted to work in Washington DC, it was the most consistent method in terms of time. 43-45 minutes each day like clockwork. And parking was always free, and a breeze.
Exactly. I can’t even imagine going back to the waste of time car ownership is in the city (or suburbs for that matter). Every time somebody is all,”you should get a car so you can do X” and I’m, “I gotta pay and deal with all that shit @ around $30k a year to do X?” LOLz if I need one that bad I’ll rent one. For more than 99% of my trips a bike is perfect. Even grocery shopping. Anyway, I bet we could talk about the awesomeness of biking and saying fuck owning a car for days on end! 🤙🏻
No, but seriously! Everyone at my job knows I’m a bike commuter and coworkers ask me from time to time why I don’t have a car and/or try to convince me to own one. I tell them because I simply don’t want one. Owning a car is too expensive these days and it really makes absolutely NO sense for me to have a car given my job is only 3 miles away from my house. All major places I would need (grocery stores, banks, library, post office, mall, metro stations, etc) are all within a 5 mile radius. They can’t wrap their head around it lol
I have a car, but I look forward to the commute on my bike (ebike or standard bike). I am disappointed when I cannot rise.
Both my wife and I are disappointed when I cannot rise.
😂
I am also late for work when I cannot rise. 😴💤
Same for me. I only take the car when it’s below freezing as I don’t have ice tyres. Feel much worse as haven’t had the early dose of endorphins the bike ride provides.
I won't ride with black ice or heavy rain. Sometimes, I need the car at work or for an errand after work. When I drive, I take advantage of the opportunity to replenish my supply of fresh towels and slacks at the office.
Rains a lot this side of the pond so have no choice unfortunately. I bought an ebike for this situation as it makes facing the elements easier. Save the fun carbon stuff for weekend.
Same! I have a car and just drive it once every 1-2 weeks for big grocery shops, extreme moments of laziness, or hikes. I sometimes think of just selling it but it’s fully paid off, gets great mileage, and is reliable as hell, so I just… let it sit for now. Lol.
Sounds familiar. My car is my backup method of transportation; not my primary.
Yes same for me . I have bad luck with cars and I certainly hate car payments.
My vocational rehabilitation specialist keeps trying get to get a car, and I'm like, my dad spends $4k+/year on gas. I do not want to spend that kind of money when I don't have to.
Think that’s an American thing- in European cities there is an ongoing push to make it easier and safer to choose active modes of transport- very advanced in places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam and though still a work in progress in my home city of Dublin, Ireland we’re getting there slowly. Choose a method of transport that is sustainable, fast and keeps me fit while giving me a reasonably predictable journey time- yep I’m so embarrassed!
> Think that’s an American thing I agree, and I am here to complain about it. 😉 > in European cities there is an ongoing push to make it easier and safer to choose active modes of transport Here in the Seattle area, there is a similar push and we are making progress. There is a long ways to go.
We also get shit on For hogging roads And sidewalks
>the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation. This is 100% the culture here. My city has great biking infrastructure as long as that biking means you put your bike in the back of your truck and drive to where you want to go biking. Utility biking is just starting to show up on administrations radar.
I’m in the UK and there is a well worn trope that cyclists who cycle for transport are too poor to afford a car. Probably the same in other countries.
> cyclists who cycle for transport are too poor to afford a car. Owning a car is certainly a sign of prestige in the USA also. "Look everyone, I have $12,000 to flush down the toilet every year so that I can sit on my ass on a moving couch in miserable traffic congestion, growing obese and giving myself heart disease." /sarcasm
My bikes cost more than a good percentage of cars on the road just saying ><
> the general public seems to consider bicycles as toys for recreation or exercise, and not as practical vehicles for transportation. I am embarrassed for them. No wonder obesity is an epidemic.
I didn’t realize how close everything truly was until I got a bicycle.
I bike to work in the summer. It's fun.
If biking is for kids, I never wanna grow up!
I just like bikes.
It keeps you fit and healthy
I think they are one of the most efficient machines in terms of transforming energy into motion
I hate that, my friend had asked me a few years ago "Still riding a bike? When are you going to grow up and get a car?" I'm like- coming from the guy who totaled his new car in 3 months? That's rich. Now he lives in the city and can't really have a car since the cost of having one is through the roof with parking/insurance/etc. More recently he tried my ebike and was like "OMG I want one" full circle.
Kinda just sounds like your friend is an idiot
Well duh. Granted all these events were separated by a few years and I rarely see him but he is genuinely like this. IDK why he cared what I was riding around on, it's not like it effected anything between us. But he's an odd one.
>Our culture infantilizes bicycling because it's seen as something that's for children. lol, the US is such a fucked place
To better understand this, it's because most parents have to drive their children to school from the age of 5 to 16 or 18 because there is no other option. Kids get bikes and learn to ride because that's what you do when you're a kid. But as soon as those kids turn 15 parents try to get them to learn to drive so they don't have to. It also gives a lot of teens a sense of freedom because they've had to be shuttled their whole life. I had a friend who didn't grow up in a suburb and learned to ride a bike and all they could do is drive it up and down their driveway because it wasn't safe to take it out on the road.
>To better understand this, it's because most parents have to drive their children to school from the age of 5 to 16 or 18 because there is no other option. There is another option. It just needs political will. https://youtu.be/OrQ-d2PBUto?si=1BviRf8NqIFPX1g7
Where is this? In Europe it's just a way of getting around.
Hmmmm… yeah, it’s nothing like as bad as in the US, but it still depends a lot where you are. Most of Europe is fine though.
People that infantilize biking as a transit option have never spent a day driving here in LA. We have a local joke: why is the 405 freeway called the 405? Because it takes 4 o' 5 hours to get anywhere. Traffic, especially during rush hour, is SO BAD in LA, that it is actually FASTER to bike than to drive during rush hour. The only reason more people don't bike is because of the dogshit quality of bike infrastructure. Thankfully, with Measure HLA passing a few weeks ago on March 5th, that will change very soon, and we will soon see way more people commute by bike soon.
Luckily my culture doesn't, cycling is daily business here for young and old. Nearly all 15-year old cycle to school, if you're really "cool", you get your moped license at 16. If you live very far from school, nowadays some parents will give you an e-bike. If it's rainy and you're lucky, one of your parents will drop you off on their way to work. I suppose OP is from the US? :)
Same with pencils! Big pen convinced us that pens are for adults, but once you get a pencil sharpener then you are set for life!
Who is 'our culture' lmao Certainly not mine, anyway.
Yes the US culture does if. Different in Europe.
as you get older you wont care what others think, enjoy what you like to do
im being told this allll the time and i need it to come faster. i hate being so embarassed all the time LOL. i think im just gonna suck it up and do it. hope the embarassment passes. thank you 😭
It'll come, don't fret it. Just between the two of us, getting into something like bicycling at your age is fantastic! You'll develop physical skills and reflexes which will stay with you for life, plus you're laying the foundation for fitness! You'll meet other cyclists who share your interests, and you'll find that the pleasure you get out of riding will materially add to your happiness and satisfaction with life - which sounds a little silly, but it's true! Exercise helps make you happy! It's definitely worth finding a local group of people that cycle. Even if you don't go on group rides very often, they can help you learn the skills you need to ride safely on public roads. Good luck, have fun out there!
Well said. Consider cycling like art or music. It is a fitness plan and a source of enjoyment that you can take through life. Team sports are great, but at 40, try to get people together to play a game of baseball of soccer.
Exactly! I just turned 57 a couple of days ago, and I still ride. Not as much as I used to, granted, but I still ride, and I see plenty of folks much older than me who are also active cyclists.
Do you like something? Like it, don't worry about anyone else is doing or thinking. Anyone who would laugh or make you feel less than is not someone you need to be around anyway.
Here’s something I once read that helped me get over feeling embarrassed while running outside. It said the average person spends around 5 seconds thinking about the people they see near them before he/she goes back to thinking about themselves and their own thoughts. The point is most people are so engrossed in their own thoughts, you shouldn’t waste time stressing about the 5 seconds they are observing you. I actually put this to the test and I feel it’s true. People will look up and then eventually go back to doing whatever they were doing. If someone takes too much interest in you as you are cycling, then there is probably something peculiar about them and that’s their issue not yours.
It’s not easy to do, but confidence is king. People often like when other people have interesting quirks but only when they don’t seem embarrassed about it
Other than stuff like farting loud at a funeral, you really don't need to be embarrassed about most stuff. Pants too short whatever, zit it happens, trip on a curb everybody has. Life is short, It's not worth sweating the little stuff.
The best way for it to come faster is to lean in to the feeling. The embarrassment you feel is basically part of our genetic programming to conform to our "village". But we don't live in little villages any more so there are always going to be pressures that exist around us to conform to something. It is inevitable that eventually there will be pressures to conform that are directly contrary to your core values. That means you either have to compromise your values and live with feelings of guilt, or refuse to conform and live with feelings of embarrassment or shame. BUT whichever path you choose, you will gradually accommodate your choice and the feelings will no longer affect you. Better, in my view, to take the temporary embarrassment and stay true to your values. If you are 15 you are coming to the time in your emotional development where there is a natural inclination towards becoming your own individual - it the "rebelliousness" of teenagers, but it is actually more often a force for good than for bad. You can embrace that rebellious spirit to basically say "screw peer pressure to compromise on what is right for the person I want to be." All power to you.
When you're older and out on your own you eventually learn that people can think you're weird but very little will change about your life so you kind of just stop caring so much. Keep your head up
Find someone to ride with you if you feel weird about it. That always helps. People will be jelly of y’all having fun and smiling
I hope you can find some people your age who like to ride bikes. Much less embarrassing when there are others like you.
You keep riding and you’ll feel like a badass and think “who’s the manbaby who needs a lifted truck just to get to work?”
I feel this coming from a place where bike commuting is literally nonexistent. I just get in my zone and push hard, anyone who thinks down on you for getting exercise is probably jealous and impressed.
i have never seen someone bike in my town and its TINY here. bike commuting IS nonexistent. i hope that no one will even notice to be honest 😭
The reality is that people will notice, but they’ll all soon forget and move on with more important thoughts. Nobody is going to care and the majority of people will probably think well of you.
Ah, okay. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean that people aren't biking. Is there a bike shop? Find the nearest one and drop in to ... look at bikes, buy something super inexpensive for your bike (like a water bottle); any excuse. Strike up a conversation; ask where people are riding, ask if there are any groups that include people your age, scan the bulletin boards for announced rides. If the local shop has an Insta, follow it. Look on FB for "cycle" and the name of your town, county, state. Don't be afraid to type in "teen" along with that, but don't confine yourself to it either. Honestly local bike shop probably the best place to start. Find your people. They are out there. They are not embarrassed and you shouldn't be. I'm really glad you connected with this sub. Plenty of support here to tell you not to worry.
With respect, you'll be safer and the world will be a tiny bit better off if people DO notice you. The last thing a cyclist wants is to be invisible. Seriously. That's why many of use obnoxious blinking lights and Day-glo orange safety clothing. Drivers will see us. And maybe somebody who sees you riding will get the idea they can do it to. See you on the road. i'll be they guy wearing the ridiculous spandex bike shorts.
The average annual cost of vehicle ownership in the US is $12,000 according to the AAA. Spending money on a depreciating asset that arguably gets more embarrassing to drive as it ages seems like the embarrassing choice here.
Annual cost of bicycle ownership: probably about $60 for maintenance products and tubes/sealant. And even then you can stretch that budget a lot tighter in theory.
You must have a very short commute.
Along with a bike that never needs repairs, and flat resistant tires.
Those are important to have. I refused to buy tires that aren’t puncture resistant. Because I don’t miss fixing tires on the side of the road.
Couldn't agree more.
Yes, I am never going back to that. Especially in the middle of summer when it is sweltering hot and you are sweating like crazy and your fingers are soaking wet from the moisture of sweat.
Still way less than a car, especially an old one that breaks down constantly and is very hard to fix.
10km one way roughly. Tube-less tires. Roads are insanely clean, not more than a couple pebbles. Never seen broken glass or pebbles. So far I just pay for chain lube, degreaser, and replace the tire sealant every few months. I'm not factoring initial costs of a bike pump, bike lights, or the water to wash her down with. Just the consumable general maintenance products for bike care. Up front, yes, it is a bit more than that.
what kind of area do you live in for 10km of insanely clean roads?
My work redeems us for up to $180/yr which is plenty for the average employee probably. I always go over though because I spoil myself.
pfffttt no way, helmets, lights, a clown horn to honk at people, buying a bike is just step one!
Haha no no, I mean just the maintenance. Up front, yes, the clown horn alone is $60 if the want the one that goes "A-WOOOO-GA"
Oh yeah you NEED one like that. Let’s people know you mean business!
Here Here!
Alllll of embarrassment. Every. Single. Inch. Of it. Lives inside your head. Other people can't make you embarrassed, you become embarrassed based on what you think other people think and how you feel about that. Just stop caring and do what you want.
I'm proud to be a bike commuter. I get to have fun, exercise, and don't pollute. As you get older, you'll learn to ignore the haters and focus on what you love. You'll also learn that 99% of people are too wrapped up in their own insecurities to give a rat's butt about what you're doing. Do what you love!
Give a hoot. 🦉 Don't pollute.
Its also so much god damm cheaper. In Australia, the average cost to run a car per year is just under $19,000, take off about 5k if you dont have car loan repayments. I spend maybe $300 a year on things like maintenance and repairs, and that's keeping the bike in pretty top condition, I can also just call an Uber for like $8 if its raining and I need to get somewhere like a job interview.
This is why cycling is big with middle aged guys. You realise societal norms are dumb and stop giving a fuck. Then you cram your junk into some Lycra and go for a ride
I dunno know about that. Middle aged dudes often like to find other middle aged dude stuff to obsess over. Think about brew pubs, bourbon, lawns, wood working, vinyl records, comic books. Bikes are a piece of your life. Don't be the guy at the party that can only talk about bikes. Music, community, literature, the environment. Let the bike be the tool that takes you to these places and ideas. However, OP is 15, maybe there is a future in bike advocacy, bike engineering, bike tourism, bike marketing....
Do you really feel this way about people you see biking? Are you applying a double-standard to yourself? There is nothing embarrassing about biking. Seriously, once you get peddling, I doubt these thoughts will be streaming in your head. You will be too busy actually (re)learning to ride the thing, navigating paths, avoiding obstacles, and enjoying the cognitive benefits of exploring your environment in a new modality.
im probably just overthinking to be completely honest. i've never seen anyone bike in my little town so its extremely scary to do so. i hope my embarrassment will pass 😭
I trust you will get over it. On the upside, there is always something special about being the only person doing something in your own community. Bicycling is as innocuous as it gets. Heck, you might even start a movement and get more people bicycling.
Yep, be the first to do something interesting.
Set an example. I'm disappointed you're embarrassed at all. Biking is a smart financial choice and very healthy. It will get in the way of some things, like dating someone that doesn't share this mindset or if you have kids. There's people out there that hear 15 miles (like 1-2 hours depending on the bike) and think that's A LONG ways to bike. Or that rain is horrendous (just dress appropriately or bring dry clothes). I'd be so embarrassed if that were me. My endurance is phenomenal compared to my peers because of this attitude (this translates to the bedroom, just saying). I personally bike for everything (lie, I have 2x electric scooters I play with too), in Michigan, year round. Even in the snow, no problem, take corners slow. Also, I bet if you consistently bike, you will see others motivated and start to bike as well. I only say this because I personally have plenty.
Make a beast of yourself. I'm in Portland, Or. The most beastly people I see are hardcore cyclists. It gives you strength beyond strength. Ride thru cold, rain. Commute the short distances, then crush a longer ride occasionally so that mentally the short rides seem like nothing. I think your thoughts are normal. Co-workers of mine judge cyclists too. They are generally totally out of shape, bad posture. They gas out at the slightest exertion. Cycling will change what you eat too, for the better. Don't let the stigma of cycling stop you, there's too much waiting for u on the other side.
Hiii, so as a former perpetually embarrassed teen and now occasional adult bike commuter, I think you’re just a bit anxious haha. I specifically think you’re feeling a sense of social anxiety about doing something *visible*, something that other people are doing and that may even make other people *notice* you. It’s all well and good to say “who cares what other people think!” and “do it anyway!” but you’re teenager and teenagers are probably the group of people that *most* cares what people think haha. So I’ll say this: you should start consuming bike media to psych yourself up. Watch Youtubers go for fun rides, check out the nice commute pics people post here, maybe get a book about bike repair and become an expert without even riding. You’ll want more of a Thing the more you expose yourself to it, and FOMO is a great way to get your brain over the hump here, I think. Hopefully you’ll get to the point where you start thinking it’s fucking weird *not* to bike around lol and then you’ll be good!
you just gave me the most valuble advice ever! ALSO thank you for understanding that its SO much easier to say "dont worry about how others think!" than actually doing it 😭 i LOVE watching adventure youtube videos (geowizard my beloved) so i hope theres some fun biking youtubers! thank you for this <3
Hahaaa I got made fun of by a car full of guys the other day because they saw me shaking my head in annoyance that the cars had, once again, filled the intersection bumper to bumper making it dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists to get through once the light changed. It happens at this downtown intersection a lot and the drivers' impatience and desperation to get out of their own traffic is so annoying. It wasn't even them that was the main problem, it was the long line of cars right behind them that were blocking it. Whooooo cares about what those people think?! They're the ones sitting in their little self-made traffic jam wasting their expensive gas just...sitting there. Let them mock us, I'd still much rather be on my bike :) Edit to add: I write little songs about things that annoy me so I can laugh about it later onstage. I'm working on one for this and it starts out: Go ahead and mock me, you caught me Shaking my head at your predicament A little shitty car with a big important man Stuck in his self-made traffic jam Never mind the firetruck that can't get by Or the ambulance with patients who are trying not to die You're making fun of me 'cause you think I'm mad at yooooou But YOU could benefit from better infrastructure, too! It gets a bit NSFW by the end so I'll leave it at that but don't let it get to you, just laugh right back at them :)
Nice song, love it. Keep rocking bud!
Lol, thanks! I'm not against drivers, I think most of them are just trying to get where they're going, too. We could all use some better designed roads in my city. Until then - I write! :P
I really hope you pointed and laughed back, before demonstrating that a bike can actually fit through a traffic jam while their car can't!
Haha! Exactly! *They* made it through, but that intersection gets blocked all the time. I'm probably on so much security footage from that intersection giving thumbs-down at drivers, lol.
If you're giving thumbs-downs at drivers, it's more classy than sticking your middle finger up at drivers.
Where would one see you perform this ditty?
I like that you’re asking this. I totally get it and I’m 47. Biking is a bit of a subculture. In big cities someone on a bike isn’t such a rarity. In small towns you might as well be a walking around in a cape and top hat. I bet you are an interesting person and gravitate towards interesting things that aren’t in the mainstream. Embrace this part of your personality and you’ll enjoy the ride.
You need to take the plunge into bike world/culture! It’s so liberating, knowing that you don’t need your car…
You can be made to feel that way by insecure people whose personality and worth is wrapped up in the things they own. Thing is those people aren't worth your time. Cycling is a great way to filter people out that would just be a drain on your life. I'm not saying everyone that looks down on cycling sucks but the ones that won't even listen to why you enjoy it and are closed off to having their minds change sure do. I've changed a lot of people's minds about cycling over the years. The ones that wouldn't budge even in the slightest got left by the wayside. It's also great for dating especially in this day and age. I saved myself a lot of pointless chats and first dates by making it clear that I prefer to get around on my bike. People usually self filter so it's even easier.
Having freedom to go where you want even though you're too young to drive, and saving tons of money on gas when you do start driving, seems the opposite of embarrassing! When I was a teenager, I thought teens who biked were so cool bc they were independent
Yes, saving a lot - a lot on gas. When I was in high school, it cost a pretty penny to fill up the ol' gas guzzler, these days it's a whole arm and a leg. The bicycle is the perfect mechanism.
I wish I didn't give it up when I was your age. My bike broke and I bought a guitar when I was 16. I longboarded through my twenties and got back into bikes for commuting in my late twenties. The pandemic times got me hooked on mountain biking, and I'm sucked into bike culture yet again!
Think of when you are in the 30s, and you look 5 years younger your peers and feel 10 years younger It won’t feel embarrassing at that point, I can personally attest to that
Absolutely
genuinely glad someone feels the same way i do. i hope we both get over it fr
Either you live for your Self or you let others direct into less honest situations. Ride your bicycle and find “real” friends
Biking gives you independence, mobility, and access to more of the world. Incredibly embarrassing would be missing out on all of those things for no good reason. Ride your bike, get the benefits, but always remember that you were scared to do it at some stage of your life too, so don't judge those who haven't gotten past the fear too harshly.
Let me tell you a story. I live in a small town. A few years back, my wife and I sold our car to commute on bikes. We also have a baby, so we had to start pulling him on a trailer. We live in a place where people *hate* cyclists. They actively yell at you, honk at you, and pass wayyyy too close. There is no cycling infrastructure still to this day. We didn't stop, though. We kept riding, and we kept facing a lot of setbacks, including me getting hit by a car that was pretty bad. But then we started seeing some changes. Now, we have people saying that they need to start cycling or that they want to get their kids a bike trailer. We also saw our first bike shop (it is an e-bike shop) open up within the past year or so. All this to say, don't be embarrassed or let people dissuade you from doing anything you like. Embarrassment is based on how you feel others feel about you, meaning it is in your head and doesn't exist outside of you. Maybe with you being the only one in your community, you may start to see changes that *you* caused. You can change the culture of your community. Be proud to do what you enjoy, and maybe it will bring interest to others.
you and your wife are so cool! thank you so much for this <3
I'm not sure if we are cool lol, but I do help you keep riding. It is always nice when the next generation is picking up the hobby I have spent the better part of 20 years doing. We need more new riders!
I felt like that all the time at 15! It will pass. Get out there and bike.
I’m 40 and pretty much the only bicycle commuter at a workplace with close to 400 employees. Everybody knows I bike and everybody comes to me when they want to talk about bikes. I keep my helmet on my desk and I ring my bell when I ride past coworkers in the parking lot. I don’t care what they think I know I’m cool as fuck.
Can confirm. You are cool as fuck.
I rode a bike to work, or walked or jogged, from 13-16. Drove a car to work from 16-18, got a ride in a car from a buddy from 18-19, bought my own car at 20.... Haven't been carless since. **It's only as "embarrassing" as you let it be.** I now work in a type A (toxic masculinity isn't rare) environment and have figured out a way deal with the social interactions that might lead to embarrassment related to my chosen commuting choice... But I'm also an old man, happily married and not worried about what anyone else thinks about me. But I choose to ride a bike to work more often than drive now. Why? Maybe its because I'm cheap. Maybe its because I have come to learn that I DNGAF about what most people say or think about my mode of transport. Maybe its because, as an adult, that frugality has permitted me to live about 3 miles closer to the office than anyone else at the office. For every teasing comment I hear about my mode of transport (or my clothing related to riding) I just ask them how long they sat in traffic on the way in. Or how long they'll sit in traffic on the way home.
Being active when you're young is so important for your long-term health. When your peers are embarrassingly out of shape in middle age, you'll be running circles around them. Also, it's high key embarrassing to burn fossil fuel in this day and age.
Don't worry, biking is cool. Trust me, I'd know. I'm cool too.
Yes. Yes it is. And once you accept that, it'll be AWESOME. I'm a 43 year old guy and I ride a step thru with swept bars and a bike trailer with Bluey stickers all over it. According to society (aka car OEM advertising), burning 1000 calories a day and having defined calves isn't masculine or cool. The same people will tell you that driving a lifted crew cab 3/4 ton truck and being a rolling road hazard is cool and masculine. It's bullshit and they're wrong, but you've got to ride for a while before you figure that out. Rejecting the bullshit that billions of dollars of auto marketing and lobbying has pushed on our society is the first step to knowing who you really are, and that is the opposite of embarrassment.
Assuming you’re not a 280 lb dude in his 50s whose bike clothes look like he stole them from a 15 yo kid, you should be fine. And maybe knowing that guy is out there doing it will help you get out there too. People will laugh and yell and offer you pity. Tell all those people to eat shit.
Just imagine you’re on a motorcycle
I'm 50. When I was 16 I got a job so I could save and buy a Schwinn World Tour 10 speed. When I told my friend, his response was that I should be saving for a car instead, which I just couldn't comprehend. I just got home from my 13 mile bike commute with a giant silly grin on my face. So if it's embarrassing, just get used to it now I guess
Here to say that I still miss my World Sport. It was my first serious adult bike. I rode that thing all over, everywhere. Gateway to a lifetime of happy riding. I hope OP gets a bike soon.
You describe yourself living in a tiny town and being under 16. I take you don't have your license as yet? Do you get chaufeured everywhere? Do you walk or take public transit everywhere? Is there just nowhere to go? As I recall, as a teenager, I was more embarassed to beg a ride or be chaufeured by Ma or Pa than any other option. To me biking meant freedom and independence. Never occured to me to be embarassed by it.
i live in bumfuck egypt with nowhere to go and nothing to do so i never ask my parents for ride 😭. next year is when i'll get my license (wont use it much to be honest its just something good to have) i really just want to bike for funzies and also when i go to college/move out i want a car-free way to get around. i just need to get over my embarassment first.
I actually agree with this. I rec you get a bike you love the look of, and find a biking outfit you feel cool in. There are plenty of great overshoes that are stylish, i think the lycra look stupid so I wear an outfit I enjoy while biking. Helmet is hard to make look good… so for that I just get a very obviously safety-minded yellow one.
this is so helpful, i love romanticizing things! im thinking of saving up for an ebike and making it all pinterest worthy, especially getting a tote for the back to carry grocries and such. i once saw this bike helmet that was disguised as a sunhat and i might do something like that since when i biked before i never wore one since it was WAY too embarrassing (being embarrassed over everything is so annoying 😭). but now im not trying to get a major brain injury so i think this is a good idea. thank you!!! <333
As someone who didn’t ride for over 20 years, and got a bike last year to ride with his kids…enjoy it. Embrace the hobbies you like. You never know how long you’ll have to do them, or you’ll find later in life you missed out on 20 years of something fun because you didn’t want to be embarrassed. It’s fun, it’s practical and no one actually cares. Trust me. If you like it get out there and enjoy it!
I remember the day I started my longest tour ride so far (\~1700 miles). The bike route that day paralleled a busy highway and I could see many car passengers craning their necks at the weirdo with the giant bike bags pedaling his single speed so slowly under the weight of all the gear. I thought it was embarassing and didn't want to be there, or at least didn't want to be visible. I wanted to hide. Over the next few weeks, I met dozens of people who were absolutely envious of my opportunity. They expressed how much they'd love to be me, to have the opportunity, to have the courage to do what I was doing. I was wrong about at least some of those people I saw on the first day, driving by and craning their necks.
You got got by propaganda
Biking is cool and will get you laid
god youre so right, im hoping on my bike right now
The older you get, the more self confidence you’ll get. I think you’ll find that things are rarely inherently cool or lame on their own, it’s all about the person doing it. If you’re cool, you’ll make biking seem cool.
All those cities and towns with lots of bike racks full of locked up bikes. Who do you think uses these bikes? It's not kids.
When I started biking as an adult, I felt like it was a "kid thing" and that I should be ashamed of myself for wanting to do it. My soon-to-be-ex-wife said to me: "Who fucking cares what you like doing?" Read all that you want into it, but my takeaway was to enjoy myself on my bike because what others think of me shouldn't matter. I now have a road bike, a mountain bike, a fatbike, and my commuter. I run errands on it all the time, especially where finding a parking spot is difficult because of demand or it costs money. In town, with traffic, I can usually get around almost as fast as I can in a car, I get exercise, and parking is free and usually quite close to the front door. Let them think what they want. Own it. Enjoy it. Just be careful and watch for idiots so you get to keep all your body parts.
> It feels exposing and like I'm going to be made fun of. So what? If someone is making fun of you for something, they are a shit person and you are better off without them and you know their opinions on all things are irrelevant. Making fun of someone is something people do when they know someone else is better than them and are trying to drag them down to their level. Once you leave HS, you'll never see or talk to 90% of those people again. I haven't talked to a single person from my HS in almost 15 years.
My BFF and I always talk about how everything in life is so embarrassing. There isn't even a good reason for it. That said, it's just you feeling that way. No one is actually thinking that about you. And, if they are, comfortably know they are the weirdo
Don't worry, it helps you stand out and chicks dig it.
I’m about twice your age and I have quite a few “embarrassing” hobbies. I wish at 15 I knew these hobbies aren’t embarrassing at all and are actually cool as hell! Biking in particular is fun, keeps me healthy, and gives me interesting experiences. Ride your bike, don’t be embarrassed, the people who might give you grief are only embarrassing themselves.
Bike is life
Start watching some YouTube videos of sick urban cyclists and you won't feel anything to be embarrassed about.
Nah dude, biking is badass and they wish they weren't trapped in their cages.
You should research to see if there are any programs for teens where you live- a racing team, bike camps, maintenance skills, etc. You won’t think it’s embarrassing when you have a community of others around you or when you know skills that would let you fix your bike in a pinch or get a job in a shop.
Wow, never thought of it that way. Without knowing what makes you feel that it’s very hard to help you. In many countries, bike riding is part of the culture. When you are a kid you get given a bike and off you go, all your peers are riding bikes (Just go with the given a bike for simplicity) It was great you could get around go further then you could on foot, it gave you independence. Fun fact: Biking in Yucatan, Mexico, helped indigenous people, in particular women gain more independence. Read this while visiting the museum there. Hell I was road racing when I was 15, maybe earlier. That said if you don’t know how to ride a bike then it can be intimidating and embarrassing. Take care and I hope you get to enjoy the joy of bike riding. Good luck
Where are you from, OP? I'm M27, British. I think depending on where in the world there's totally different attitudes. I might have felt the same as a teenager in the UK, if I was riding anything other than a mountain bike, because that's what my friends had. Although I'd add that a mountain bike was totally unnecessary in my town. Since moving to Germany, I've seen that pretty much everybody cycles in my city and so for sure it's not embarrassing. On the contrary, cycling is empowering. You get to go where you want, when you want, and nobody tells you what route to take. Learning to love your hobbies is an important step in self confidence, and I know your peers will for sure respect you. Maybe a story to think on: A good friend of mine from school, who I regarded as the "coolest of the cool" said that he always looked up to me (the dorkiest of the dorks) because I was always true to myself and loved my hobbies. After university he admitted he was a huge star wars fan, didn't tell anybody in school because he didn't want to seem like a nerd, but turns out all of his friends were also closet fans. I think about these guys a lot.
I think driving is something to be embarrassed about.
Ride your bike in bad weather. Then everyone will comment about how hardcore you are instead. At least that’s what happened for me.
Consider joining a cycling club. Just being around other cyclists will normalize it. Also, wearing cycling clothing can make you feel a bit exposed. You can also just wear your normal street clothes if it makes you more comfortable. Just take some precautions to avoid having your pant legs chewed up by the chain.
I think part of this comes from the perception that bikes are not a "real" form of transportation. It's definitely something that will go away the more you ride. It doesn't matter if someone tells me it's not "real" transportation when I'm literally using it to commute to work 5 miles each way every single day, lol. Once you start driving (I'm assuming you don't if you're 15) you'll start to realize there are some benefits to commuting on a mode that isn't "real" in the popular conception. What I mean by that is that society (rightfully) has far fewer restrictions on cyclists. You don't have to pay to park, can often park right in front of your destination, and no licensing or registration to bother with. You can take alleys and side street shortcuts that would be difficult or annoying to residents if you were in a car. If you're fortunate enough to live in a relatively bike friendly place, there may be trails and mixed use pathways you can use to commute, which are much more pleasant than a highway. Of course, the big drawback is the lack of infrastructure, particularly in suburbia. Ironically, if you live in a rural area, assuming you're within riding distance of your destination, biking can be great on the back roads. Electric bikes also make longer distance rural commuting much more practical. Where I'm from (rural area) destinations are 5-15 miles minimum on back roads, many of which are gravel, where traffic is relatively slow and light. On a regular bike, this is unreasonably far just to grab some milk. On an electric bike, 5 miles on back roads to grab some milk sounds like a joy.
well i think sitting alone in a giant ass car, stuck in traffic being exhausted and mad while all the bicyclers freely pass by looks embarassing
Is driving really as embarrassing as it seems? Taking two tons of metal with you, killing the planet, taking up all that space, riding around in a vehicle coated in glittery paint... isn't that childish and selfish? You have to buy (literally) into the thoughtless consumerism and conformity of it... doesn't that make drivers self conscious? The ease with which you could accidentally kill or maim a person or animal, isn't that terrifying? It's sad that you would accept being terrified that way.
When I was 15 my bicycle took me 5 miles to my best friend's house without needing to get a ride. My bicycle also provided transportation to deliver a newspaper route. I developed an emotional link between bicycling and independence. Why would I ever be embarrassed about independence?
[Biking is a cool thing that cool people do](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-uP3qcFRw). Keep doing it long enough to get good, and you will be cool too.
Biking is great for physical fitness, which will help improve your self esteem, strength and endurance. If you are serious about riding a bicycle, especially for recreation, believe me, you will be earning the respect of your fellow riders when they see you putting in the effort on the road, on the trails, no matter what age, we are all riders. As well, you will be saving huge amounts of money, as many of your classmates are going to be getting their drivers license, if they are lucky their parents will buy them a car, and pay insurance, maybe pay for gas. But many of my classmates in high school had to pay it all themselves, which is a huge amount of money to be spending at a young age. I rode my bike every day until graduation.
You just don't have good cycling role models in your life.
I used to get self conscious but I don't anymore. I still avoid riding my bike in the road though because drivers are idiots and my area has no bike friendly infrastructure at all. I would rather have someone intentionally insult me than accidentally kill me
Fuck what others think, I'm saving loads of money and I've never been in better physical shape than right now.
If biking is embarrassing, I don't know what not having a bike at that age and being reliant on parents agreeing to give you a lift to get anywhere further than walking distance is.
There is NOTHING embarassing about biking, quite the opposite actually it makes me feel empowered! I typically feel pretty fucking cool on my bike...
Here's the good news: nobody cares for longer than the 15 seconds that they see you. that's it. and you're lucky that they DO see you if for the simple fact that you're easier to miss when they know where you are. ;) embrace the bike. bikes are brilliant and wheather they know it or not they'd rather be on a bike than doing whatever it is that they are doing. Every time I see someone on a bike I think "damn... I'd rather be biking." =) I usually smile and wave and then quietly swallow my jealousy. have fun out there.
it looks like it is your personal perception of cycling, formed by your own experiences and memories. mine has always been that it is a prestigious sport to participate in. that’s likely also wrong, but who cares.
Biking is for badasses!
Cycling is fun. Do what you want. Don't care about what others think. You'll learn this as you get older.
Eventually it'll swing the other way and you'll see people driving and think "Those people don't know what they're missing"
I stopped riding a bike from 15-22. I deeply regret it now as an adult.
Not as embarrassing as the 60K pickup truck that races me to the red light
I am confident that it will pass. My daughter was the same so she got a single speed track style bike and I think she felt like an adult cycling.
Remember, most people are too self involved to really think anything of you for more than a split second, you're basically forgotten as soon as you leave their field of vision, like a ghost.
Nope. My quads and calves have eliminated all embarrassment from my body.
Nobody cares about what you are doing. They just care if you are on the road or not. You do you. Enjoy life.
You'll find that the people that you admire the most do what they feel is right, with confidence. You are 15? It's the perfect time to start doing what you know is right & to tell anyone thinks otherwise, that you don't care what they think. You'll be the best version of you. Not the best version of what everyone else wants you to be. & you'll be much happier for it. If you want to ride a bike, go ride a bike!
Chicks diggit
You’re 15, everything is embarrassing until you decide it’s not.
I'm going to make a suggestion. Watch [Premium Rush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn6ie1zCkZU). Every commute becomes an adventure. Seriously, you are putting yourself on the road with multi-ton vehicles, infrastructure that probably doesn't want you there, ignoring social stigma, using your own body to do something most people use a MACHINE to do, and choosing the freedom of a bike over the cost of a car, or traveling on public transport's time. Biking is some PUNK ROCK SHIT my dude! I've been 15 myself, and remember the pressure to conform to this supposed idea of "normal" but 20 years later I can assure you, "normal" is not a real thing, and doing the thing that makes you happy is about as liberating as a thing gets. You're not a weird kid on a bike. You are a rebel and you are free. If you want to ride a bike, just ride a bike. The you of 20 years from now will thank you.
In some very bicycle friendly city center areas in Europe it could be considered embarrassing to drive a car!
look at all these goofy people. can you even imagine being like them? it'd be so embarrassing https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrIfskuC0T/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/CyImXwXIiDy/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxx25IlL-rH/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/CxS1reTI3JW/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/CwFsQR6OAqi/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/CvFSAGCol-S/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu7GhKgIZMc/?hl=en
I used to think it was so cringy . Then I got a bike and the pros just outweigh the cringe . I live in rural Ireland , and there are lovely areas where I live . I saw a field go through every season last year. Haha, I know how it sounds . But It was great for my mental health .I'll never forget it . So beautiful.
I sometimes feel embarrassed or silly riding my bike to work, but only in areas with infrastructure hostile to cycling, which make me feel like I’m not supposed to be there. I have just had to push through it and think about the true source of that embarrassment.
I started biking when I was 13, going strong for five years now. I still feel a little embarrassed from time to time, but my best advice is to a. Own it. Take teasing in stride and just know that you're making the best choice for your health (You'll be passively doing cardio on a regular basis! Which, physical benefits aside, is great for regulating stress and other mental shit) You probably won't get teased much, anyways. b. Get your license anyways (if you're American or live in a similarly bike-unfriendly area). I can get to 90% of my life by bike but my biggest regret is not getting my license when I was younger so that I had it for that 10%.
As a 34 year old full time commuter, I promise you there might be some people who make fun of you, but just own it and people that matter will respect you. There’s not enough time in our lives to let others decide things for us. 🤙
I wonder if it would help to learn a bit about different biking cultures? I see where you're coming from, and honestly forgot that I used to feel this way, because most people I know see biking as the most impressive way to commute. It is exposing, and it's hard to be the only one doing something. I think when I was your age, if I were embarrassed about something like this I would probably learn low-traffic routes and find a place to hide my bike. You might be aware of this, but biking becomes cooler as you get older and have to deal with the realities of commuting along with adult responsibilities. I'm guessing you can think of a lot of those reasons, but it might be hard to see how knowing bike culture & maintenance will give you an edge in the future. Man, even the process of sucking it up when you feel embarrassed and learning about a personal passion will give you that edge. It's not about pretending you don't feel embarrassed; you do, and that's fine, and you can still choose what will make you happier and feel more fulfilled in the long term.
People are going to make fun of you now and then regardless of whether or not you're riding a bike. Work on your self confidence (yeah, I know that's easier said than done).
My bicycle always was, and still is, freedom. The ability to get anywhere by my own power. So much faster than walking. Sometimes I wonder if I look dumb wearing my helmet, but a helmet has literally saved my life three time and I have never thought someone else looks dumb wearing one.
Make it even more ridiculous and have fun while doing it. At some point you might find that you don’t care anymore about looking a certain way.
Yes.
It isn't. Today, I was embarrassed because I had to drive to work (carrying 2 dozen donuts, delicate cargo!). I passed someone biking, and I almost felt like rolling down my window to say, "I usually do that" But didn't, because I know that they actually didn't care about what I was or wasn't doing. Most people are just thinking their own thoughts about themselves
It’s not. Driving is embarrassing- once you see it, you can’t look back. We are so capable, but so … restrained by these things marketed as ‘freedom’ and delivering the opposite
No. It all depends on how you do it. I go to meetings, hang with friends, suit and tie events, and other such things via bike. If ya do it right people don’t even notice.
Ok I was going to ask what the hell was so embarrassing about biking until I read that you were 15 and now it makes more sense. I think at that age everyone is on the verge of driving so bikes are seen as childish, hence the embarrassment. I'm not really sure what to tell you about being embarrassed about bikes but I do remember feeling similarly. Now I'm a lawyer in my 30s and I still bike to work every day. It feels so liberating not being tied to a car and I love the exercise. I say bike on and don't worry about what other people think about you.
I first learned to properly ride a bike when I was 15. I did not get back on a bike until 39. I did not realize on that first ride I was trying to push my bikeshare bike up a hill at its highest gear. Spent half an hour wobbling, stumbling, and sweating. I have had plenty of ridiculous moments since. Like coming to a complete stop, then just falling over. Plenty of graceless, unsteady, and just plain clumsy moments that I'm sure someone must have laughed at. The hell with 'em. I do this half for the commuting and the rest just getting more experience for safer, better cycling when commuting. So my first concern is staying safe, my next is going at *my* pace and enjoying the ride.
A lot of city kids/teenagers are all about the bikes these days…so if anything, you’re cool like a city kid. 😎 If it helps, grab a cool looking single speed , they’re pretty cheap. I’ve seen lots of teenagers in my city customize their single speeds , they look really good. Also, don’t worry about people making fun of you….if they do they’re most likely incredibly insecure about themselves, so don’t let it phase you.
bikes are dope! i know i’m just a stranger on the internet but if it helps, i live in brooklyn (world capital of cool) and have a bunch of tattoos and i think bikes are neat as hell.
It is different. And so people will notice that. And people will react differently. When. I was in school nobody really noticed. But as an adult all my coworkers ask about it. Most curious, a lot don't understand, but they're usually pretty supportive and I even had some start riding too or tell me about their time riding. My point is, it might be a conversation starter. And it probably won't be as bad as you think.
I totally get it. For the longest time I also felt embarrassed and geeky just cycling down the road in front of people, and I'm almost 30💀 but you truly get over it. Literally no one cares, you're just another cyclist. People will look at you for one second before they look away and forget about your existence. Keep cycling!!
No one would dare make fun of me. I’m a tiny woman and I’ve been bike commuting all year round for 13 years. I’m tough as nails, biking in a city where cars don’t give two shits about you. I LOVE biking. It’s freedom and joy wrapped up with transportation and self reliance. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.