<![CDATA[A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically.]]>A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically.

"Why do your ride it?"

When I said "saves money," "doesn't pollute," he scoffed. But he agreed when he said it was good for my health.

I forgot to tell him real reason: Joy.

Day in, day out, my bike makes me happy.

🧵

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/038dce0e-101e-4ee0-9de6-a2b4a966e9f0/a-while-back-a-man-in-his-70s-looked-at-my-bike-skeptically.RSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 22:00:44 GMTTue, 26 May 2026 20:53:22 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 13:40:46 GMT]]>@straphanger much appreciated, thank you.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/Chris/statuses/116646821690165788https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.green/users/Chris/statuses/116646821690165788Wed, 27 May 2026 13:40:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 12:53:01 GMT]]>@mxhdroom It’s got some rust now, but still goin’ strong!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://urbanists.social/users/straphanger/statuses/116646633903872011https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://urbanists.social/users/straphanger/statuses/116646633903872011Wed, 27 May 2026 12:53:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 12:21:28 GMT]]>@falcennial omitting mr Grescoe who I am not sure wants to continue on this tangent, I'd say that there's a difference between saying "this person should be killed" and "70, time to finish living" which is mostly "I don't really care if you die tomorrow" which is not about cruelty or compassion, only disgust and contempt.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lile.cl/users/adriano/statuses/116646509846594717https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lile.cl/users/adriano/statuses/116646509846594717Wed, 27 May 2026 12:21:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 11:40:43 GMT]]>@adriano @straphanger did I misread Rando Calrizian's comment or is there a fediverse user who wants me, for some reason, to show compassion to creatures who deride people for wishing to live in a safe climate?

because I do not think I am going to do that.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116646349601366082https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116646349601366082Wed, 27 May 2026 11:40:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 11:36:43 GMT]]>@dadigi@hessen.social @adriano @straphanger for the innocent, for the peace loving, the kind, the generous, the just, the protectors, the helpers, the compassionate, the open minded, the loving, the caring, the respectful, and the deserving always. categorically.

not for the cruel, the derisive, the snide, the destructive, the hateful, or even the sarcastic. for those, only fairness and justice.

this is not a difficult concept my friend. I would expect it to be self evident.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116646333891442131https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116646333891442131Wed, 27 May 2026 11:36:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 11:21:27 GMT]]>@straphanger I had an old Bianchi like that in the mid-'90s. That Celeste green is burned into my soul. What a beauty.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/mxhdroom/statuses/116646273819547090https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/mxhdroom/statuses/116646273819547090Wed, 27 May 2026 11:21:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 05:38:58 GMT]]>@straphanger Answer I gave 10 years ago:

it's faster than walking.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/dcz/statuses/116644927117734564https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/dcz/statuses/116644927117734564Wed, 27 May 2026 05:38:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 03:54:47 GMT]]>@falcennial @adriano @straphanger "the practice of compassion"?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hessen.social/users/dadigi/statuses/116644517475836164https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hessen.social/users/dadigi/statuses/116644517475836164Wed, 27 May 2026 03:54:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:31:13 GMT]]>@straphanger

(What I didn't have the presence of mind to reply with was, "A damn sight better than if I •don't• stay in the habit of biking!")

After gentleman & I rolled our eyes at my friend's attitude, he said, "Would you like to know how old I am?"

"Sure!"

"92." Whereupon he mounted his bike & peddled off.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/cavyherd/statuses/116643717046654223https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/cavyherd/statuses/116643717046654223Wed, 27 May 2026 00:31:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:29:04 GMT]]>@straphanger

& now I'm thinking about the old guy I met at the grocery store bikerack. Don't know what moved me to speak to him, except he seemed agreeable & was older than I was. (I was probably 45 at the time.)

"Can I guess that you're older than 50?"

He nodded.

"Can I tell you a story? 15-ish years before, a friend of mine seemed very troubled by my lack of car & dependence on biking for travel. 'What are you going to do when you turn 50!?" (She was ≈10 years older than me.) >>

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/cavyherd/statuses/116643708577543853https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://wandering.shop/users/cavyherd/statuses/116643708577543853Wed, 27 May 2026 00:29:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:25:44 GMT]]>@straphanger I started riding to work a month ago and it really is so much more fun.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.foolish.computer/users/ted/statuses/116643695483794349https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.foolish.computer/users/ted/statuses/116643695483794349Wed, 27 May 2026 00:25:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:20:40 GMT]]>@adriano @straphanger

"it doesn't pollute like a car does."
[scoffs]

70 suddenly seems like enough, time to finish living.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643675551436532https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643675551436532Wed, 27 May 2026 00:20:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:19:49 GMT]]>@straphanger@urbanists.social

wicked beautiful bike

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sharkey.world/notes/amqvswrld0wj000ahttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sharkey.world/notes/amqvswrld0wj000aWed, 27 May 2026 00:19:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:16:43 GMT]]>@falcennial @straphanger
- "saves money"
[scoff]

... ok mr richpants mcmoney, I'm sorry.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lile.cl/users/adriano/statuses/116643660000092995https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lile.cl/users/adriano/statuses/116643660000092995Wed, 27 May 2026 00:16:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:14:32 GMT]]>@CoastalCoasting @straphanger must've been lucky (by which I mean a non-smoker.)

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643651420450958https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643651420450958Wed, 27 May 2026 00:14:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Wed, 27 May 2026 00:13:25 GMT]]>@straphanger next you see him please ask the question that he will most benefit from:

"why do you scoff at correct answers to your own questions?"

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643647002776557https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/falcennial/statuses/116643647002776557Wed, 27 May 2026 00:13:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 23:51:54 GMT]]>@straphanger that bike's an oldie!]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.gemnoc.ca/objects/79c099fc-9958-4072-9eaf-964f3b2c83a5https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.gemnoc.ca/objects/79c099fc-9958-4072-9eaf-964f3b2c83a5Tue, 26 May 2026 23:51:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 23:51:40 GMT]]>@straphanger

Being caressed by the wind. The good scents flickering by just as fast as the bands of light while passing by tall trees. How much more you get to see of the world by going through it a bit slower.
It does save tons of money, doesn't pollute, and is good good for health. But how on earth did a 70 year old go his whole life not knowing the joy, reverences and endorphins of a bike ride on a good day??

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://universeodon.com/users/CoastalCoasting/statuses/116643561485030631https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://universeodon.com/users/CoastalCoasting/statuses/116643561485030631Tue, 26 May 2026 23:51:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 23:34:23 GMT]]>@straphanger

Freedom is another word that comes to mind.

That's first for me when I'm on my bike.

It doesn't mean no rules.

A popular private pilots association catch phrase is 'Freedom to Fly'.

I bet a ton of cyclists feel the same.

I've done both, and when it comes to taking up little airplanes or cycling, my choice would never not be my bike.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/f800gecko/statuses/116643493525235727https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.online/users/f800gecko/statuses/116643493525235727Tue, 26 May 2026 23:34:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 23:29:13 GMT]]>@straphanger Good for your health...I am not sure those shimano biopace chainrings are that good for your knees 😅

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://im-in.space/users/oook/statuses/116643473216488167https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://im-in.space/users/oook/statuses/116643473216488167Tue, 26 May 2026 23:29:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 23:06:30 GMT]]>@straphanger + It's a Bianchi!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/harold/statuses/116643383924216971https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/harold/statuses/116643383924216971Tue, 26 May 2026 23:06:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 22:41:00 GMT]]>@straphanger
Definitely lead with joy.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.incognoble.com/users/Wolf/statuses/116643283631057627https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.incognoble.com/users/Wolf/statuses/116643283631057627Tue, 26 May 2026 22:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 21:56:20 GMT]]>@MichelPatrice @straphanger Also that.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/redrummy/statuses/116643107975131878https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/redrummy/statuses/116643107975131878Tue, 26 May 2026 21:56:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically. on Tue, 26 May 2026 21:51:48 GMT]]>@straphanger Whether I'm riding to work, running the dogs, or just for fun... I'm sad for anyone who doesn't experience joy at riding a bike. ❤

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/redrummy/statuses/116643090183641356https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/redrummy/statuses/116643090183641356Tue, 26 May 2026 21:51:48 GMT