Should I be worried

[tank]

Should I be worried?

I ride a recumbent bike (at a time even though I own two of them). I have never seen another 'bent on the road locally, although someone at work said he saw a couple ccling done the road a couple of weeks ago.

As I stop at lights and junctions I quite often have people speak to me about my bike. I don't mind this and give them the information that they want unless they ask "How much does one of those costs?", when I tell them the same as a standard bike.

As I ride along I also quite often see teenagers and young 20 somethings with there phones out and record me as they go by.

Up until now I haven't minded. As I sit in work thinking about it I have no idea where the videos/photos end up. I am self employed so my social network visability is important to me. I know of companies that when they are tinking of hiring people will search for them on the web to see what comes back and use it as a crietia for weather they get a job or not.

Should i be worrying about the videos/photos out there of me on my bike that I haven't seen and don't know about?

Thanks

(Moderators - If this is in the wrong forum please feel free to move it to the correct one.)

[Audax67]

No point in worrying if you can't do anything about them. After all, riding a recumbent is a pretty innocent occupation. Unless you're kerb-crawling, of course...

[Si]

I wouldn't be worried - it's not as if you are doing anything wrong or that your name can be attached to any of these posts.

As for yoofs and clarksons making derogatory comments online, I think that most level-headed people will understand that that says much more about the commenter than the subject. If I was looking to hire someone I'd actually go to the trouble of finding out about their skills and capabilities for myself rather than relying on what some witless bottom feeder might have posted on U-Tube.

[[XAP]Bob]

No - rather hard to find those videos associated with your name I reckon.

But also - you can't worry about everything. They'll probably be posted under "squashed bike" or "crazy cycle", or more likely just shown to mates...

[Mr. Viking]

No - rather hard to find those videos associated with your name I reckon.

But also - you can't worry about everything. They'll probably be posted under "squashed bike" or "crazy cycle", or more likely just shown to mates...

i agree, it is highly unlikely that your name will be linked to any of these pictures or videos. If it is, you have every right to ask for it to be removed.

[byegad]

Having owned at least one recumbent since 2006, I'm well known in my area. People tell me they've seen me at various places in the locality. Usually this is in fact me they've seen but fairly frequently it isn't. So one recumbent rider is hard to identify.

[[XAP]Bob]

Yes the police followed the wong recumbent rider on CCTV when the person who assaulted me phoned them...

[Geriatrix]

I don't let the attention bother me, most of it is good natured. Whenever you venture out into the public domain you become part of it and there is nothing you can do about that. Your privacy is essentially guaranteed by your personal anonymity (at least mine is).

Most people are taking a photo of an unusual bike which happens to have someone sitting on it. It's the bike they will remember not the guy on top.

[Geoff.D]

Taking a positive perspective, anyone seeing you on your 'bent might well think that you're a self confident , adventurous and self reliant type. Just the qualities they're looking for in someone they might employ. I certainly would.

[Mark1978]

Nah don't worry about it. Your riding an unusual vehicle, same as someone driving a Ferrari might get people taking photos for example.

There was a bent on the sportive yesterday, drew a few comments, all positive, from the other cyclists.

[Trick_Cyclist]

Maybe I'm an exhibitionist but I look on the extra attention as a safety feature - I certainly got a lot more attention & space on my recent LeJog compared to the other cyclists. Mostly yoofs just want one. Occasionally more mature individuals are interested in why......

Geoff

[Cunobelin]

It works in your favour!

I had a friend who wanted to try one, so lent them the Catrike with the Saltire flag.


Fairly identifiable, which explains 3 phone calls saying they had seen my bike with someone else on it and the fact that he was challenged twice!

[brifla]

You're not alone, Tank. I live in Belfast and I too have an SMGTe. Planning to take it around Lough Neagh on Sunday.

[mrjemm]

This is one aspect of trike ownership I don't fancy. Already my thoughts are to not ride towards town when I finally get the chance. Perhaps I shall take to wearing a hoodie or balaclava at all times.