Today's post is a shout out to all the courteous drivers out there. You are awesome! How nice it is to share the road with considerate people.
Now I am sure I will soon be posting/venting about a horn honking, road raging, late for work jerk who hates cyclists... but not today. Today is for the people that roll down their window to ask where you're headed. The ones who smile, nod, and remind you to be safe. Today is for the drivers who give you an extra couple of feet, wave you through an intersection, or just wave as you peddle and sweat down the road. You rock!
Should I be knocking on wood? Could the last couple of rides be setting me up for disappointment? Hope not. Going for an over night bike trip this weekend, so I am hoping for a great trip. Everyone be safe, enjoy the beautiful weather and keep wavin'.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Parking Anyone?
Monday tends to be one of those days when you often wish you were still enjoying the weekend. One of my co-workers and I always talk the weekend on Monday mornings. (the worst is when you cannot remember doing much of anything - it makes you want a "re-do" or ask for your your money/weekend back!)
This weekend turned out great - so no refunds required or desired :) Sunday afternoon we went for a 37 mile cruise through a couple of beach towns. I noticed several slower cars looking for parking places. Parking... It should be a 4 letter word, no? Getting a decent free parking place can determine the success (or frustration) of an outing.
So I chuckle to myself while riding past the line of ants looking for a place to park. I'm thinking how frustrated they are. The wife is telling her husband he should just pay the $10 and forget about it. The kids are whining about how they just want to get out of the car and go to the beach. Another weekend ruined? Can you see the smile on my face while I gloat? ;)
But then I get a flashback to the last time I went to a local sports shop. I had ridden my bike to the store to check on a few items. As I approach the store I start looking around for... a place to lock up my bike. Bike rack? No. Railing? No. Sing post? No.
I ride around the shopping center hoping to find a place to park my bike. I felt like a car looking for a parking spot, like a dog looking for a fire hydrant. The insanity!!! Finally I settle on a tree along the side of the parking lot. (sigh)
I stop my gloating and feel a little sympathy for the white Mercedes next to me. We just want a place to park. Hey, park is a four letter word!
This weekend turned out great - so no refunds required or desired :) Sunday afternoon we went for a 37 mile cruise through a couple of beach towns. I noticed several slower cars looking for parking places. Parking... It should be a 4 letter word, no? Getting a decent free parking place can determine the success (or frustration) of an outing.
So I chuckle to myself while riding past the line of ants looking for a place to park. I'm thinking how frustrated they are. The wife is telling her husband he should just pay the $10 and forget about it. The kids are whining about how they just want to get out of the car and go to the beach. Another weekend ruined? Can you see the smile on my face while I gloat? ;)
But then I get a flashback to the last time I went to a local sports shop. I had ridden my bike to the store to check on a few items. As I approach the store I start looking around for... a place to lock up my bike. Bike rack? No. Railing? No. Sing post? No.
I ride around the shopping center hoping to find a place to park my bike. I felt like a car looking for a parking spot, like a dog looking for a fire hydrant. The insanity!!! Finally I settle on a tree along the side of the parking lot. (sigh)
I stop my gloating and feel a little sympathy for the white Mercedes next to me. We just want a place to park. Hey, park is a four letter word!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Sideswiper!
Today's bike ride was a bit of a training run. We decided to go for a 44 mile ride with a few climbs to get a work out. It was a nice ride with both some new and old scenery. Sometimes it can be nice to head out in a slightly different direction. It turned out to be great.
There was just enough wind to keep us cool without creating exausting head winds. And thankfully there were always a few downhills after the uphills. The only drawback was that about one forth of the ride didn't have bike lanes. We were able to stay safe... for the most part!
Let me back up for a quick moment. One thing about hills is that you tend to shift a lot more, right? After we leveling off, one of the boys was changing gears - but the gears were shifting slowly and making some noise. He looks down at the derailer (as we are riding past a few parked cars) and "thump!", he sideswipes one of the cars with his handlebar. I am not totally positive, but I think he wacked the very edge of the side view mirror.
Thankfully he didn't go down - which could have easily meant a three bike pile-up. His dad, who was in the lead and heard the thump and our subsequent responses of concern and laughter, asked, "What WAS that?"
"He just sideswiped a car!" we yelled.
We will be giving the poor 12 year old a hard time about that for a while to come. Thankfully he kept clear of cars for the rest of the cruise. As for the car owner, we don't think we did any noticeable damage. At least we hope not.
Do you suppose this counts as a hit and run?
There was just enough wind to keep us cool without creating exausting head winds. And thankfully there were always a few downhills after the uphills. The only drawback was that about one forth of the ride didn't have bike lanes. We were able to stay safe... for the most part!
Let me back up for a quick moment. One thing about hills is that you tend to shift a lot more, right? After we leveling off, one of the boys was changing gears - but the gears were shifting slowly and making some noise. He looks down at the derailer (as we are riding past a few parked cars) and "thump!", he sideswipes one of the cars with his handlebar. I am not totally positive, but I think he wacked the very edge of the side view mirror.
Thankfully he didn't go down - which could have easily meant a three bike pile-up. His dad, who was in the lead and heard the thump and our subsequent responses of concern and laughter, asked, "What WAS that?"
"He just sideswiped a car!" we yelled.
We will be giving the poor 12 year old a hard time about that for a while to come. Thankfully he kept clear of cars for the rest of the cruise. As for the car owner, we don't think we did any noticeable damage. At least we hope not.
Do you suppose this counts as a hit and run?
Friday, June 22, 2012
Pizza by the Slice and more...
Today's trip was a fun 20 miles with pizza at the turn-around point. Gotta love a slice of New York style pizza with a little cruise. It was sooooo good.
Every trip has something interesting right? This time one of my son's front brake pads needed adjusting. It seems like it is always something. A few weeks ago it was a loose head set, the week before that was a blown tire. But I digress.... Thankfully it was something we could tinker with and get working correctly.
After the ride I thought I'd look for some equipment for our trip in August. I need either a handlebar bag or handlebar sling to carry a few things that won't fit in the panniers. So I call a bike shop to get their opinion - you know, find out what they recommend and avoid some of the problems other bikers have had. My buddy gave me the name of a great bike shop that has a lot of things in stock and can make a good recommendation.
I give them a call to find out what they might recommend and I find out the guy really doesn't want to do it over the phone. He explains how we can take a lot of time to talk it over on the phone but it would be easier to come over to the shop. Besides, he explains, a lot of guys just get advice and then go online to order it cheaper.
Now I get that a lot of shops are tired of giving advice without making the sale. I understand that it is better to be there in person so that they can see the bike, show me a few products, and sell me the bag. However, sometime I have been in the store and gotten the same kind of treatment. When I start asking questions they think I have no idea what I'm doing and just give me the general sales pitch and go off to help someone else.
When I'm with my buddy (that they recognize because he's bought some gear at the store) they give you the red carpet treatment. I've seen it more than once. If the rider comes in on something high end they take him seriously and want to talk about anything under the sun. Am I alone here?
The fact is that the bike shop that I was calling was a bit of a drive, so I was hoping to get some ideas over the phone to make sure I wanted to make the drive. As you may have guessed, I now have no intentions of making the trip. They lost a sale. I know they are a great shop, but they lost this one. Should I have to flash credentials before getting the time of day? Do I have to mention the name of my friend who has dropped a few grand at their store to get their attention?
There are a lot of great shops out there. If you are one of them, remember to show a little interest in the guy that wants to spend money at your shop even if he looks/sounds like a waste of time.
Did I happen to mention how good that slice of pizza tasted? Mmmmmm... maybe tomorrow it'll be a burger...
Every trip has something interesting right? This time one of my son's front brake pads needed adjusting. It seems like it is always something. A few weeks ago it was a loose head set, the week before that was a blown tire. But I digress.... Thankfully it was something we could tinker with and get working correctly.
After the ride I thought I'd look for some equipment for our trip in August. I need either a handlebar bag or handlebar sling to carry a few things that won't fit in the panniers. So I call a bike shop to get their opinion - you know, find out what they recommend and avoid some of the problems other bikers have had. My buddy gave me the name of a great bike shop that has a lot of things in stock and can make a good recommendation.
I give them a call to find out what they might recommend and I find out the guy really doesn't want to do it over the phone. He explains how we can take a lot of time to talk it over on the phone but it would be easier to come over to the shop. Besides, he explains, a lot of guys just get advice and then go online to order it cheaper.
Now I get that a lot of shops are tired of giving advice without making the sale. I understand that it is better to be there in person so that they can see the bike, show me a few products, and sell me the bag. However, sometime I have been in the store and gotten the same kind of treatment. When I start asking questions they think I have no idea what I'm doing and just give me the general sales pitch and go off to help someone else.
When I'm with my buddy (that they recognize because he's bought some gear at the store) they give you the red carpet treatment. I've seen it more than once. If the rider comes in on something high end they take him seriously and want to talk about anything under the sun. Am I alone here?
The fact is that the bike shop that I was calling was a bit of a drive, so I was hoping to get some ideas over the phone to make sure I wanted to make the drive. As you may have guessed, I now have no intentions of making the trip. They lost a sale. I know they are a great shop, but they lost this one. Should I have to flash credentials before getting the time of day? Do I have to mention the name of my friend who has dropped a few grand at their store to get their attention?
There are a lot of great shops out there. If you are one of them, remember to show a little interest in the guy that wants to spend money at your shop even if he looks/sounds like a waste of time.
Did I happen to mention how good that slice of pizza tasted? Mmmmmm... maybe tomorrow it'll be a burger...
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Impromptu Bike Ride
So.... my son and I were taking a little bike trip to pick up his retainer at the orthodontist. We only had a few miles to go and got there in virtually no time. I notice that there is a bike trail nearby that intersects with a bike trail that he & I frequently ride. Perfecto :)
I ask him if he'd like to take the short way or long way home.
"The short way," he says.
I explain that we could try something fun.
"If it's longer, I'd rather not go that way," he responds.
Now you would probably expect that from a twelve year old. But considering that we are planning a trip that will be 200 miles later this summer, you would think he'd be up for the challenge.
I say, "Follow Me!"
It probably would have been better if we hadn't been riding into a head wind. He was dogging it and mumbling about how we didn't have any water.
"If I'd known you didn't like riding I wouldn't have started planning our trip in August!"
"It's just that I'm tired because..."
And if you have kids you can probably guess all the excuses. He didn't get enough sleep last night. His legs were tired. Mom didn't know we were taking a longer way home. And his favorite one: WE DIDN'T BRING ANY WATER.
He was asking if the river bed water was drinkable. I told him it was drinkable, but also sickable.
Anyway, we did just fine. Especially when we merged to another bike path with a tailwind. We got fifteen miles out of what would have only been six. He should be thanking me, right? :)
I ask him if he'd like to take the short way or long way home.
"The short way," he says.
I explain that we could try something fun.
"If it's longer, I'd rather not go that way," he responds.
Now you would probably expect that from a twelve year old. But considering that we are planning a trip that will be 200 miles later this summer, you would think he'd be up for the challenge.
I say, "Follow Me!"
It probably would have been better if we hadn't been riding into a head wind. He was dogging it and mumbling about how we didn't have any water.
"If I'd known you didn't like riding I wouldn't have started planning our trip in August!"
"It's just that I'm tired because..."
And if you have kids you can probably guess all the excuses. He didn't get enough sleep last night. His legs were tired. Mom didn't know we were taking a longer way home. And his favorite one: WE DIDN'T BRING ANY WATER.
He was asking if the river bed water was drinkable. I told him it was drinkable, but also sickable.
Anyway, we did just fine. Especially when we merged to another bike path with a tailwind. We got fifteen miles out of what would have only been six. He should be thanking me, right? :)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)