Things I Have Learned and You Should Also

I started doing this for all of us beginning bicyclists out there that needed a realistic point to start and in some ways I have varied from that. Today I hope to strike a cord with everyone.

As I observe other bicyclist while I’m on a ride or in my car, I have noticed a generation difference. Not only have I seen these activities, I have previously talked about them and have recently had a different hue of light placed on them.

Earphones, the dreaded safety violation or common sense. Yes, I know common sense has gone the way of shivery, it’s just not there any more. I wear earphones and they produce sound from either my own play list or my favorite FM country station, so I get music, news and weather. Being of the younger side of elderly I know a very unique way to do this. Turn the damn thing down! I can ride, listen to whatever in my earphones and still have a conversation with my son and riding buddy who is not in sight at my rear wheel. The wisdom from my youthful son, is that, people don’t let me know they are there because they see the wires going to the head phones. I really think he is on to something with that. I started paying a little more attention to the very few that I pass who are wearing head phones. Is it a problem when I hear their music over mine?

I have noticed an extreme rise in notification of an upcoming pass by riders this past month, I would like to say it is from my ranting about the super stars but there are not enough of you that read this to make that kind of difference. Oh did I mention these riders giving a warning are of a more mature nature. Could this be a pattern of courtesy?

Courtesy, another virtue going with that society is loosing? This past week and a half there have been newspaper articles on bicyclists and auto drivers not abiding by the most simple of rules. The article (6-21-09 Denver Post) reference a race at stake due to the tension between the residents, of which some are elite bicyclists, and bicyclists in Deer Creek Canyon. This is totally due to a major lack of consideration by a very small percentage of riders that don’t have an ounce of respect for anyone else. They are in that self centered mode that says I’m on the road and it is only mine, I’ll do what I want. Then they want something done about the motorized vehicles attempting to get around them. Then there is the country of Boulder. There are people that are attempting to get a grass roots wave of auto drivers to pull over to the side of the road with “mechanical problems” during a 100 mile race next month. Bottom line, drivers are fed up with that small percentage of arrogant, self-centered, bicyclists that feel that they own the road and the rules do not pertain to them. The Denver Police Department and a consortium of bike advocates passed out 200,000 Ride Safe Spoke Cards during the 18th annual bike to work day. What is more ridiculous, handing out spoke cards with traffic rules on them or the need to remind bicyclists they also need to play by the same rules?

I guess the way society is going that can go either way. We are becoming a society that believes that rules are only for our neighbors and not us. You can see that in local government, from your local HOA, all the way up to the federal government and our elected officials “watching out for the people”.

Newbie’s, when you are on a ride, whether on a bike path or the road, use your manners, you are in public.

For those from a younger generation, spoke cards are playing cards hooked to your front fork with a clothes pin in a manner to make noise as the wheel turns and the spokes hit the card.

Next Post; Your Body is Your Barometer

Ride Safe Out There, and Don’t Run Me Over (please)

“G”