re: Are cyclists the most tone deaf people on the planet?

quote:

---

We have more miles of trails than we do roads, and bike lanes beside the roads, and these dipshits still figure out ways to block traffic and pester the normal folk.

---

Around here in Virginia / East Coast, mountainbikers like myself (and everyone I ride with) refer to people that only ride bikes on roads as "Roadies" not "cyclists". Yes, with disdain...the spandex, the entitlement, everything complained about in this thread.

Sure, I'll ride on the road occassionally to get some spinning in when I don't have enough time to load up for the bike park. But I have awareness of any inconvenience I might possibly cause drivers and will take the opportunity to pull over and let folks pass on the curvy, hilly roads around where I live. And I've never had anybody blow the horn, flip me off or run me off the road.

Stereotypes exist for a reason.

No worries bro. I do get where you are coming from. Every group has its share of knuckleheads for sure (I am probably one of them). Smart people aren’t immune to doing dumb things either.

But to your specific point, every cyclist I know is aware of the danger presented by the motorists they might share the road with. That’s why I wanted to share that the overwhelming majority of them I know seem to have made accommodations and changes in how they go about enjoying the sport they love.

And then there’s what others have noted. We all take on some measure of intrinsic risk doing the things we do by choice or requirement each day. I think that’s exactly right. Nobody is guaranteed to make it home at the end of the shift. I think maybe the best we can do then is be smart, control what we can control, have some faith, try to make things better for those around us and live our lives not being captured by fear. I am surely trying to get the most out of my time around the sun. Most days I think I am playing my hand okay. Here’s hoping you’re getting your money’s worth out of this thing too!

quote:

---

RAGBRAI.

---

Those Tour de France wannabes came through my hometown several years ago.

If they never do again it will be too soon.

btw-If you're burning 4000 calories a day riding across Iowa you'd die in my part of WI.

quote:

---

They are the most narcissistic for sure.

---

hey now

I bet I've racked up about 10,000 miles on that loop of 100 to the trace to 96, up old Hillsboro to old Natchez to Temple past your house back to 100.

Had some killer koms on old Hillsboro on Strava that I kept for over a decade.

The Harpeth bike club in Middle tn is one of the most amazing and friendly groups of folks you'll ever meet.

Sure there are the tandem granola eaters but also conservatives, doctors, firemen, racers, triguys, mtn bikers and pretty much anyone is welcomed.

I've done races, gran fondos, centuries, gravel grinders and group rides to some of the most amazing areas you've ever seen.

Backbone ridge, stllhouse, pull tight, 100s of miles on the trace, the mind blowing ride along leipers Creek that ends at papa boudreauxs in Santa Fe and scenery you wouldn't believe.



One of the best good ol boys you've ever met had a Confederate flag flying over his store in Fly TN and that old man loved us. Always had a $1 bologna sandwich ready to make and plenty of cold water and drinks in the fridges.

RIP Mr Fly





I have ridden up everything from brass town bald in GA to clingmans dome in Gatlinburg to the dragon and cherohala in NC to almost dying coming down roan mountain.

I've gotten up to nearly 70mph coming down highland rim during a race, averaged 26mph solo for 25 miles at the TN State championship and rode 100 miles in 3 hours and 51 minutes in a paceline. You damn right I still have that on Strava.

I met lnomm at an omnium in Florida and Mitch... The mad scientist behind Rouge Roubaix gave me a beer at a race in Minden LA when I bonked.

I have ridden alongside Lance Armstrong and raced Jared Gruber at a crit in Monroe who is one of my favorite people of all time.

I've competed against Brian Toone in Huntsville AL and loaned him my extra wheelset one time who has some some of the most unbelievable feats in cycling including climbing 65k feet in a single day and doing the race across America multiple times as well as being the #1 Strava athlete for years.

I have had some of the craziest shite go down in races with names like Hell of the South, Sparta Road Race, Roan Groan and made friends and enemies on the road, been relegated for fricking around during a race and forced to work my way back up to the front, dropped better riders on climbs..had my arse dropped on climbs, talked shite and had my right Shimano shifter explode after getting tangled with another bike and had to finish the race without being able to shift...

I feel bad for anyone who doesn't get to enjoy the beauty and zen of a long quiet country highway on a bicycle or the comradery of a group ride just for fun or racing.

Bucky, you change that down vote right this instant!

quote:

---

Yesterday a woman with earbuds in stepped out in front of me when she was walking the lakes. I was doing 20 but she had zero self awareness.

---

We’re going to need pics of her to determine whether you or she was at fault here.