Are we just a bunch of whiners?

[Dickie]

A few nights back on a late night commute home I crossed paths with a fellow cyclist on the W&OD trail. As we passed he told me I was “F***ing obnoxious”. My first reaction was confusion, then anger then hurt. I immediately realized what his reasoning was. Although my headlamp was on it’s lowest setting and pointed down (his was not), I had neglected to turn off my 1 watt LED blinker on my backpack strap. Now this light is pretty dim but since I am on and off the trail and on the roads a fair amount on my commute the extra visibility seems important. Obviously my two wheeled friend took offense to my bling. Sadly I lost my composure and yelled something back (hangs head in shame). However, this has been bothering me since and got me thinking (bad mistake). I wondered if this was a forum member as the topic of blinkers on the trail was a hot topic last week. I wondered if our rants occasionally perpetuate a sense of entitlement or too high of an expectation? As an example, I have heard complaints about cyclists not using lights on the trail, or having too many lights, or not the correct color, or angle, or whatever. Are we becoming too finicky and particular? I love being involved with this community, on this forum, and as a whole I feel we provide excellent karma and set great examples (Dirt’s super groovy and laid back approach, Kellonwheels’ adorable ramblings and thoughts, etc, etc). I try to take the approach that if you are on two wheels you immediately earn collateral, but occasionally I wonder if we are still not patient enough with each other on the roads.

Topic

[Dirt]

Good topic, sir.

This area seems to have an amazing ability to attract passive/AGGRESSIVE people. Generally they’re mellow for the first 2 or 3 people who they encounter that tweak their ire, then the 4th person gets the flame thrower… even if the perceived transgression is minor.

You already know how I’d deal with it. If I’ve got time, I’ll try and talk the issue out in a non-confrontational way. I’ll try and make a friend. If I don’t have time, I’ll express my boundless love for them and be on my way… wafting marshmallow-flavored daisies out of my chamois (cute, fluffy pink ones if possible).

I ride my bike all over the place… I see stuff like this in many places.. usually big cities…. Boston, NYC, Philly are the three that come to mind. Maybe a little in Downtown Denver. I don’t see it anywhere as much as I do in the DC area. Agreed I ride here much more than I do other places…. but I think I encounter more of the sandy-chamois crowd per mile in DC than I do elsewhere.

Give them a kitten (or a cute, fluffy bunny) and move on. There are marshmallow-flavored daisies that need wafting in this area.

Hugs and kisses,

Dirt

[GuyContinental]

Rear-blinker angst? That seems a bit excessive, especially since they were capable of just passing you- probably as Dirt said, the 4th or 5th blinkie that they’d ended up behind. For my part, as someone who passes much more than I’m passed I can’t think of many instances where a blinkie in ninja-land was anything but appreciated. Also, I tend to leave mine on blink mode despite being on the W&OD because I start and end on major roads and changing the pattern to solid is kind of tough to do. Maybe I should reconsider but I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve had someone draft me while commuting in the last year.

On the whiner topic- I do get worked up over a few things but they are all filed under the “safety of me and mine” column. Some of these are generic- e.g. dangerous passes , using double-earbuds, or failure to at least acknowledge traffic and rules of the road. But lots of them do have to do with lighting- blinding strobes, failure to dim lights, failure to use lights (ninja-style). Any one of these in the right situation could honest-to-goodness kill me (or someone around me) so I feel pretty justified in getting worked up about them. However, there is a difference between merely getting angry and trying to do something about it- if I see something really bad and have the opportunity to chat with the offender, I do. Otherwise it’s not worth the ire… I just think WWDD (What would Dirt Do) and roll with my not as cute version of fluffy bunnies while trying to set a decent example.

[jrenaut]

Not only that, but if we take the attitude that “we’ve got it pretty good, we should just relax”, then things will never get better. And we do have it pretty good around here. And things could definitely get better (I’m looking at YOU, Key Bridge into Rosslyn).

[Terpfan]

Everyone has their off days, just have to keep it all in perspective. Aka, he’s arguing with you over his perception of the severity of a blinky light on a path at night on a beautiful near-autumn evening–life could be a lot worse. Besides, there are the good folks too who will stop to make sure you’re alright if they see your bike lying down in the grass, those who pass with a call, smile and a good morning, and so on. My trick is trying to put any frustration into my pedals and attack the hills harder–definitely a WWDD type of scenario minus the daisies.

[acc]

WWDD… Contemplating that takes care of about 80% of my trail/road angst.

If I’m doing something stupid out there I appreciate being told. I like it better when yelling is not involved. But I don’t want to hurt anyone or put anyone at risk, including myself.

But when a cyclist gets hurt or buzzed by a car, even if I don’t know them personally, then it’s time to put a blindfold on Dirt and stuff him in an isolation booth so I can react like a pissed off human being.

[KelOnWheels]

I HAS ADRORABLE RAMBLINGS!

I can’t decide if I do or do not want to see marshmallow-flavored daisies wafting out of Dirt’s shorts. Also I am not checking to see if they are really marshmallow-flavored.

Why DOES Superman have to hold his arms up to fly? Does he have armpit jets?

I like seeing people’s blinky taillights out on the trail. It’s like the Secret Sign of the Bike Commuter.

Also I think Miss Manners would say (in fact I know she would) that it is more obnoxious to point out that you think someone is being obnoxious than the original commission of the obnoxiousery-ness. Thing. Which blinky taillights are not.

Dude must have really needed to complain about something. Was anybody else like TERRIFIED of their mom’s pressure cooker back in the day? That thing used to freak me out, going all PSHH PSHH PSHH PSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! on the stove.

Bike commuting is awesome! (Today is a running day. Noooo bike for me.)

[5555624]

Just remember not to take the WWDD approach to extremes — if I start singing, ,fluffy bunnies everyhwere will die and I rarely have a camera along to take any pictures.

I have to admit that having virtually no one around for at least 50% of my riding probably does keep me from losing it more often.

[jnva]

It’s funny how a comment bothers me when I’m biking compared to driving. I guess it’s more personal because your not in a metal cage. I was yelled at last week by a spandex king for riding an electric bike on the W&OD – dude was going twice my speed, not calling passes weaving around people on the busiest section in Vienna and he had the balls to complain about me breaking the rules. It still angers me thinking about it.

[krazygl00]

WWKD: belch loudly*, turn the volume up** and ride away.

* bonus points if you can belch “HTFU”
** as long as you’re on a MUP

[krazygl00]

@KelOnWheels 30628 wrote:

Was anybody else like TERRIFIED of their mom’s pressure cooker back in the day? That thing used to freak me out, going all PSHH PSHH PSHH PSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! on the stove.

We had a HUGE pressure-cooker way back when I was a kid. The pressure gauge broke on it, and my mom opened it up and the damn thing pretty much exploded (she was OK). WORSTFEARSREALIZED!!!!!

[rcannon100]

Not sure the question. Is the question about lights or is the question about the way people behave? Assuming it is about the way People Behave, I have to tell this story:

We love Carderrock. And one of the reasons we love Carderrock is that it is completely overshaddowed by Great Falls and Anglers Inn. The only people who go to Carderrock are true outdoorsy people – and they tend to be – well – like the people here. Experienced and courteous. People are very mellow. The place is never crowded.

So we had just finished our 4 mile hike on the billy goat trail with our dogs, and we were getting into our van. There are probably 50 out of 100 parking spots available. As we are getting into our van, a hummer drives up. That’s unusual for this place. The driver and the passenger were both stoking cigars. That’s unusual for Carderrock. The hummer just stops. We think its taking pictures or something. We water our dogs. We water ourselves. A car pulls up behind the hummer – hummer blocks the paths. Still not clear why the hummer stopped. Hummer is now blocking traffic. Hummer would be in my blind spot when I pull out so I am in no hurry (and remember there are like 50 open spots). Now the blocked car begins to make noise trying to get around the hummer. Hummer wont move. I’m ready to go at this point, but am in no hurry to go with someone in my blind spot.

Finally the hummer starts yelling at me. He had wanted my parking spot. And starts yelling that I was a jack ass.

We were rolling on the floor. Seriously. It was so funny.

Washington DC is the official sponsor of the Alpha Dog. And if the Alpha Dog doesnt get its way, it throws a tantrum. These Alpha Dogs – these politicos – or hyper rich – or law firm partners – are just always always use to getting their way and if anyone dare looks at them the wrong way, they throw a tantrum. They must be right, because they are the alpha dog.

I have lived in Wash DC all my life. The culture here has definitely changed. That can be seen in how dysfunctional congress has become. Politics has always been tough. It has always been bloody. But in the end, things got done. Now, people establish strident positions – and no one works with anyone else. The only goal is the destruction of the other – even at the cost of doing the right thing. Alpha Dogs.

One of the reasons I have always like athletes is there is a little less of that BS – you prove yourself on the field – not by sticking out your chest and being a jerk.

So here is the rub. You live in the land of Alpha Dogs. And they are going to be jerks. And nothing you do is ever going to change that. It may only be 5% of the population – its probably more than elsewhere – but they are unavoidable. You must be like Derek Jeter at a Red Socks home game, and just not let it get to you.

But jrenaut is right. It doesnt mean dont speak up. I am probably constantly chatting on the trail. Small kid pulled a Crazy Ivan on me on the Bluemont Connector last night. And in the most kid friendly tone, I tried to tell him to look before he turns. But after the fact – breath and let it go. Or write a great “Missed Connections” post about it.

We live in a city of jerks. What are you going to do about it? I walk my dogs. I ride my bike. And hey, the sun rises over the Lincoln Memorial have just been fabulous!!!

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[Dirt]

@jnva 30631 wrote:

It’s funny how a comment bothers me when I’m biking compared to driving.

Extremely good point. I’ve noticed this with myself a LOT over the years. Part of it for me is that I’m acutely aware of my vulnerability to cars and traffic, so when someone is very casual about aggressive comments or actions, I really want to react negatively. We’re so used to reacting that way around traffic that it is really easy to want to react that way to cyclists.

The other explanation for myself when I’m riding… I have a rather high standard of behavior for myself when I ride. I want to do the right thing and REALLY DO the vast majority of the time. I do, however, make mistakes now and then… Sometimes it gets noticed. It bothers me to get called out for the few mistakes that I make. My gut reaction is to snark back. But that is exactly what it is…. a reaction. I rarely make good, positive choices when I react. I’d much rather act. For me that implies that my brain was being used in the communication process.

Thanks y’all for the thoughts on this topic. Y’all rock!

[consularrider]

@Dirt 30614 wrote:

… Give them … (or a cute, fluffy bunny) … Dirt

You’re cute fluffy bunny doesn’t look anything like the suicidal maniac alpha rabbits routinely encountered around sunrise on the W&OD at Ballymore Castle!

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 30614 wrote:

Give them a kitten (or a cute, fluffy bunny) and move on. There are marshmallow-flavored daisies that need wafting in this area.

Hugs and kisses,

Dirt

I knew it was you wearing this:
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[Dirt]

@consularrider 30640 wrote:

You’re cute fluffy bunny doesn’t look anything like the suicidal maniac alpha rabbits routinely encountered around sunrise on the W&OD at Ballymore Castle!

Those are much more difficult to give away.

[Author]

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