Are we just a bunch of whiners?

[pfunkallstar]

Just give it a few more weeks, the cold air will drive the super alphas to the gym and those remaining on the bike trail will be too preoccupied with snotty nose icicles to care about blinkers.

[creadinger]

@pfunkallstar 30647 wrote:

Just give it a few more weeks, the cold air will drive the super alphas to the gym and those remaining on the bike trail will be too preoccupied with snotty nose icicles to care about blinkers.

This is unrelated to the general discussion of this thread, but the coming cold air driving softer people inside has been mentioned a few times lately.

I just have to say for the record that not everyone will stop commuting this fall because of the cold. I grew up in central PA and can handle the little bit of coolness that DC winters bring. I mean really, it’s more like cold spring. I will not be commuting this winter because of the lack of sun. And NO it’s not because I’m afraid of the dark!

End of overly sensitiveness.

[dasgeh]

While I think there’s a little bit of truth to the whole DC-alpha-dog-argument, I actually think poor transportation management is the biggest culprit. Face it, our transportation system in the region sucks, and the end result is frustrated people trying to get around the best they can, but getting more frustrated in the process.

One example from last week in Charlotte. I went down for the DNC, stayed with my family, who live in the neighborhood next to Uptown (think living in the residential part of Rosslyn with the convention in Georgetown). We biked to and from Uptown a couple times a day to pick up tickets, go to receptions, go to the Convention. The first couple days, drivers were UNBELIEVABLY nice. I’d pull up to four way stops with cars already waiting at the three other stop signs, and every car would waive me through with a smile. Every driver respected the bike lanes and bike boxes (with green paint!), even then ones that weren’t totally striped yet. It was awesome.

By Wednesday, awesome was gone. Even bus drivers, who had been re-routed to go 3 blocks into my family’s neighborhood, on a very residential (narrow) street, with parking on both sides and 4-way-stops at each intersection, would ride my back wheel and try to push me out of the wonderful green bike boxes. (Bus drivers should really know the futility of this, especially because once they turned off the residential street onto the thoroughfare, traffic was STOPPED). For about 3 days, people were willing to deal with the traffic fallout from massive security with a Southern smile. Then it all went to sh*t and it was like being back in DC.

I grew up in Charlotte. I’m super proud of how well the city did hosting the DNC. Charlotte culture is not alpha-dog friendly, but enough time with frustrating transportation, and everyone gets testy.

I strongly believe that the biggest thing we can do to get drivers (and others) to act respectfully towards cyclists (and pedestrians and other drivers) is to create a WORKING transportation system in this region, so that people can get to where they’re going in a reasonable, predictable fashion.

[GuyContinental]

@creadinger 30651 wrote:

This is unrelated to the general discussion of this thread, but the coming cold air driving softer people inside has been mentioned a few times lately.

I just have to say for the record that not everyone will stop commuting this fall because of the cold. I grew up in central PA and can handle the little bit of coolness that DC winters bring. I mean really, it’s more like cold spring. I will not be commuting this winter because of the lack of sun. And NO it’s not because I’m afraid of the dark!

End of overly sensitiveness.

Awww- It’s the fair-weather warriors on bike and foot that will be driven inside. Most of the BA folks will be out, partially so we can belly-ache about it on-line and generally feel smug.

I’m not afraid of the dark either… I’m afraid of what lurks in the dark!

[creadinger]

@GuyContinental 30661 wrote:

Awww- It’s the fair-weather warriors on bike and foot that will be driven inside. Most of the BA folks will be out, partially so we can belly-ache about it on-line and generally feel smug.

I’m not afraid of the dark either… I’m afraid of what lurks in the dark!

Thank you! I feel validated. Haha.

The wintertime smugness is a little overblown, considering it’s DC. Try riding all winter in Minneapolis! Sheesh… I think smugness for being brave enough just to ride the roads in DC is very well deserved, especially for the every-single-freakin-day folks. Riding in the cold is…. meh.

[Terpfan]

@rcannon100 30635 wrote:

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!!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1697[/ATTACH]

See bolded part: what is your secret? Everytime I have gone there it’s been crowded. I guess in the mid-to-late 90s it wasn’t as bad as it is now, but I swear it could be snowing and I come upon the place full. Not that it defends the idiot hummer driver (albeit, were they good cigars?).

[Dirt]

2 things:

1) The best thing about the alpha-dog rule is number of great exceptions out there.

b) The days that I feel smug about riding are usually the ones when I don’t enjoy it much. When I out to ride for the sheer joy of it (not that I can’t do both in the same ride) are the ones where every moment of the ride is like it was when I first used my bike to go everywhere I ever wanted to as a little kid. It isn’t about the conditions. It has everything to do with my state of mind. One limits and isolates me. The other makes me want to do everything I humanly can to help others see that they can get this same kind of joy too.

I love y’all!

Dirt.

[JorgeGortex]

I think the ying and yang of this topic is that the people on this forum exemplify positive, thoughtful, intelligent riders. People who like to ride because they like to ride… and they enjoy sharing that. Some are about fast, some are not, but as long as you make it along your way people are cool with it. Unfortunately most of whom we might encounter on the trails and roads are not these same people. They either haven’t found the culture of the bike, are too cool for it, or simply don’t get it. Its not worth trying to debate it with them if they aren’t open to a friendly conversation. Easier said than done.

Its probably better just focus on why you are out there and not worry about other people’s angst. Again, easier said than done. One thing that my dad always said to me was “What goes around comes around.” At some point the troubadours or adrenalized expert spandexed biking macho powers will get theirs. Their blood pressure will rise to ear thrumming proportions. Teeth gritted, knuckles white, saliva spitting expert expressions of perfect life wisdom… will blow up in their faces. And the rest of us? We’ll keep pedaling or running or hiking along.

I know visiting the forum always makes me think and brings a smile to my face. Carry on people, blinkies and all.

[thecyclingeconomist]

I know I’ll get some flack (as a D.C. newb: only 4 months here), and because I didn’t read every response on this thread: but as a daily commuter (365-rain or shine or snow) through the city of Alexandria, up the MVT and in and through the district, I run extremely bright lights both front and back, and in strobe-mode during all daytime hours. I try to remember to turn them off when I hit the MVT, but have often realize that when I do… I forget to turn them back on when I hit the city and really need them on strobe mode. So, rather than turn them off, I usually just try to drop my hand in front of them for oncoming riders/runners when it is safe for me to do so rather than turning them off.

I’ve been commuting for 5 years as a full-timer. Cycling since 1997. Been hit-n-runned once (compound fracture to my left collar-bone)… and that’s all it takes to change mentality on the lighting front. I won’t put my own potential safety, when sharing the road with cars, into jeopardy for the momentary benefit of oncoming cyclists/runners on the path.

For curiosities sake (and to see if some of the rather colorful comments I’ve received were justified), I’ve put my lights next to my car headlights to see if these are “worse” than driving a normal two-lane road, and the answer is…No. Maybe I’m off-base, but my strobes/headlights aren’t any brighter than an oncoming car, and they provide safety for me, as well as those oncoming. Why can’t we simply divert our eyes from the oncoming light? I’ve had at least three roadies throw the f-bomb at me. I must say, it irks me to no end that anyone on a bike would treat any other cyclist that way. Generally, I’ve had nothing but positive from the cyclists/runners in the area… I think that part of the problem is that it only takes 1 rotten apple to sour the whole batch in our mind.

If it’s my rear light… maybe again I’m off-base but, if you can’t muscle up to pass me, then slow down or quit complaining and enjoy the light show. I do ride pretty hard when I commute, as I love cycling, and have used this sport to lose and maintain a loss of over 70lbs. since my flabby height of 274lbs. in 2003. I like the comment above: we each have our reasons for being on the bike. I love cycling in all its forms. Recumbent, road, mtn, tandem etc. I love, promote and support them all. Each bicycle out there is a piece of art to me.

But, back on topic: I guess I’m saying “yes” to your original question… there are a bunch of whiners out there, and maybe I’m being a bit stubborn on the lighting-issue too (I’ll work on that). I guess it’s because I approach my road riding vs. commuting very differently. But, when I observe “cyclists” act like blithering idiots (I guess this is subjective too… but I do video every single ride, so I have proof) in traffic making bad name for us all, I get pretty “whinny” too…

God bless and safe cycling!
~TCE

(P.S. If you see me on my frankenstein-bike-commuter-thing…the bike below with a green water proof Novara panniers attached,…riding improperly… simply remind me of this post… but you don’t have to curse at me… I promise)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1700[/ATTACH]

FYI: the lighting system that makes you visible in day-time traffic: http://www.dinottelighting.com/

[consularrider]

@thecyclingeconomist 30683 wrote:

[1] … Why can’t we simply divert our eyes from the oncoming light? …

[2] … I guess I’m saying: yes to your original question … there are a bunch of whiners out there …

On number 1, I try not to look at the light (just try that heading south on the MVT with the car headlights, it doesn’t work), but from my most recent after dark ride last week, the approaching overly bright headlight made it almost impossible to see the running ninja I was overtaking even with my moderately bright headlight, and I knew the ninja was there. Must have been the pupils contracting?

On number 2, I was wondering when someone was going to finally provide the true answer posed to the headline question.

[thecyclingeconomist]

I agree that there are certain spots on the MVT that simply require more caution… the spot just south of Gravelly Point Park while headed south where you have oncoming cars on the right and bike lights on the left oncoming is rough at night. Also, whether north or south, the winding area just south of the airport can be dangerous for sure, but more from a congestion/differential-pace point of view.

[krazygl00]

@Dirt 30673 wrote:

2 things:

1)
b)

Love that

[Dirt]

Using a cycling cap with a visor helps with oncoming lights.

[consularrider]

Had me looking for Thing 1 and Thing 2, but you can’t not do that when your parents are out.

[dasgeh]

@thecyclingeconomist 30683 wrote:

For curiosities sake (and to see if some of the rather colorful comments I’ve received were justified), I’ve put my lights next to my car headlights to see if these are “worse” than driving a normal two-lane road, and the answer is…No.

The problem with your logic is that the drivers on a normal two-lane road have car-powered headlights of their own and the road probably has a fair amount of ambient lighting. On a trail, most people have weak lights, and the ambient lighting is usually low. Other trail-users’ eyes are not adjusted for bright light in the way that drivers’ are. So when you ride on a trail with very bright lights, you really are putting others in danger, because you are impairing their night vision for moments after you pass.

I completely understand the value you put on your safety. But your actions are putting others at risk (in a way it doesn’t seem you’ve been considering). Maybe it’s time to consider another strategy?

[Author]

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