Missed connection

[baiskeli]

This is my version of a “missed connection” post…

You: headphones, no helmet passing me on the right in the bike lane on Clarendon Blvd. the morning of May 9 about 8 am.

Me: riding safely as usual

You should call your damn passes – especially when passing on the right. I could have swerved right into you.

Dumbass.

Topic

[Certifried]

@Arlingtonrider 28476 wrote:

And as far as passing little kids goes, I slow way down and talk them through it — “Keep going straight just like you are. I’m going to pass you.” Then “Great job!” if they hold their line. The smiles they give after that are definitely worth the slowing down.

^^ THIS! is awesome! I’ve been 1/2 doing that, but need to start doing it more. I always ring my bell and let them know I’m passing, and try to encourage them or give them a thumbs up. The younger kids really don’t know the difference between Lance Armstrong and myself (hey, let me have my fantasy) so they really get excited when “big bikes” give them encouragement or even acknowledge them. It really gets them excited about what they’re doing, maybe even creating memories and a love of cycling for life. All it really takes is slowing down (which everyone should be doing around kids on trails anyway!) and a few encouraging words, awesome idea!

[mstone]

To they guy on Fairfax going through the Glebe intersection in Ballston with head down and no hands on the bike due to the necessities of texting: do the enormous balls make it hard to find a comfortable saddle?

[KelOnWheels]

@txgoonie 28479 wrote:

No self respecting MTBer wears elbow or knee pads. (Downhillers or BMX racers, maybe.)

Yeah, in retrospect, I think they were derby pads. Also I’m pretty sure she had two elbow pads and just one knee pad.

[jordash]

It’s silly to think that even at our best we do not infuriate others with whom we share these paths. Just because you are indignant does not mean you are absolutely right. And by all means use extreme caution in exchanging “educational words” with others. You’ll likely sound a) combative b) condescending c) out of breath d) wrong e) any combination of the preceding.

Just like that guy who punched me in the arm when I made (perhaps a rash) choice to pass a long convoy of women struggling up a hill on the MVT. Was he right that I should not have passed at that time? Maybe. Did he think before punching me in the arm that maybe I was sick of pedaling in the single digits waiting for a chance to pass or that he, descending a hill, could have simply tapped his brakes to allow me to muscle past? Probably not. Instead he made a very dangerous split-second decision to sock me in the arm. If what I was doing was dangerous, he certainly could have caused triple the damage. And for what?

Do not be a Bolshevik; to be indignant is only temporary; take a breath and enjoy your ride.

[Arlingtonrider]

We were taking about little kids in these last few posts. Careful judgments need to be made about the potential receptiveness of others. Of the two people I tried to help after some friendly conversation, one was very obviously a beginning bike rider and the other turned out to be a lost and somewhat clueless tourist. Both seemed to be looking around for someone to help them, so it wasn’t just luck that they were receptive.

With regard to the post above, it speaks for itself.

[eminva]

Interesting point — my son and I were on the receiving end of some fast cyclist vitriol yesterday, mid-morning. We went to Spokes in Vienna and as we left, we decided to ride down the same side of Maple and cross that street at the W&OD, where we’d have a signal and no turning cars to contend with. When we got there, the light was red for the trail and already a long line of cyclists and pedestrians was forming to cross. My son was attempting to position himself in line (coming at it from the side) and was partially blocking the opposite side of the trail while he was maneuvering. A cyclist coming the other way blew through the red signal and yelled, “you’re standing in the middle of the road!” at my son. My son was so upset, he asked afterwards what is wrong with a society where people yell at bystanders while they break the law (yes, he did articulate it that way).

But really, cyclists looking for a speedy workout? The eastern portions of the W&OD in the middle of a Saturday morning when the weather is beautiful? There are some country lanes out in Loudon if you are so desperate to go fast you are reduced to yelling at kids.

Sorry for my rant.

Liz (a.k.a. Tiger mother)

[Certifried]

Sadly, this guy didn’t miss
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Santa-Rosa-man-81-jailed-in-road-rage-attack-3798718.php

Fortunately, the cyclist is (relatively) OK.

[mstone]

To the racer drafting the 18 wheeler on the FFX county parkway trail (downhill on the detour toward the greenway; I really hope the truck was somehow construction-related or that guy really shouldn’t be driving): I’m not sure I’d ride that close in the blind spot of a big truck, but when the truck exited the detour back onto the parkway, I was really impressed with the way you cut off the oncoming car and then zipped around the truck, managing to avoid the left hook. Had it been me I’d need new bike shorts at the very least.

[eminva]

Hello to the man I attempted to help in an ill-fated Good Samaritan gesture (late afternoon on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge):

I’m very sorry my tube didn’t fit your tire. I realized when I was almost home that I still had the money you kindly offered me for the tube, even though the tube ended up being the wrong size! If you read this, please let me know how I can get your money back to you. We were both too polite; you in offering the money and me in taking it. And now see how it turned out!

Hope you got home okay, if late.

Liz

[vvill]

Do you know if the tube didn’t fit? Tubes are supposedly quite flexible in terms of what tires/wheels they will actually fit.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@vvill 29276 wrote:

Do you know if the tube didn’t fit? Tubes are supposedly quite flexible in terms of what tires/wheels they will actually fit.

When I changed out my 700c, 12 year old tires I found a 27″ tube that had been rolling fine for at least 6 years.

[eminva]

@vvill 29276 wrote:

Do you know if the tube didn’t fit? Tubes are supposedly quite flexible in terms of what tires/wheels they will actually fit.

The tube was 700 x 23-25 and the tire was 700 x 28 1/2. I thought it would be adequate to get him to the bike shop at least, but he didn’t want to chance it.

Liz

[vvill]

Kudos on helping out. FWIW, I think at that size differential the tube would’ve been more than fine.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@eminva 29283 wrote:

The tube was 700 x 23-25 and the tire was 700 x 28 1/2. I thought it would be adequate to get him to the bike shop at least, but he didn’t want to chance it.

Liz

They’re very stretchy. It should have worked, at least as a temp.

[GuyContinental]

@ShawnoftheDread 29286 wrote:

They’re very stretchy. It should have worked, at least as a temp.

Yup- I’ve done this twice this month with 23-25mm tubes on 34mm CX tires at ~80psi (I always forget to bring the right tube in my saddle bag when I change wheels). They are more susceptible to pinch flats (hence the second flat…) and punctures but It’ll get you home. The biggest problem I’ve found is that a 40mm presta on a 23mm tube in a 34mm tire on a wheel with some dish hugs the tire more than the inside of the wheel, shortening the stem length to the point that my micro pump can’t make a good connection. I have to use a schrader adapter and a CO2.

[Author]

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