Missed connection

[jrenaut]

To the gentleman standing in the bike lane on PA Ave – If you’re in such a bad mood at only 8:40AM that your response to “You’re in the middle of the bike lane” is “F**k you”, you need to seriously reassess your priorities in life, and perhaps seek therapy.

My only regret is that I didn’t wish you a lovely day as I rode past.

[dbb]

To the lady ninja walking north on the MVT downstream from the 14th St Bridge.

Black is quite flattering, but not on the trail before dawn. Maybe I wasn’t eloquent enough when I offered you a BikeArlington reflective band. While you were quite gracious in your decline of a new, non sweat soaked reflective band but, in reality I don’t want to ruin my morning by running into a ped. My offer was more about me. Next time, please take the band.

[JorgeGortex]

A reverse encounter on Saturday: to the young woman whipping down the sidewalk (opposite the flow of traffic) on Washington Blvd, in Arlington- the next time you pass someone with their back to you so close that they (I) can feel you brush my arm you might want to think twice. That pile of brush you dodged after me (cleared from the trees overhanging the bike lane) Not to mention that I was standing 3 feet from it, in front a trash can for of branches, might indicate that I have heavy pruning shears in hand. When you startled me with nary a call out you are lucky I didn’t whip my arm up and clothes-line you in the face. Or if I had just decided to raise my arm at that moment. Common sense and manners are a good thing. Especially for someone doing the biking community a good deed.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@JorgeGortex 32277 wrote:

Especially for someone doing the biking community a good deed.

Related to this…to the branch overhanging the sidewalk between Lyon Village and Lorcom Lane, you owe me a new Skeletool! Seriously, I went to prune it using the wire cutter/pliers (don’t judge, it was all I had) and one of the handles snapped clean off. Since the branch is now dead, I guess technically the tree owes me…regardless, someone better pay up!

[Swiper]

To the rider on Curtis who decided to pass a group of walkers on their left by utilizing the whole opposite direction lane, while going uphill, and having your line of sight blocked by a sound barrier and a curve.

Yes, I almost wrecked when trying to avoid a collision. I didn’t expect to find you coming right at me when I came around the curve.

Sent from my Etch A Sketch using Tapatalk 2

[rcannon100]

First, let me say that I find this thread hilarious. I think it is good catharsis.

That said, I always wonder about how people remember (carry) the stories of these confrontations. There is a classic buddhist story that goes something like this (with forgiveness as the story is sexist):

A monk and his novice were walking through the forest. They come to a stream. On the bank there was a beautifully dressed woman, crying. The monks asked her what was the matter. “I am on my way to a wedding. I have to cross the stream to get there, but the bridge has been washed away. I was searching for a place to cross where I wouldn’t ruin the dress, but I can’t find one and if I don’t make it across soon, I will be late.”

Without a word, the elder monk scooped her into his arms, waded across the stream, and deposited her on the other side. Ignoring her thanks, he waded back and the two monks resume their walk. They continued on their journey, but the younger monk was agitated and obviously had something on his mind. The elder monk stopped and asked him what was the matter.

“How could you carry that woman?” his agitated friend cried out. “Someone else could have helped her across the stream. You were a bad monk!”

“What woman?” the tired monk inquired groggily.

“Don’t you even remember? That woman you carried across the stream,” his colleague snapped.

“Oh, her,” laughed the sleepy monk. “I only carried her across the stream. You carried her all the way back to the monastery.”

Part of what it takes to be a happy cyclist; navigate thru obstacles like Derk Jeter at Red Sox home game – and let it go as quickly as it occurred.

If you carry these confrontations with you, then the ELITE cyclist wins!!

[jrenaut]

Good point, though I try to carry some of these confrontations with me so I can be more Dirt-like. Some of my interactions with jerks could be better learning experiences for all involved. For example, when I caught up to a guy at a light who had made an illegal turn on red, I told him calmly what he had done, and he sounded sincerely surprised that he had done something illegal, and thanked me. How he missed the red turn arrow I don’t know, but he was either sincere or a good actor.

I try to remember all the times I reacted in a less-than-pleasant manner (perhaps yelling “what the f**k is wrong with you?” is not the friendliest way to encourage driver good behavior) so that the next time I can possibly react more calmly in the future.

The “f**k you” guy this morning was probably a lost cause no matter how nice I was, though.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@rcannon100 32311 wrote:

let it go as quickly as it occurred.

That’s all well and good, but it won’t get me a new Skeletool!

[ShawnoftheDread]

I’ve heard this story before, but I’ve never been able to figure out why the monk was upset that his friend carried the woman. Sounds to me like a cyclist complaining that a car proceeded through a green light at a safe speed.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ShawnoftheDread 32321 wrote:

I’ve heard this story before, but I’ve never been able to figure out why the monk was upset that his friend carried the woman.

Girls have cooties.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@TwoWheelsDC 32325 wrote:

Girls have cooties.

Ohhhhhhh….

[Terpfan]

Texting woman in your Honda Accord (at least that’s what i think the model was) at 15th and K, please utilize the wonderful devices known as traffic signals before using your gas pedal. When I see one vehicle run the red light one way, the other run it the other direction on K to turn left and a few seconds go by where pedestrians and cyclists start crossing the intersection, the last thing we all collectively expect is the stopped car to suddenly start up as if the light were green and no cars/bicycles/pedestrians in front of them. Others couldn’t see why you did this, but I saw you were looking down at your phone and your glance up only noticed the van in front of you was miracously gone (he ran the red to turn left, but had to wait for the other guy running the red in the other direction). You’re lucky I swerved out and that the pedestrians weren’t a foot further ahead otherwise it would not have been a good day for anyone. Your subsequent decision to sheepishly backup, while a kind gesture, would have been aided by using your rear view mirror that way you wouldn’t almost hit another person.

[KLizotte]

Saw a slow motion crash last Sunday afternoon on the WO&D. Older gentleman heading east down a slight hill, two young teenage boys heading west and riding two abreast. One of the teens then swings into the eastbound lane and the two bikers collide. They both sort of got entangled in one another’s bikes and went down though remarkably there wasn’t any road rash or serious injuries though I suspect they both felt it the next day. The front wheel of the teen’s bike was completely bent out of shape and unrideable. The older gentleman was rightly pissed off and yelled at the teens. His bike looked ok but he checked out the front wheel and seemed to determine that it was bent too and ran after the kids to ask for a phone number. Parents: please teach your kids proper riding etiquette! I was behind these teens before the accident and they were screwing around the whole time.

[arlrider]

Me: Running to work with my backpack because I didn’t want to ride in today.

You: On CaBi, dress clothes, no helmet, in a full aero tuck headed down the Custis near Park Georgetown at about 35 MPH. Straight boss.

[krazygl00]

@rcannon100 32311 wrote:

First, let me say that I find this thread hilarious. I think it is good catharsis.

That said, I always wonder about how people remember (carry) the stories of these confrontations. There is a classic buddhist story that goes something like this (with forgiveness as the story is sexist):

Part of what it takes to be a happy cyclist; navigate thru obstacles like Derk Jeter at Red Sox home game – and let it go as quickly as it occurred.

If you carry these confrontations with you, then the ELITE cyclist wins!!

From my perspective, this thread allows one to take the frustration, fright and stress of these “encounters” and easily and quickly convert them into the anticipation of telling a good story.

So I’m not carrying the jerkass who nearly ran me into a ditch back to the monastery, I’m looking forward to a good laugh.

[Author]

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