What’s your SHOUT?

[StopMeansStop]

What do you yell to get the attention of that driver, pedestrian, etc that isn’t paying attention and threatens your well being?

Ive got a nice HEADS UP that bellows from my chest. I like to practice it to see how far away it works. I can usually make everyone in a half block radius with their windows up snap their heads.

Topic

[KLizotte]

Ouch Riley, glad to hear you are ok.

[eminva]

If a pedestrian is distracted and walking into my path (sometimes directly head on!), I give a usual “On your left” or “On your right,” then take evasive maneuvers, and if all that doesn’t work, “heads up!” in a sharper and louder tone.

For imminent mortal peril involving a motorized vehicle, especially one with a loud diesel engine, what I seem to default to is a surprisingly loud and deep “Hey!” Not very inspiring that that’s the most I can come up with when my life is passing before my eyes.

For the self proclaimed “speed demon” (yes, I heard him call himself that) who clipped a plastic bollard while passing me too closely on the trail, sending it into my front wheel, I regret that my automatic response involved, as my mother would put it, taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Liz

[acc]

@eminva 18597 wrote:

taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Liz

Hmm, note to self, there is an alternative to shrieking.

I used to call out to everyone on the trail. Then I lost my voice and got callouses from ringing my bell that has the frequency of fingernails on a chalkboard.

But sometimes a shriek works. Or if not, then slowing way down and watching the entertainment.

List of Shriek-ilcious Moments on the MUTs
1. People walking dogs on 20 foot leashes on the W&OD
2. Parents teaching Junior how to ride a big boy bike on the W&OD on Saturday afternoons.
3. Moms talking on a cell phone with double-wide strollers AND a dog on a leash
4. A screaming fast peloton coming in the opposite direction with the force and momentum of a cat 5 tornado
5. That woman on the MVT who rides the portable elliptical machine (I am not making this up)

[MCL1981]

@acc 18605 wrote:

5. That woman on the MVT who rides the portable elliptical machine (I am not making this up)

I saw one of those on the CCT last month. Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would have questioned your sanity. I was pedaling the gradual uphill around 14mph. Then out of nowhere, this thing passes me like I’m standing still. It was turning a lot of heads. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

[acc]

That’s ok, my sanity has been questioned quite frequently. It gets harder and harder to chew through the restraints.

Had fun yesterday teaching my 10 year old, Rambo, how to ride in the streets around Vienna. There’s nothing like the look of pure terror on the face of a child to warm my heart. But it was good practice for him to learn to ride in the street and learn hand signals. I think in the long run, the sidewalk is a more dangerous place to be.

[Tim Kelley]

It’s called an Elliptigo: http://www.elliptigo.com/

Revolution Cycles sells them. They’re a trip to ride. I’m 8 feet tall standing up on them!

And check out this video: http://vimeo.com/31714728

[MCL1981]

Yep, that’s the crazy lime green lunatic machine. Though I suppose that’s what they said about bikes when someone invented them too.

[Author]

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