[Dickie]

@acc 23345 wrote:

I also have a few tongue tattoo stickers unless I use them all myself before Thursday.

If you have a tat of a cyclist throwing-up over the handlebars that would be perfect for me and I would wear it with pride. Looking forward to meeting the gang.

– Dick

[Dickie]

Bugger, just realized where you mean, and of course if I had not been completely distracted I would have realized you said “Arlington” and Wash Blvd not Street…. Sorry! Regardless, hope the rider is OK.

[Dickie]

Is this in Falls Church where Washington St and Broad street meet? If so I ride near there every morning heading west on Washington, then I make a right on Park before the Broad intersection, near Kaiser. This is a tough place to ride and I wouldn’t ride it other than early morning. Not much in the way of room, curbs are high, and the roads are riddled with potholes the size of lake Erie. I have seen two motorcycle wrecks already this year. If you here anything else please update us. A quick check on local sites revealed nothing.

[Dickie]

@jrenaut 22073 wrote:

Was it a Nike ad – “Someone busier than you is out running right now”?

Funny, I was thinking of that add recently. I actually like that campaign… certainly motivated me.

[Dickie]

@consularrider 22341 wrote:

While in general I might resemble this remark, especially the “creaking cranks,” I wear bib shorts, so no crack in sight here.

Not a chance it was you, however funny you should mention the bibs…. found myself behind a fellow with pretty much transparent bibs this morning, sort of a shocking sight (Emperor’s clothes)… I suddenly felt concerned about people following me!

[Dickie]

Nice…..I was the guy going so slow my Bianchi was 10 ft ahead of me, besides I don’t recall you having a cricket bat so it couldn’t have been you.

[Dickie]

Dear Chubs.

I do appreciate that your creaking cranks and sock-less feet are the uniform of a serious weekend warrior, and your wheezing lungs function as your warning sign when you approach from behind, but please let me know you are about to pass next time, especially when I am approaching two runners in the opposite lane. Oh yeah, and when you pass me please make sure you have enough left in those stubby little legs to make it over the airport over-pass (or in your case “L’Alpe d’Huez”) because having your arse crack in my face really wasn’t a pleasant way to end my ride. Cheers.

[Dickie]

Posted your pic on my tweeter and FB, and I will put some posters up when I can.

[Dickie]

My best wishes go out to Stephen, I hope the recovery is fast and proper and he can find a way to get back to a life he loves. Worrying about the bills and cost of proper care is perhaps the worst feeling in the world, something has to change in this country. I have lived all over the world as this is the first time I have been afraid of getting sick or having an accident…. very very sad indeed.

[Dickie]

I would have to assume that if you returned the dog to it’s home it would probably just chase you again the minute you pulled away. Spare the dog spoil the sprint?

[Dickie]

DAMN IT, that sucks Will. Such a gorgeous bike. I will keep my eyes peeled for it especially during the various tweed and Tour De Fat rides, this is where I see vintage bikes the most in town.

[Dickie]

Thanks for the warning Brendan and so sorry to hear about the accident. Things can happen so quickly on the bike, it is a good warning to all of us. Glad you’re recovering and hopefully you will be riding again soon. I am assuming the other arm can still raise a pint to your lips? Perfect way to enjoy the TDF if you ask me!

Best wishes, Richard

[Dickie]

Since I commute to fairfax from Rosslyn anyway I will make my way there early and grab a bevy on the patio and await the convoy! Looking forward to meeting the gang.

[Dickie]

Such a great topic, and some wonderful responses.

For me balance shifts day to day and year to year as inevitable changes in life occur. Family, job, geography, illness, etc. all have played a major role in how I regulate and organize my life. My priorities change daily, but some things always seem to float to the surface. Cycling for me has come and gone and come back again a number of times in my life. As a kid it was the freedom to escape my neighborhood which led to racing and working in a bike shop. Then came my first band, girls, beer, and cycling took a back seat. Next came Grad school where cheap transportation was necessary. Riding the hills in Knoxville was good exercise until I was nearly killed by… well… I have no memory of the accident but it must have been Satan in a Bronco! I sold/trashed/donated everything and once again cycling was gone. Next came my art career, being a professor, and.. ahem…cultured life….so cycling had no chance. Then came a career change, a wife, a move to DC, and the inevitable nesting. I got a beer belly, I got unhealthy, I didn’t like the way I looked and felt, and I also discovered I had a serious congenital heart condition. My response was to bring cycling back into my life, that was 6 years ago and I haven’t looked back.

Cycling provides so much for me on a practical level now that the impractical or gratuitous aspects are easily accommodated. Cycling saves me on gas, therapy, auto maintenance, and health bills. Cycling also makes me a happier and more confident person which in turn makes my relationships stronger. Cycling does take away time from work, but being self employed and owning my own shop allows me to be flexible with schedules. I have no kids but that will change soon so how that changes my cycling habit is yet to be determined, but I am not worried if cycling takes a back seat for a while because my history proves it will be back. Basically, fitting in cycling has not been too much of a hassle especially as it has simply replaced an unhealthy commute with a good ride, it is however becoming more difficult to harness the desire to ride more, buy more stuff, take cycling vacations, etc.

When I read or talk to folks such as Dirt, or my buddy who rides 600 miles a week I am jealous that I don’t ride as much or as often as others, but I am also making a choice, and everyone choses differently. I figured out early that I need variety in my life. I ride every day and accumulate about 140 miles a week and that is enough for now. Instead of the additional miles and time in the saddle I opt to play Hockey, cook, play drums, or watch a movie. As long as I am busy I am happy. Although I would love to be a fitter cyclist, a better cyclist, a more dedicated cyclist, I would miss the other activities.

However, when I hear someone complain about not having the time to ride I feel insulted, as if somehow I live a privileged life that allows me to ride. My wife once said you don’t find time you make it. I make time to ride, I get up earlier, plan better, and work harder in the day and that has made all the difference.

– Richard

[Dickie]

I agree 100% with the way Dirt deals with the issue and I tend to act the same way. I try to lead by example and maintain a happy place on my bike. This means being social, kind, and an ambassador on the trails and roads. I always provide an audible warning (usually “on your left”) for anyone that I pass, and if the chance is available, say “good morning”, or recognize them in some way by treating them as humans not robots. This doesn’t always go over well, and I have been ignored more times than not, but that little kid with the training wheels certainly got a blast out of me riding behind her up that hill, and on passing letting her know how jealous I was of her pink tassels… that smilie made my aching legs disappear. Sadly I feel my behavior is the minority as I am often passed by riders who care little about anyone but themselves; making dangerous maneuvers between runners, passing on blind corners, and never providing warning. I used to chase them down and thus contribute to the problem, now I simply ignore them and get back to being happy in the saddle.

[Author]

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