[VikingMariner]

@chris_s 89749 wrote:

And it’s extremely hard to change this because we have built most of our country in a way that makes it extremely hard to live your life without a car, so taking someone’s license away or making it really difficult to get one is seen as an especially harsh punishment.

True, but I have my hopes and my dreams.

[VikingMariner]

@Harry Meatmotor 89724 wrote:

possible solution? States need to start requiring a safe cycling course for 13 year-olds that includes on-street/in traffic riding before any motor vehicle driver’s licensing curriculum begins.

An German-like licensing requirements for car drivers. Most people really don’t know how to drive or understand the consequences of their lack of training with cars. It’s too easy to get a license in America, which is why cars (bad drivers) kill more people annually than guns. The system of driver licensing is a shame of a mockery of a travesty of an injustice.

Of course the flip side of the discussion is that on every one of my rides I see varying levels of douche’baggery on the bike path. Oh, I think we all know the type as popularized by this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgCqz3l33kU.

Funny song though.

[VikingMariner]

@Dickie 89380 wrote:

Sounds to me like VikingMariner is volunteering his time next year… awesome job!

Damn you.

[VikingMariner]

@MattAune 89267 wrote:

How so? If you would like elaborate a little I will gladly see what we can do to make it better next year.

Okay. Thanks. Hope these half-baked notions are seen as constructive:

Encourage bike shops to advertise a bike sale at the race and bring bikes for sale. They do this quite randomly on the W so why not at a race?

Expand the list of vendors to include restaurants, supermarkets, massage/spas, fitness gyms, insurance firms, sports medicine doctors, etc.

Seek out a bank and major non-profit sponsor (for example, cancer foundation).

Recruit major local celebrities to attend, speak, and/or race for free.

Never return to the current race location for vendors as it was not a warm, inviting venue. It was a semi-construction zone. Seek our a grassy knoll-type venue.

Consider pre-race events/activities and press event at the Galleria.

Invite local TV news crews. Tell them there are spectacular bike crashes and injuries. They’re sick like that.

The police need to do more than direct traffic. They need to have a tent on bike safety. Local politicians (including federal and state) need to help man it as an opportunity for them to recruit voters.

Set up family biking games, for example, a precising auto-cross like course. So many new riders cannot ride in a straight line, hold their bike motionless while clipped in, or negotiate tight turns. They could learn and practice at the venue under the guidance of experienced riders.

Bike maintenance and repair seminars taught by non-cycling shops. The repair times at shops are a joke (too long); people would be interested in doing their own repairs and saving cash (good attendance selling point).

F1 car races have a festival-like atmosphere that keep people there at the race. We should try to create that too.

Alcohol and her friends should be invited after 11 AM. Belgian Ale should be the Master of Ceremonies.

A race route that includes a residential area may draw in more new people.

Emphasis that the race is free to observers. Many of my neighbors thought it was not free and although they bike ride, they never heard about the race from any of their normal sources of info.

Hope this helps. Forgive me if any of these things happened and I did not realize it.

[VikingMariner]

Disappointing vendor turnout. Maybe next year will be better.

[VikingMariner]

Can’t we all just get along?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

[VikingMariner]

@jrenaut 88902 wrote:

I do not particularly appreciate the kids asking why I’m going so slowly up hills.

Tell them there’s a police speed trap ahead.

[VikingMariner]

@pfunkallstar 89111 wrote:

Permission to the buzz the tower? Ghost Rider permission denied.

He is simply trying to enforce a non-existent no-fly zone on his 50th parallel. Since this is reciprocal, feel free to slow down, stop, extend arm thusly, and wait for him to pass.

Oh no. I’ll stop 50 ft out. Wait and then take some happy snaps as he passes. Then I’ll return to the…DAAANNNGGGER ZONNNNE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkelC2umEek

[VikingMariner]

@culimerc 59901 wrote:

Me; toodling along on the WOD this morning on my way to work, Ding!

You; on your morning walk stick your left arm out like your trying to cloths line someone and just leave it there until after I pass.

Really?!?!

I’ve seen this guy do that a lot. I’m going to take a picture of him next time and post it online.

[VikingMariner]

On the W somewhere between Reston and Vienna.

Me (internal, “deep” thoughts): Man, that’s a big stick. I need to chart a course around it.
Snake: Look at this fool.
Me: Man, I need water. Looks like that stick is moving. That can’t be right.
Snake: WTF!!??
Me (abeam with the snake and comments out loud): Oh sh@# son! That’s a copperhead.
Snake: I should have bit him.
Me: Did I get bit? Nope, no pain. Whew, but I should have taken a selfie. God, I’m a doofus. Whatever. Wonder if there’s beer in the fridge. Soldier on.

[VikingMariner]

@dkel 89069 wrote:

I set my goal for 2014 at 4000, and as of today I’m at 2803. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble getting to my goal, as long as I keep the rubber side down.

Goals? Hahahahaha. Me? I don’t think so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfDVLsBXYcM

[VikingMariner]

Vote for none of the above. Hahaha.

[VikingMariner]

My bad. I’ve been experimenting with a new flux capacitor. This space-time stuff is more complicated than I thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhU862ONFys

[VikingMariner]

@Harry Meatmotor 86376 wrote:

Was that me? i ride a salsa pistola. and i am rather snot-rocketty. if so – apologies!

I couldn’t tell who because I was drunk. I wasn’t upset. I thought it was unintentional. The ride had a fine bunch of people without exception. Really mean it.

[VikingMariner]

I’m okay with no bike detection. Gives me time to check my grocery list, look at attractive women (is being interested in women sexist?), look at the clouds for patterns, heck and maybe even enjoying the day. So what if I lose 60 seconds of my life to the County. I’m generous like that. :0)

Now a bridge over or a tunnel under the Intersection of Doom? That would be the good fight.

[Author]

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