VikingMariner
Forum Replies Created
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@americancyclo 86240 wrote:
I can understand having a blinking light on at trail crossings, but please leave the light on ‘solid’ while on the trails. At least after dark, a blinking light can be very distracting.
bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?3560-Night-trail-lights-please-don-t-run-flashing-be-seen-lights
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6098-Lights-on-trail-courtesies
Yeah, I would never use a flashing headlight at night. Think about it; I would not be able to see or focus on the way ahead. Flashing in broad day light should not be distracting to anyone. I saw it about a dozen times on the trail today and I was not distracted by the light (obviously the people using lights thought nothing of my light). It’s a bogus argument that a flashing light on a sunny day is a distraction. I wonder if good people also get distracted at night by car headlights, too, although ever drivers’ test in the land says do not look directly at the light.
But while we’re on the subject of courtesy, there’s lots of bad and bogus bike riding tips out there. The biggest farce I’ve seen in 45 years of cycling is the “Lance wannabes” ejecting snot and spit in such a way that it hits the rider behind. On a Spokes group ride last month, someone did that to me–snot on my shirt. Speaking as someone that has gone through survival training and used it in the field, the last thing an athlete should do is eject precious fluid anywhere outside of the body that isn’t urine. You have extra snot and spit, swallow it unless you have a team of people following you in a car passing you drinks. Just my two cents. Let’s see how many people that sends into another tizzy.
Regarding sexism, I did not say this earlier because my old eyes struggle typing on a phone, but the gentleman, who called me out in an ungentlemanly way (the irony was not lost), was absolutely correct. I’m a huge sexist, but not the way he probably thinks. I think women are superior to men; they are smarter, more mature, empathetic, decisive in extreme circumstances, and make better leaders than most men. Moreover, they have the capacity to endure much more physical pain than the men I’ve seen in the DC metro area. I weep for women that date in the metro area, but I digress from the awesome subject of cycling. Forgive me for the digression and my sexist ways.
By the way, I have never seen a woman complain about a bike light and I probably never will.Honestly, you don’t need a set of written rules for the bike trail. What is needed is common sense. Common sense says you don’t run down a mother with a baby carriage. Common sense says people with baby carriages should not take up the entire trail. Same goes for running red lights. Problem is that 25 percent of people out there lack common sense. No rule book or self-appointed police are going to change that; such is life.
@vern 86203 wrote:
“Me: You’re right, but I’m sorry my bike light hurt your vagina. Son, in over 40 years of road and mountain biking I’ve never heard of a bike light “blinding” someone in broad day light, but I’m thankful you interrupted my conversation to tell me because someone with less patience would have knifed you for being so aggressive. Now continuing biking, sir, and remember cycling is a happy event, not an ocassion to act out because you are failing in other parts of your life. Bye-bye, and good luck.
Cyclists sure have changed in the last 40 years. “If I could turn back time….” Hope it happens again so I can YouTube it. Must buy a low-profile video camera. The light will stay on; it’s been great at road intersections (drivers actually stop for us now even at or near Cedar Lane and the “Intersection of Doom”) and alerting pedestrians to our presence throughout the trail. Great safety feature.
“
I don’t get how your light could cause a problem like that in daytime, but I don’t think the situation calls for the level of hostility evident from either participant.
That said, your retelling of the story reflects poorly on you in that you resort to a sexist remark. You pretty much lost me there.
Perhaps you are right about me, but I think my story may not reflect the non-verbal communication of the aggressive gentleman. A less crass statement by me may have provoke a more aggressive reaction from the sdbp. Hard to say I guess. Judging others over the interwebs is a tricky business I guess.
See you in the bike path. I’ll be the guy wih the flashing bike light on. First beer on me. I stand by my story. No changes.
