Cyclist Converses with Motorist, Part II

As promised, here's the second part of the interview with the slightly fictional "Motorist". The disclaimer from the previous entry applies here, too.

The roads are full of cars. Why don't you ride on the sidewalk?
I believe it's called a "sidewalk" for a reason. A sidewalk is meant for pedestrians to walk on, not for wheeled vehicles. In many communities, you will actually see signs posted that bicycles, Rollerblades, and skateboards are prohibited from sidewalk use. The space is often too uneven, narrow, or punctuated with obstacles to safely allow for riding.
I, myself, was on Nicollet Mall once, trying to get back onto the street, when a Minneapolis Police vehicle rolled up and informed me that I wasn't allowed on the sidewalk. I politely said I was attempting to figure out where I was and how to get back onto the street safely. They let me hop the curb onto the street in front of their vehicle and I was off like a shot before they could think of an excuse to detain me.

Okay, what about the bike paths? Couldn't you just stick to those?
The Twin Cities metro area has a wonderful network of bike paths and trails, and I love this area for that. However, wouldn't you get bored if you drove the same roads all the time, every day? How often do you end up at the end of your drive to work or the supermarket, and not remember the drive there? Dangerous for you and for the other drivers around you. To stave off boredom, vary training program needs, hit different landmarks and shops, and to view different scenery, cyclists mix up where they ride. Riders who love to ride the roads will often hit a favorite paved trail, too.

I never know how a cyclist is going to behave or where they're going when I pass them on the road. This makes me really nervous, what can I do?
Be alert. You don't know how the person in the car next to you on the highway is going to behave, or where they're going, do you? Yet you're comfortable driving there. One of the requirements of riding a bike on the road is riding in a safe, predictable manner and using hand turn signals. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen and there are careless cyclists out there, just like there are careless drivers. Again, stay alert and look around for that cyclist that may be in your blind spot(s).

Since they're riding bikes, cyclists don't pay the same taxes I do because I drive a car and buy gasoline. Since my taxes are paying for the roads, I should be able to use the road and cyclists shouldn't.
*snort* I'm curious, do you really believe that?
Nearly every cyclist that I know drives an automobile. We [cyclists] pay gas taxes, property taxes, renter's tax, sales tax, liquor taxes, should I continue? I assure you, we do pay the same taxes.
I will point out the vast conspiracy (shh!) for bikes to take over the world, as reported by the New York Times Spokes Blog on August 5, 2010. First the streets, then the world! As Matt Hill tweeted in response to the SpokesNYT (spokesnyt) August 5 entry, "Phase 1: Collect underpants." Are you laughing yet? I hope no one is taking this Dan Maes seriously, as his statements about the instituting of bike policies are absolutely ludicrous.

Cars and trucks were on the roads first, thus bikes don't belong on the road.
Ah, a history lesson, yummy! Actually, roads were originally paved to better accommodate the huge boom in bicycling in the 1890's (The Golden Age of Bicycles). That, and the bicycle and the horse and wheeled buggy were the two main forms of private transportation just before the invention of the automobile. To make these forms of transport easier, roads began to be graded and smoothed (Wikipedia, Bicycle History). So, bicycles have been around longer than automobiles and you have the bicycle to thank for the idea that roads should be smoothly paved and graded. ^_^

And that's it, for now. I hope you've found this two-part series educational, informative, and humorous. If you have a question that you'd like me address, leave me a comment or shoot me message through this blog.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Cyclist Converses with Motorist, Part I

A few nights ago, I had a conversation with my folks about how a huge SUV had honked at me and zoomed past my left elbow way faster and closer than necessary on my afternoon ride. I had reacted by sitting up in the saddle, pounding my chest with a gloved fist and yelling, "Yes, I'm here!"

So, my parents asked, "Well, what should we do when we see a cyclist on the road? They scare us!" Wait, cyclists scare motorists? Really? Okay, then! Here's what I'd absolutely love you to do if you encounter me or any other cyclist on the road.

Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer or a police officer. This essay is a reflection of my own experiences and Minnesota state laws. Laws vary by state and even locality, be sure to check them out. The bold lettering is the motorist stating a question. The italicized lettering is my answer to that question/statement.

I hate it when I see cyclists on the road. I never know what they're going to do. I just want to get past them as soon as possible. What should I do?
Please don't honk your horn. We hate that, and it's dangerous. Cyclists can hear an approaching automobile very easily, an internal combustion engine is quite noisy compared to a bicycle. You don't need to honk to let us know that you're there, often we already know. Just continue to [safely] drive the way you normally do when there are other vehicles around. Be alert and both you and the cyclist should be okay.

But, you're going so... slow on the road! How am I supposed to pass you!?
Safely and respectfully, please. Bicycles are vehicles, too; and in Minnesota they have the same rights and duties to the road as a motor vehicle. If you wish to pass a cyclist, do so in a predictable and safe manner. Don't rev your engine or lead-foot it just to pass. Give the cyclist at least three feet of space when you pass, remember we're not enclosed in a steel and glass box to protect us. That traffic lane is wider than you think, and you might be able to pass without crossing the center-line. But if you aren't sure, err on the side of more room rather than less room, it's very frightening to have a two-ton vehicle buzz by six inches from your left elbow.

The shoulder is wide. Why do you always ride so close to the white dividing line? Shouldn't you be as close to the right as possible?
Yes and no. Statute 169.222, Subd. 4(3) states that a cyclist must ride as close to the right as is practicable. The thing is, there is often a lot of debris (glass, sand, gravel, branches, trash, etc.) on the shoulder that make operating a bicycle more hazardous than it otherwise is. The only clear path is closer to the traffic lanes, where automobiles have blown the small stuff to the side. Hence, that's where we ride.

What if there's no shoulder, only one lane, and you're in it? I want to pass and you're in my way!
I'm very sorry you feel I'm in your way, but I do have a right to the road. If you wish to pass, do so in the same [controlled and safe] manner that you would pass a slow-moving truck or tractor on the road. Wait for a widening of the road, another lane to open up, or a clear lane across the dashed yellow line. Pass smoothly and without honking your horn. If you honk, you may startle me into veering into your path. And that's not what either of us want to happen.

Cyclists are very rude to me when I pass them, even if I give them plenty of room. They yell, flip me the one-fingered salute... What's up with that?
Every cyclist who's ever ridden on the road has had at least one encounter with an angry driver who's done something to endanger their life. Some cyclists' feel that yelling, etc. is their only means of protecting themselves from something/someone that could squash them like a bug.
Personally, I try not to get angry or pay such a driver back in kind. It is childish and gives cyclists a bad reputation. Just smile and wave and let them stew. Getting angry and attempting to "teach them a lesson" (you know what I mean) could end up with one or both of you in the hospital or worse.

This is turning into a long entry, so I'll be posting a second part to this "interview" within the next couple days.

To read Minnesota's laws regarding the operation of a bicycle, go to Minnesota Legislature and retrieve Statute 169.222.

For more information on sharing the road in Minnesota, head to Share the Road Minnesota

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Product Review: Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Socks

I should first say that I love cycling socks. I mean really, truly love them. So much so that I wear them all four seasons. And for a Midwest resident, that is saying something.

I've worn Pearl Izumi socks before and count them among my favorites. The problem is they're often to rich for my wallet (at $10+ a pair), so I have to be really in love with them to cough up the dough. Enter the Elite LTD Socks. Come on, could you resist these? I couldn't; especially since I've got a new black, white, and red jersey to find matching socks for.

I rode in them for the first time this afternoon and they performed superbly. As you may have noticed, they are right and left specific so they fit like a dream. The compression in the arch keeps them in place and they don't bunch up anywhere. They also breathe really well, I can tell these are going to be my "go to" sock for really warm rides. Anyway, those heels make the sock, don't they? Yep, I'll be heading back to the bike shop to see if there are any more in my size. They shall be mine!

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Steady Things in Life

I'm feeling melancholy today. You've been warned.

I've tried to keep my life outside of cycling and athletics out of this blog. But, alas, real life always comes a callin'. They say there are only two certain things in life: Death and taxes. I think I'll add a third: Riding my bicycle.

Let me explain a bit. I've been riding a bike in some form or another for over three quarters of my life. I've always been athletic and have usually been happiest while being active. Hence, my choice of coursework in college and the jobs I've had since I recieved my degree have all revolved around recreation, athletics, and/or bicycling in one form or another. The problem is work has been spotty at best and non-existent at the worst since I finished school. Riding my blue bicycle these past few years has been a way for me to always have something, other than my family and friends, that I can count on.

I could be having the worst day possible (and yesterday was), and be able to throw my leg over the frame and pedal away. If I choose a route I know very well, I don't have to think much, the bike just knows where to go. It's wonderfully freeing and it's a safe place to go.

Ah, well. As Miss O'Hara once said, "Tomorrow's another day".

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Eating Pavement Sucks...Again

Ugh, ouchy. If you have an aversion to descriptions of injuries, skip the third paragraph.

I was finishing a 40+ mile ride yesterday afternoon and zipping through an intersection when my front wheel got sucked into one of the gaps in the railroad tracks set into the pavement. Down I went and over the bars, too.

My right knee and leg are rashed up and swollen. My right elbow has a new hole and plenty of road rash. I wasn't wearing gloves (stupid!), thus the palms of my hands are scuffed and my right pinky knuckle is missing several layers of skin.

Reasons I'm Annoyed:
1.) This could have been avoided. I was in a hurry and cutting though the intersection on a line very close to one I'd done two days previous. Obviously, it didn't go so well this time.
2.) I wasn't wearing gloves; my hands were hot and I was trying to get some color on my "Mickey Mouse" hands. The possiblity of crashes like this are the reason you wear gloves in the first place!
3.) My injuries, while not as bad as my crash two years and 27 days ago, are in the same spots. My elbow was just starting to look a lot better and I was at peace with the nasty scars. Actually, I kinda liked them. Now, I've got to start the process all over again. Thank goodness my shoulder is only stiff and sore, not impinged like last time.
4.) Until my elbow heals a little and my shoulder can support more of my weight, I'm off the bike. It'll be at least a week, phooey.

How's my blue bicycle? Both brake levers are badly scuffed and turned inward, the shifting is carnage, and my back wheel is out of true. Thankfully, a mechanic I know is fixing it right up and it should be good to go in the morning. I'll have to make him cookies or something.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

You're A Cyclist When...

If one or more of the following applies, the Matrix has you...
-Water bottles are beginning to outnumber drinking glasses in your house
-Jerseys, shorts, socks, etc. get the washer before your work clothes
-Your house looks like a launda-mat on the weekends (all your jerseys drying on hangers)
-Your idea of fun is riding 25+ miles before work
-Your idea of fun is riding 25+ miles after work
-You spend one hour or more washing, degrease-ing, and re-lubing your bike and wonder where the time went
-You aren't embarrassed by (and perhaps proudly show off) your tan lines
-Sitting in front of Versus for six hours and yelling your head off at the riders during the month of July is as good as it gets
-Gels and energy chews are an essential food group
-Days off are devoted to either racing or long rides
-You keep a pump, patch-kit, tire levers, and a spare tube in your automobile in case you see someone with a flat
-You know how to get somewhere on a bike, but get lost while trying to drive there

Can you think of any other quintessential traits of a slightly obsessed fan of the bicycle?

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!

Watch the kid at 3:25 in this video. It isn't me, but his reaction was pretty much my reaction; except for sliding down the stairs and whipping off the jersey. I was running around the house yelling like a lunatic! Thank goodness no one else was home!

USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Watch the USA take on Ghana in the quarter finals tomorrow (Saturday the 26th) at 1:30pm CDT on ABC.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Here I Am!

No, I'm not dead, injured, or otherwise maimed. Yes, I'm very busy. This working seven days a week is nuts! Add volunteering into the mix and I'm busier than one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.

Today, I was in Saint Paul at eight o'clock in the morning; course marshaling Stage 1 (time trial, Eddy Merckx style) of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. I was actually in the same spot (where the bike path crossed the course) as last year, which was a little boring for watching the action.

But, I was glad I was at that intersection. There were more people trying to cross the course than last year. A dude on a BMX bike blew right through my whistle, my orange flag, my yelling, and waving arms. A rider on the course was only six feet from hitting him! I spoke to some other course marshals and that same BMXer blew through the rest of the crossing points on the course, too. He's lucky he didn't cause a crash and get someone hurt!

I'll post some pictures as soon as I can. I think I got some good ones of the Trek-LiveStrong boys.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

I Have No Words

I'm sad, disappointed, angry, and heartbroken. I believed in this guy! I met him last summer in Minneapolis while volunteering at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, he autographed my copy of his book. I haven't thrown it in the bin yet, but I'm pissed enough to give it a ceremonial cremation.
Landis admits doping, alleges use by Armstrong, others
The cycling world reacts to Floyd Landis' accusations

So, Floyd's a doper, and has been for years. Yet he had the nerve to fight being stripped of his yellow jersey in 2006 after he tested positive, wrote a book about how innocent he was, and accepted other people's money for his defense (Floyd's Fairness Fund). He's got a lot of nerve showing his face anywhere near the sport right now, if you asked me.

I may write more later, after I've cooled down.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Rocky Road from Dublin

I'm back from Ireland! I thought I'd drag my jet-lagged self over to my computer and let you know I'm not dead.

Our flight out of Dublin was delayed three hours because of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano sending up another huge ash cloud and thus we missed our connecting flight to Minneapolis. Being stuck in Newark Airport overnight is no fun, let me tell you. My sister slept on the luggage, I slept sitting up, and Mom didn't sleep at all. Talk about punchy!

I'm going to run through things I noticed in Ireland about bikes, roads, and riding; for your reading pleasure:
-The cars are smaller. The largest non-commercial vehicle I saw was a Land Rover Discovery. Quite nice, considering the price of petrol was 1.33 Euro per liter. That's about $5.00 per gallon, ouch.
-The roads are narrow. Think of a standard lane width and a three-foot shoulder here in the U.S. and that's a two lane national road in Ireland. There aren't shoulders, either, usually an old stone wall or a thick hedge-row.
-You have to pay anywhere from two to eight Euro to park your automobile in town. Thus, a lot of people take the bus, walk, or ride a bicycle to get groceries, run errands, etc. There are a lot of mountain bikes in the country and commuting bikes in town. I did see a bike courier coming out of a business in Dublin, he had a worn but well-kept road bike.
-Road signage is smaller and hard to read if you're used to the signage in the US. Street signs are posted on corner buildings or not at all. Also, streets frequently change names every block, rather than at city limits.
-Round-abouts are used instead of four-way stop intersections, and I think that's a good thing. It's easier and I think safer, because those in the circle are already moving at a fairly low speed, so all you have to do is get up to speed. If you miss your exit, you just go around again.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Out of the Office

I'm dropping y'all a note before the wheels go up.

Yep, I'm leaving on holiday for a couple weeks. I won't be here yammering away about tuning up my bike or the fact that I really need new cleats.

Enjoy the sunshine and warming temperatures in Minnesota, everyone!

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

We're Number One!

Star Tribune: When it comes to two wheels, we're Number One
Flabergasted, that's a good word to decribe me. My dad sent me the article and I ended up coughing on my morning cup of tea. Bicycling Magazine has ranked Minneapolis, Minnesota as the most bike-friendly city in the United States for 2010.

I know Minneapolis has quite a lot of bike trails and of course, our bike highways The Greenway and the Ceder Lake Trail, but we beat out Portland?

UPDATED 4/12/10:
After reading Steve Friedman's article, I'm still a bit at a loss as to what the big deal is about Minneapolis. Yes, a lot of urban commuters ride through the winter here. We've got some dedicated bike lanes downtown, and a veritable network of bike trails around the city and it's suburbs. Perhaps because I grew up with all of this in my backyard, I find it ordinary, expected even, not remarkable. I'm used to riding on the roads around Lake Minnetonka, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet in the summertime. Quite a few roads around the Twin Cities area have wide shoulders that are kept in good condition and swept clean of sand in the spring, perfect for riding.

Maybe, as Mr. Friedman notes, the remarkable thing about Minneapolis is that those of us who live and work here don't always see how remarkable our bike culture is. To us, this is ordinary. This town takes all types of bikers, most riders are happy to see so many other people on two wheels that the type of bike doesn't matter. (Except for that guy who rides in a Speedo; dude, seriously?) Few people are pretentious about riding here, I've found; and the one's that are don't last too long. Or just they hang around with other pretintious riders, and thus, fall off my radar.

I guess, all in all, we've got a good thing going here in the MiniApple.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Nix the Pistol, Alberto

Reconstructive surgery places Contador's season in doubt
Sounds like there's some doubt about whether Alberto Contador will be able to continue to race this season. Why? He's messed up his right hand from doing his signature "finger-bang". You wouldn't think that was particularly strenuous, but apparently, Alberto repeats this gesture 200 to 300 times a day and with such vigor that he's developed a "repetitive motion syndrome" that makes him unable to grip the brake hoods, shift gears, or grab the brakes.

I'd advise you to nix the pistol, Alberto; or at least tone it down. Your hand will thank you for it.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

"Over Drive" - Road Cycling, Anime Style

It might surprise you that I have interests outside the world of cycling. Shocking, I know. One of them is Japanese animation, or anime.

I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose, that someone created an anime centering on road cycling & racing. There's anime on just about every subject out there: History, martial arts, spaceships, robots, racing cars, tennis... Why not teenage angst + cycling? You see, in Japan, animation is given the same respect and leeway as live action, so there are many different types of anime; just because a show or movie is animated, doesn't mean it's intended for kids.

In the first episode (Boy Meets Bicycle, Part 1) of Over Drive, we meet high school freshman Mikoto Shinozaki during his first week at his new school. He's an artist, a bit of a slob & a klutz, and half in love with Yuki Fukazawa, a very pretty classmate. She encourages him to join the cycling club as a way of changing himself and improving his image.

The problem is Mikoto can't even ride a bicycle, and protests that he has no athletic ability. Still, to impress the girl of his dreams, he's going to learn the sport.

Here's an action sequence, the second part of three, from episode 18:


You can find all 26 episodes on YouTube user dansam39's channel or episodes 15 - 21 on percom132's channel.

Finally! Something that combines two of my obsessions, anime and road cycling.

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Blessing of the Bicycles, Minneapolis Edition

What: Blessing of the Bicycles
When: Sunday May 2, 2010 @ 1:00pm
Where: Basilica of Saint Mary, the Basilica Plaza
Hennepin Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets
Minneapolis, MN
More Information: http://www.mary.org/ It sounds like there's going to be vendors on site and a bike ride/tour afterwards.

If you go, have a good time! Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Wearing the Green

Contrary to what you might guess, I'm not nursing a post-Saint Patrick's Day hangover. Nope, I'm talking about the first outdoor ride of the season, which was this afternoon. It was the perfect way to celebrate the coming spring and the saint's day, by enjoying myself outside after a snowy winter.

I waited until around three o'clock to leave, as I wanted it to be as warm as possible for the ride. If there's one thing I hate, it's riding alone when it's cold. Surprisingly, my tires still had some pressure in them, too. I guess those tubes I installed in the last few weeks of last season are doing their job.

Good Things About the Ride:
-The weather was nice, around 60 degrees; and the sun was out.
-Most of the snow and melt water is gone, so I didn't come home wet and smelling like dog-s***.
-I didn't go very far or very fast. It was nice to just enjoy being outside again.
-No malicious incidents or gestures with automobiles; although I think the Squirrel Mafia is still out to get me.
-I wore one of my favorite jerseys: Green with "IRELAND" emblazoned on the front, back, and sleeves.
-I'm not fat, really. I didn't gain too much weight (a few pounds?) over the winter and my sister even commented that I've lost some more weight since Christmas.
-I didn't really sweat, which is a good thing, as I had to leave for a dinner appointment pretty quick after I got home.
-I actually got out there and did it, which is hard in the spring.

Annoying Things About the Ride:
-There's still sand and road debris everywhere. I'm surprised I didn't flat from all that glass.
-I felt like I was coughing up a lung. I hate that! It interferes with breathing.
-While I'm not fat, I am slow. Ah, the annual spring rite of passage: Pounding myself back into shape.
-One bad snot-rocket aim got it all over my jersey, yuck!

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Spring Has Sprung?

The weather here has been absolutely phenominal, for Minnesota, anyway. We've had a string of 35-40 degree days that has melted most of the snow that was on the ground. All sorts of things are being revealed by the melting snow: Driveways, mailboxes, bushes, sidewalks, bike paths, brown grass, small dogs...

My boss asked me today how badly I was jonesing to ride my bike outside. I, of course, answered "Really bad." I should probably take it in for the guys to look at and make sure everything is still ship-shape-and-bristol fashion. I've heard a rumor that Monday and Tuesday may be above 50 degrees. If that's the case, I'm going for a ride!

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Pomp and Circumstance

I love pomp and circumstance before sporting events.

Rituals before and during sporting events are important. As a hockey player in high school and college, I would always go into the locker room a little earlier than my teammates to start putting my gear on. I saved putting my helmet on for right before our coach came in for a final pep-talk before the game. Putting on my helmet meant it was go-time, and I was going to play my heart out. I got the same thrill each and every time I stepped onto the ice.

I was exposed to rugby in college, as one of my club hockey teammates and a fellow recreation major had previously played. It always looked like fun, but my teammate was forever recovering from concussions, so I decided playing might not be the greatest idea. I don't remember how I found out about the New Zealand All Blacks, but I remember being impressed by their black uniforms and the speed that they ran down the field.

Watching/listening to the hakas performed by these teams before tests (matches, games) really pump me up. "Haka" is the Maori word for dance, and each haka tells a different story. They are performed before important matches to show the teams intent and to intimidate the opposing team. I sometimes keep the Kamate Haka on Repeat on my iPod before bike races. I'd love to learn it, but I think I might have to start playing rugby for that.

Adidas "Impossible is Nothing" TV Spot - New Zealand All Blacks


2007 Churchill Cup - New Zealand Maori vs. Ireland A - Timatanga Haka


New Zealand All Blacks vs. France - Kamate Haka


Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Another Casualty in the War on Doping

As the maintainer and author of this blog, I feel it's sort-of my duty to report news of import in the professional cycling world. What my favorite riderrs are up to, major changes in how races are conducted, who's racing where, stuff like that.

One of my favorite domestic pro riders, Tom Zirbel has announced his retirement from professional cycling after being handed a two-year suspension following a positive test for DHEA at the 2009 U.S. Pro Time Trial Championships.

*heavy sigh*

I had the opportunity to watch Tom race with the Bissel squad this summer at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and the thing that struck me about him was his genuineness and his smile. In every interview clip I saw and every interview I read, he was happy to be riding his bike and enjoying being in the leader's jersey. I'm sorry to see the peloton loose such a rider.

Tom seems to be taking it in stride, though, and good for him. Sounds like he'll be searching for a job and getting back to other activities and causes that matter to him. Pretty good for a guy who's had his world turn on it's ear.

Good luck, Tom!

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.

Are We There Yet?

I think Mother Nature is playing pranks on me. Outside, the sun is shining and snow is melting off the roofs. I hear birds singing. Can it be? Has spring come early to Minnesota?

Alas, no. It's only 24º F and likely to stay there for a while yet.

I often remark to co-workers that my brain doesn't really realize that it isn't summer anymore. Even with the snow on the ground, it takes me a minute to remember I can't come home from work at 5:30 in the afternoon, throw on my jersey and shorts, and go for a ride.

I'm dreaming of endless, smooth, curvy asphalt roads, the sun shining warm overhead, and temperatures in the 70's. Are we there yet?

Until next time, ride long and keep the rubber-side down.