Ron and Dorothy Strasser
>From my perspective that is a good time to give the "commuter" trying staying on your wheel some positive comments, then point them toward PIR. This happens all the time (especially if you are wearing a kit)... regular riders who do not see themselves as racers.... go through an instant transformation.... and become Lance. Usually they fade after a few blocks at most, but some are pretty strong. It is human nature. Giving them some positive feedback is good for society and might even get a new obra member. I wave to most other riders if I am not sucking air big time or it is unsafe. I think it is a very good thing to wave or say hi to other riders especially if wearing a kit. It is that type of behavior that removes barriers instead of producing perceived or real ones. All this said, I do not feel bad is someone does not wave or say hi to me. The great thing about cycling is it can be a social or private activity.
go ride.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Silvernail
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 12:24 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Ask A Roadie
I'm glad that the record has been set straight. Up until today I would just get completely bummed out when someone didn't return my little chin raise whenever I'd pass them. Sorry to anyone that I yelled "Unsociable pr**ck" to. (I kid!) (I'm just as guilty as the next guy of not extending a full-on warm embrace to anyone on a bike that I encounter. I wave and not and that's good enough)
Hell, while I have the floor, here is something that eats at me and I want to know why people do this: why, oh why, do people just have to speed up and "get on my wheel" whenever I pass them? It doesn't matter if I'm commuting through downtown or on a training ride up on Skyline. Whenever I approach someone while out riding, I'm at the point where I feel the need to "attack" them instead of rolling past because if I just roll past (saying HI to them as I pass), 8 out of 10 people on bikes will stick right to my rear wheel. Why? I don't have this problem when I'm out walking or running. I mean, if you were walking your dog and passed a slower walker and they picked up the pace and started walking step for step 6" back of you, what would you think? I'd turn the dog loose on them! That's what I'd do! (well, not really, my dog is a chicken ass who'd just beg for a cookie). Anyway. Next time someone wants to draft off of me, I'll tell them to take out an OBRA licence and go up to PIR and race. There, it's OK to ride someone's ass.
Rant over. Let the weekend begin!
On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 12:04 PM, Erik Long wrote:
Yeah, dude. Some people just aren't social animals. Often when a rider goes riding alone, he does so specifically to ride alone - in fact, that's almost always the case. There are other factors - the guy could be riding on a very limited schedule, possibly in the middle of a structured workout, who knows.
If you're on a group ride, you can expect more of a social event. There's no reason to take offense just because a lone rider didn't smile and wave from the other side of the road. This is a silly reason to get bent out of shape.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:10:25 -0800
From: tackyglueit@gmail.com
To: sbrown@stevebrowncompany.com
CC: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Ask A Roadie
you're a clown. maybe the guys dog just died. the world is bigger then you.
On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 10:45 AM, Steve Brown wrote:
Dear Ask A Roadie,
I seem to need some help regarding the secret handshake. Even though I am fairly sociable when I riding, every once in a while someone will simply ride by with their head down. I always thought that even if you wanted to be left alone, at least acknowledging the overtaken rider was the polite thing to do. One thought is that these are tri's who have taken off the aero bars and are not real roadies.
I have a cool bike, wear a cycling hat with the bill turned up under my helmet, and wear red aero covers over my booties or shoes. Are these riders just showing me "they are the man". Should I latch on to their wheel, and then sprint by to show them I am the man?
What am I missing?
Steve Brown
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