Maximillian Kirchoff

IT's funny you should mention kits Ron as most commute-racers I run across
are actually kitted out. I don't really wear kits on my ride or when I
commute. I wear bibs sometimes without anything over them, and many times
with jeans over them, so it's difficult to identify me as anything more than
a regular commuter. The fun part about that is the tri guys or cat 4s who
seem to think that since I'm a large dude and not kitted out they must pass
me, which is often-times rather funny. Especially when they attack me
uphill, then quickly run out of gas and start huffing and puffing in car
lane to my left as I steadily keep my cadence. I don't hold any ill-will
towards them, I think it's more funny than anything. I'm just trying to get
home most of the time, not win the tour. Which, on a small tagent I wanted
to mention a funny trend I've began to see. I'm not sure if it's new racers
who don't understand helmets, old racers who just don't like them, or people
that are just forgetful...but wearing a full winter kit, winter cap, gloves,
shoe covers, clipped into your pedal is pretty damn funny when you're not
wearing a helmet. Spending all that time and money to train in the winter on
the road, without the one thing that can actually save your life in a tough
spot. Hell I've ridden without helmets...in jeans and a tshirt, on my way to
the store. But a training ride fully kitted out....hiiiiilarious. Especially
since a helmet is probably the least dorky looking thing in a kit.

But I digress. We're all just peoples. I often, in my jeans and windbreaker,
wave to roadies and commuters alike just to get a snarl or grimace. But it
doesn't bother me, I'm just trying to be nice. Just be the bigger person and
spit into the draft. haha.

______________{ :)
Max Kirchoff
(503) 770-0629
max@maxisnow.com
http://www.maxisnow.com
http://www.treesbybike.com
http://portfolio.maxisnow.com

On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser <
rondot@spiritone.com> wrote:

> 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 <
>> sbrown@stevebrowncompany.com> 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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>>
>>
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