Cyclists

[Ecstatic]

Sometime in the last century, when I was driving a cab (Hacking, before hacking became...well...hacking), I pulled up to a corner store to get some coffee. Used my turn signals, checked my mirrors, etc. (I am =very= good at what I do) and as I threw the shift lever to PARK there was a loud *BANG* at the back of the cab.

Not sure what he was looking at as he was barrelling down the boulevard, but a morning cyclist had to be scraped off the rear widnow of my cab. He was OK, just a bit shaken and rather embarrassed at having not seen this big, brightly colored car in front of him in the parking lane.

I had an unusual cycling accident about 30 years back. I was biking down Mass Ave by MIT when I was run over....by a pedestrian. Yeah, this guy bolted across the street and ran right into me, spilling us both on the pavement. I think he saw no cars coming, but failed to note the cyclist bearing down on him.

So, yah, I too expected a Johnny rant.

Likewise, but I figured Peggy covered this....

[Chaotic]

I'm one of those cycleist types. I have about about 4 mountain bikes at the moment; my personal bike, my back-up bike, and 2 I'm in the process of rebuilding.

I bike at least 3 miles a day to and from work, and, thanks to an excellent trail system we have here, I manage* to stay off ot the roads for the most part.
If I do find myself on a highway, however, in the shoulder going AGAINST traffic is my preferred tactic. That way, I can see what's coming at me and get the f*ck out of the way if need be. It's saved my ass more than once.

*edit: one too many vowels.

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

ok simmer down folks

Johnny, why do I get a sense that this is leading up
to a rant about cyclists blocking traffic, or that you
have hit someone on a bike?

actually it's not a rant, I love mountain biking, the only reason I don't ride a road bike is because the ones I am interested in are anywhere from $5-6k

yes, I do own a Mountain Bike and I do use it.

thing is, if I walk, I bitch about cyclists and drivers of cars.

if I am on my bike, I bitch about pedestrians and drivers of cars.

if I am driving my car, I bitch about pedestrians and cyclists

you are not alone

currently I am lightening up my MTB, going for newer Shimano XTR components and alot more carbon fiber

glad to know I'm not alone as far as cycling goes on here, that's cool

[Ecstatic]

actually it's not a rant, I love mountain biking, the only reason I don't ride a road bike is because the ones I am interested in are anywhere from $5-6k

I hear ya, JW. My Bottecchia, in its day, was a world class bike ("champione del mundo, 1967-68-69" iirc), all Campy components. The equivalent bike today would run 5-6k. I couldn't afford that, but had to finally replace it (frame is slightly bent from an accident, plus it's actually a bit too large for me, something I could accommodate when I was younger but not now). So I bought my Bianchi Volpe in 2005 for what I could afford at the time (about $800--it was more important for my wife to buy a new VW Jetta). A compromise, but a decent bike and sufficient for my needs at the age of *cough* 55.

A friend of mine a year later bought a $4500 bike, I believe a Trek Madone, a wonder to ride in every way.

[OlenkaDC]

Both, MTB and Road... both TREK

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

i used to ride a trek carbon bike, loved the light weight

[dc_guy_75]

Is this the bike you're talking about? Haha. Cheers.

[CORVETTEDUDE]

JWBL...I live in Colorado...you've goota have an MTB or they force you to move to FLA. I'm with ya on the cost of good bikes, though. $5-6K is definitely something to rant about. My budget won't allow that absolutely rediculous indulgence. but, unless you are a tri-athlete, or something along that line, a bike at $500 or less is more than adequate.

[CORVETTEDUDE]

JWBL...I live in Colorado...you've gotta have an MTB or they force you to move to FLA. I'm with ya' on the cost of good bikes, though. $5-6K is definitely something to rant about. My budget won't allow that absolutely rediculous indulgence. Unless you are a Tri-athlete, hardcore Mountain Rider, or something along that line, a bike at $500 or less is more than adequate.

[Ecstatic]

but, unless you are a tri-athlete, or something along that line, a bike at $500 or less is more than adequate.

The difference between a $1000 and a $1500 bike is not that great--it's more a matter of which feels better to you, which fits your body and riding style. But a $500 bike is a compromise, no two ways about it. Test ride a $500 bike and a $1000 bike and you'll see a big difference, much bigger than between $1000 and $1500 or even, I daresay, between $1000 and $3000-4000. When you get that rarified, unless you're an athletic cyclist, I doubt that you really have the physique to appreciate the differences, as they are ever more incremental.