not some secret writing thing,

talking about the code of cycling.



which pretty much has been tossed out the fucking window with all the new riders who never ride with anyone willing to tell them whats what, or heck, it is great, you and your buddy discovered that cycling is awesome, there's a bit more to it than pedaling.

I guess there isn't thought.  If you try it and like it, isn't that enough? You're on a bike. You're riding. And yes, that's pretty good. It is good.

I am happy you are on a bike.  That's a good thing.

When you're wearing cycling gear, riding on a MUP and you reach a cluster of people, walkers, riders coming the other direction, yelling at everyone and with a special berating to the guy who's walking his bike with a flat back tire.

No slowing down to offer help, no consideration given, just "GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY ASSHOLE!"

Kevin from NBX is there too (he was coming along up the other direction after a spin down of the legs, i'm headed home expecting to see him at some point).  Pretty funny that it coincided at that point.  Kev's already got this guy covered. I've been sitting behind the gym rats who seem new to cycling, hey props for buying bikes and riding them and all that, i know it is fun.

BUT

BUT

BUT

BUT

you always stop to offer help if you can to someone with a flat or mechanical. Maybe there's nothing you can do, wrong size tube, no tools, but maybe that person's cell phone battery died, they've already used up two tubes, their pump broke, CO2 ran out. Maybe you've got something that can help. Sure having everything go tits up at once is rare but it has happened to all of us, at least those of us who have been riding for a little while.

Offer to help.

It is what you are supposed to do.

I caught up with those two after checking to see that Kevin had it under control.  Ended with "Don't shit on someone having a bad day, it just isn't the right thing do to." One of them piped back "I'm not having a bad day!" and my response was simple:
"The guy you yelled at WAS having a bad day and you just shit on him some more."
the pre-amble was about how the guy WALKING the bike was in the wrong.  No. Walking is walking, you walk on our bike path like the signs say, facing traffic.   He was not wrong despite you yelling at him.

And yes.

It is crazy bad form to have a nice fully accessorized bike, saddle bag, pump, big pair of insulated water bottles, and probably a cell phone (gotta strava that flagged segment man) and ride by someone who might benefit from your help, if not benefit, at least you can offer.  Maybe it is all under control.  But every gesture is worth it.

It is the humanist thing to do. You can call it the Christian thing to do but bottom line it is just the right thing to do.

And then at least don't get dropped by the guy on a fendered 30# cx bike carrying 20 pounds of groceries in his back pack going into a 15 mph headwind on an easy day.

What is it about Tuesdays. Seriously.

heddwch
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