June 10, 2015
As immortalized in the combined wisdom of Art and Paul one
should slow down, you’re moving too fast.
I rarely feel that this is a problem for me while bicycling;
however, today I drank a lot of caffeine and left my workplace at the
paper-cutting emporium a tad early to tend to some familial business. This
left me feeling giddy. My giddiness was
enhanced when I met up with a fellow bicycler who was bicycling along smartly
on a fixed-gear bicycle.
Please be forewarned, if you are a sensitive reader and/or
an impatient one, the following section contains a long-winded narrative with
no pictures and some profanity.
====
As we took slightly different paths, we eventually reunited
and headed towards a busy intersection on the multi-use trail. I did not hurry, but was surprised that a)
the young cyclist didn’t pass me and that b) the light was still green when I
got there (or at least it was as far as I could tell, because it is hard to see
the light once you get past a certain point on the multi-use trail). Anyway, I calculated that even if the light
began to turn yellow at the last point I noted its greenness, I’d still have
enough time to bicycle safely through the intersection before the light changed
and unleashed its potentially deadly flow!
I have to say, it was somewhat exciting. It is, I must admit based on the few times
I’ve experienced it, sometimes fun to go fast.
It can also be dangerous, which is something I have become less and less
enthusiastic about over the years. That is why
I am glad that the Old Bastard isn’t really built for speed (unless you are going fast and straight down a steep hill with a tailwind, in which case it's mass is a distinct velocity-boost).
Back to my bicycling, I’m pretty sure the traffic flow began
just as I crossed the midpoint of the intersection because I think the
motorcyclist in the turn lane had to stop just as he started to go. Luckily the intersection has a green arrow
before the full intensity of oppositely travelling traffic resumes so, once I
wasn’t hit by the motorcyclist, I was no longer threatened. However, my young comrade on a human-powered
two-wheeler was still behind me! As I
continued on my aggressive way the motorcyclist yelled something that sounded
like, “That’s a good way to get hit, shithead!”
Indeed, motor-powered two-wheeling friend. In-fucking-deedy-do.
====
I felt bad. I have
heard there are old climbers and bold climbers, but no old and bold
climbers. The same may be true of
bicycler commuters. Plus I was so busy pedaling I didn't take any fun photos along the way. I hope I’ve learned
my lesson…..again. Thank you for
noticing us bicyclers, motorists!
And on a brighter note, here are some sweet touring bikes. I often imagine myself riding on a bicycle
tour somewhere scenic with few intersections and red lights. Maybe the
Canadian Rockies. Or Switzerland.
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