On 29 Apr 2004 17:11:49 -0700, [email hidden] (Corvus Corvax)
blathered:
Quoted message said:Well, after doing Something Really Unpleasant to my knee on
the ski slopes in Italy last month and having to spend the
rest of the trip in the lodge ogling comely ski bunnies in
the lodge, I found myself back in Buffalo, limping around
pathetically and getting snowed on. A Tale of Woe. But I've
heard to many "Dude, I sprained my knee and then rode on it
anyway! This is my sixth surgury!" stories, I knew my best
bet was to lay low and give myself a good long heal.
I'm finally back commuting on the bike this week Still
wearing the knee brace, and I am weak and slow. Haven't yet
moved up to the fixed gear -- I'm still running a 20-toot
freewheel on the rear. But I'm back, dammit.
Feels good, doesn't it? I was fortunate in that I could at
least still walk & run following my arm injury, so I haven't
lost any fitness. After a couple of weeks on the road bike,
building up the miles, I went for the first ride on my
mountain bike in four months this morning, mainly to bed in
new pads and see if it needs fettling prior to Sunday's
planned ride. A 1500 ft climb, a rambler-free blast through
the woods & 1500 ft of downhill later, and I'm riding back
into town full of bonhomie towards my fellow man.
There's a pedestrian bridge over the river as you ride back
into town. It's the only way to avoid a busy road & a dodgy
junction, but it does have a 'cyclists dismount' sign. If
there is someone walking on the bridge I dismount and walk
over, if it's clear then I cycle it.
There was no-one on it this morning so I rode over at
walking pace. The tarmac runout beyond to the road had an
old fella pushing a pram along it, with a toddler wobbling
along on foot behind him. I slowed right down to the speed
of the kid, hanging back c.30 ft, smiling because I have a
mate with a little girl about the same age. Once they were
clear of the walkway I passed through onto the road myself,
giving them a wide berth and saying 'Good morning'. He was
aware of my presence & wasn't startled.
The old fella just went off it, railing on about dyslexic
cyclists and how we're the most pig ignorant road users. I
rarely if ever get hassle off walkers because, as one
myself, I go out of my way to be polite & considerate. I was
really taken aback by this incident, and it completely took
the shine off my first post-accident offroad ride.
The thing is, it's too easy to write him off as an old fool.
In future I'll just walk over the bridge every time and save
myself some grief, but we have to ask ourselves - why does
he think like this? What experience has he had at the hands
of at least certain elements of the cycling fraternity that
make him think this way? It's bothered me all day.
Pete
