P
Prisoner at War
Guest
On Oct 29, 1:40 pm, "gotbent" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> Too low to the ground? I've had people in gigantic landbarges stopped next
> to me at a traffic light and shout out of their window at me that I was too
> low to see. I ask them who they're talking to. "You", they answer. I tell
> them that either they're crazy for talking to something invisible, or I'm
> not invisible after all. I don't think most of them get it.
Heh...I had a well-meaning old fellow pull up next to me in his car
one night and say that I should have lights on my 'bent. I told him
he should just slow down. He didn't say anything more; I hope he
agreed!
> I know a fellow that used to ride a NoCom in Chicago, on the streets! I know
> a another fellow that rode a Bacchetta Strada in Chicago, too. He got hit by
> a car, as high and visible as he was.
Well, those things are not all that high, in "absolute terms," and
maybe folks are worse drivers in Chicago than NYC. I've actually
commuted with my SMGTe many, many times without incident.
> I own your bike's cousin, the Speedmachine. She can be a trecherous ***** at
> times. Mostly a quick and comfortable ride, but let your attention waver for
> a moment and you'll find yourself dumped, unceremoniuosly, out on your ass.
> I admit to being a member of the clan klutz and I don't chew gum and walk
> simultaneously and remaining in control on two wheels is not totally
> intuitive for me. I admit to hammering through turns more consertvatively
> than excellent bike handlers, but still, I go through the twisties a lot
> faster than the average schmo I pass on the bike trail.
>
> The trike takes the balance thing right out of the equation.
But on turns, etc., you still have to watch out! Besides, balance is
so second-nature, it's almost not a factor for me (and I suspect for
most "serious" cyclists). I wonder if trike fans are maybe, um, less
competent cyclists, as it were....
> On the trike I
> pedal like mad and all I need to do is pay attention to what's around me.
Same thing on any bike, for those who are good cyclists.
> I
> ride with a friend on Wednesday nights, usually a few blocks away from his
> house in the land of garage-mahals and green lawns and smooth low traffic
> streets. We do five mile circuitous loops. The first time, a few weeks ago,
> when we did the ride with lights I noticed that my cheeks hurt. The ride was
> so much fun that I was unconsciously grinning in the dark.
But how's that unique to a trike? I still grin on my 'bent. (I'm
always grinning anyway; it's all too cute and funny, everything is, in
life.) I'm sure I'd grin on a trike, too. But I don't see what makes
them really special.
I was actually thinking of getting my old dad one, just so he gets
more physical than simply walking the dog. But other than that, I
really don't see the big deal.
> I'm not a bent newbe either. I bought my first bent in '99. I still have a
> SM and an Earthcycles Sunset and I bought a Trice in February and I ride
> about 2000-3000 miles a year.
I'm not trying to put down trikes. Just chit-chatting here. I'm sure
they're fun for me, too. I'll probably get one one day, too.
>
>
> Too low to the ground? I've had people in gigantic landbarges stopped next
> to me at a traffic light and shout out of their window at me that I was too
> low to see. I ask them who they're talking to. "You", they answer. I tell
> them that either they're crazy for talking to something invisible, or I'm
> not invisible after all. I don't think most of them get it.
Heh...I had a well-meaning old fellow pull up next to me in his car
one night and say that I should have lights on my 'bent. I told him
he should just slow down. He didn't say anything more; I hope he
agreed!
> I know a fellow that used to ride a NoCom in Chicago, on the streets! I know
> a another fellow that rode a Bacchetta Strada in Chicago, too. He got hit by
> a car, as high and visible as he was.
Well, those things are not all that high, in "absolute terms," and
maybe folks are worse drivers in Chicago than NYC. I've actually
commuted with my SMGTe many, many times without incident.
> I own your bike's cousin, the Speedmachine. She can be a trecherous ***** at
> times. Mostly a quick and comfortable ride, but let your attention waver for
> a moment and you'll find yourself dumped, unceremoniuosly, out on your ass.
> I admit to being a member of the clan klutz and I don't chew gum and walk
> simultaneously and remaining in control on two wheels is not totally
> intuitive for me. I admit to hammering through turns more consertvatively
> than excellent bike handlers, but still, I go through the twisties a lot
> faster than the average schmo I pass on the bike trail.
>
> The trike takes the balance thing right out of the equation.
But on turns, etc., you still have to watch out! Besides, balance is
so second-nature, it's almost not a factor for me (and I suspect for
most "serious" cyclists). I wonder if trike fans are maybe, um, less
competent cyclists, as it were....
> On the trike I
> pedal like mad and all I need to do is pay attention to what's around me.
Same thing on any bike, for those who are good cyclists.
> I
> ride with a friend on Wednesday nights, usually a few blocks away from his
> house in the land of garage-mahals and green lawns and smooth low traffic
> streets. We do five mile circuitous loops. The first time, a few weeks ago,
> when we did the ride with lights I noticed that my cheeks hurt. The ride was
> so much fun that I was unconsciously grinning in the dark.
But how's that unique to a trike? I still grin on my 'bent. (I'm
always grinning anyway; it's all too cute and funny, everything is, in
life.) I'm sure I'd grin on a trike, too. But I don't see what makes
them really special.
I was actually thinking of getting my old dad one, just so he gets
more physical than simply walking the dog. But other than that, I
really don't see the big deal.
> I'm not a bent newbe either. I bought my first bent in '99. I still have a
> SM and an Earthcycles Sunset and I bought a Trice in February and I ride
> about 2000-3000 miles a year.
I'm not trying to put down trikes. Just chit-chatting here. I'm sure
they're fun for me, too. I'll probably get one one day, too.