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
