Keefer Madness

Rant on My Ride Last Night

// April 11th, 2008 // Cycling, Personal Crap

I haven’t written any type of real rant or complaint on Keefer Madness in awhile, so it’s about time.

The weather is warming up here and the days are getting longer. Currently, the sun is setting at like 7:45. So, as long as I get out of work at a reasonable time, there’s time to put the bike’s wheels to the local roads.

Last night, despite getting home later than I would have liked (something I’m changing today!), I went ahead and changed and hopped on the bike.

So I’ve got no real major complaints, but three things that constantly piss me off while in the saddle.

First, I love dogs. My dog is a beloved part of the Keefer household and is treated wonderfully. That includes having him in a fenced in yard. I’m so sick of these degenerate rednecks that just let their dogs outside. I’d say 3 out of 5 rides I take, I get chased by a retarded dog. People – control your dogs. People and dogs are going to get hurt when Canine and bikes collide. Control your dogs so I don’t have to have built in sprint points and risk my body, going on the wrong side of the road, weaving, etc.

Second complaint from the ride last night – Cyclists are outnumbered on the road. As the weather improves and the days extend, our numbers increase. When I’m riding down the road, and a rider is coming down the road in the opposite direction, common courtesy is a little acknowledgement – a nod, a wave… anything. I passed a dozen riders yesterday that gave me the cold shoulder – men and women. I’m not asking you to hop off your bike and have a conversation… just a little nod is all I ask.

Third, but definitely not least. Last night, I’m back in my neighborhood weaving through some few streets, pushing my pace a bit before I’m dismounting. Two streets away from my home, I’m flying down the road.. probably at 22 miles per hour. In the opposite direction, three women are walking toward me, one with a stroller. They’re basically hogging the entire road. I slow ever so slightly and go all the way left to squeeze by them. I get three dirty looks and one throws her arms up in disgust. WTF? I’m under the speed limit. I was riding the right side of the road till I was blocked by them. They were in the wrong and they give me shit about riding down the road. Again, WTF? I hate ignorance, especially when it has to do with the rules of the road and cylists.

Regardless, love riding the roads and I am blessed to have multitude of routes right outside my neighborhood – hilly, flat, and some near devoid of motor traffic. So despite my rants above, I love riding. See you on the roads. I’ll be the one nodding or waving in your direction.

My Durham Ride – 04-10-2008