A Social Observation

Whizzing by me on my way home, I don't start to worry until the truck slows down after passing me.  As I get closer all the possible scenarios run through my mind - will they yell?  Throw something?  I'm in the bike lane, I haven't broken any laws - did I maybe wrong them somehow?  

Their window is already down when I pull up next to them, and I look over ready to defend myself, bracing for the worst.

"I love your style!" A burly, bearded man shouts enthusiastically, "GO GIANTS!!" 

I smile and give him a thumbs up, yelling "Thanks!" as he waves and drives away.  

While I'm happy that there was no altercation - no anger or road rage, I'm mostly perplexed by this interesting social phenomenon that I've been noticing more and more lately.  I'm no Giants fan, by any means - I really have no loyalty to sports in any way, save for cycling (which I'm still pretty bad at "supporting"), but the camaraderie among sports fans around here is especially interesting when I'm on my commuter:

It certainly stands out.

I get way more comments with this bike than I do with any of my others, and many of those are along the lines of "GIANTS WOOHOO!"  Recently though I've been wearing a hi-viz long sleeve jersey since it's getting cooler, and events like this (as well as the comments) have increased.  Throw in my newfound appreciation of cycling caps, and lately I've been riding around a lot looking like this...

I have no shame.

This isn't actually the first time I've noticed that appearances change the way people treat you on a bike.  Once I was riding in a dress coming home from fancy occasion at work - it was the nicest ride I've ever had in terms of how others behaved on the road around me.  Everyone passed at a safe distance, used their blinkers, made eye contact with me, and even waved.  I take that same route every day, and that ride will always stand out in my mind because of how strangely nice it was.  

Here's where it starts to get interesting - now that my bike and my apparel make me look like a Giants fan, I'm noticing that my rides are a bit nicer, and incidents like the one I mentioned are a bit more common.  Though I have had a few people that honked before shouting their fandom out the window at me, which is always a bit startling.  I feel like a bit of an imposter, but at the same time I enjoy that people are being nicer because I'm suddenly someone that they can relate to.  Personally I'm rocking my jersey because it's really, really visible, but I'll take what I can get.   

Scientifically, if I really wanted to test this I could get a bike with Oakland As colors and gear that matches, then record my results.  Then I'd have to go to the East Bay and test both groups of team colors...and with peoples' loyalty to teams around here, I'd probably end up dead in a ditch somewhere.

But since I don't have a bike with As colors, or Sharks colors, or 49ers colors...for now I'll just continue to observe my experiences as a pseudo Giants fan and hopefully keep having pleasant experiences on the road. 

What Irks You?

I struck up an interesting conversation with a stranger on the train the other day.  I was commenting on his older steel bike, and he asked which bike was mine, so I pointed to my District all bungied up in my destination section.

"Oh, uh, yeah, that's cool, I guess."

It was obvious that there was something he didn't like about it, so I asked him what it was that turned him off to it.  

"I dunno, those deep rims...just irk me."

It didn't offend or upset me in any way - in fact, I had a good laugh about it, much to his confusion, and told him I understand completely.  

I dig bikes.  Truth be told, I dig all bikes.  But everyone has at least one thing that does just that - irks them.   So I told him about my irk: I absolutely can't stand risers on vintage track bikes.  He told me he loved the look of risers on track bikes.  Another commuter chimed in saying they were irked by fenders, but loved both deep rims and risers.  We sort of bonded over irks. 

There's nothing wrong with deep rims, or risers, or fenders, or well, anything that irks you.  It's just not for you.  If you like riding with any or all of these things, more power to you.  My bike isn't for everyone, and chances are yours isn't either.  But I still love the fact that you choose to ride, and that your bike is yours.

So I have to ask - what irks you?  

Complements

"Excuse me, but I just have to say - that is a beautiful bicycle."

I had just ridden in from my morning commute, completely disheveled and rained on, trying to park my bike inside without getting mud everywhere.  It caught me completely off guard, and all I could muster was a very grateful "thank you!"

"I've been admiring it in the hallway the past few days, and it's probably the most beautiful bike I've ever seen."

Absolutely made my day, and I hope the smile that I returned to this kind stranger showed my gratitude.  It's not much, but I've worked hard to make this bike look and ride quite nice, and I've always considered a bicycle to be a sort of extension of ones' self, so it was quite the complement to receive!

It's Friday.  Ride your bike this weekend, and if you see a bike you truly love...tell the owner!

On Accessorizing

There comes a time, usually once, maybe twice a year, where I find myself going to a place or an event that people describe as "nice," "formal," or "classy."  It's a rare occurrence, and not to say that I don't enjoy it, but it does require me to shed my usual attire of grease stained (chain print, of course) jeans and wear something deemed a bit more socially acceptable.  Such as not this shirt (NSFW language there). Long story short, I'm going to a "nice" Christmas party, and I need to look pretty.  


Since this party is pretty soon (read: two days) I wouldn't be able to do what I usually do in these situations and order something from Terry, who at the very least has nice clothing with a bicycle theme.  And since it's also almost winter and cold outside, I needed to go out and find something that would keep me warm enough to not get cranky.  Which is how I found myself wandering around Target last night.

This is about bikes, I swear.  

32!

There's a stretch along Hermosa Avenue heading south each night that I can just fly over.  It's near the end of my ride, and usually I try to push myself to go as fast as I can.  Sometimes I'm a bit tired, so I don't go all out, but last night, I was all charged up and completely in the zone.  I was out of the saddle, sprinting in my highest gear, just flying.  I barely noticed the car alongside me, until I came to the stop sign.

I stopped, and the car stopped next to me, with the window rolled down.  

"Dude!  32 miles per hour!  Nice!"  He gave me a thumbs up!

I thanked him, then promptly went home and ate everything that I could find. 

2012 Distance Count: 238 Miles | 383 Kilometers