General Cycling Discussion - Cyclist encounters

Up here in central Alberta there isn't exactly a massive cycling population, and from what I've observed, the few there are seem to hibernate in the winter.

So, today I headed out on my ride, on a day with less than ideal conditions (+1C/33F with a fairly strong cold wind), and on what is now my "usual" route ... where I've never seen another cyclist before.

I rounded a corner, and there in the distance was something on the road that looked remarkably like a cyclist. "Couldn't be", I thought, "It must be a mailbox or something." But sure enough ... it was another cyclist, all decked out in cyclist gear and everything!!

Then if that weren't astounding enough in itself, the other cyclist moved to the middle of the road toward me, as we got closer, and then slowed right down when we got within speaking distance ... almost stared at me like he couldn't believe his eyes either ... then told me to have a good ride, and departed with the comment, "Nice bike!" :)

Still marvelling at that very bizarre occurance, I reached another intersection and was stunned to see a second cyclist, again all decked out in gear, who made some comment about it being a great day for a ride before disappearing from view.

Cyclist-sighting happens so rarely here ... and to have it happen twice on one shortish ride ........


SPRING must be on its way!! :D :D

This is about the time of year when people are getting tired of staying inside. A ride in the blistering cold is better than no ride at all.

the same thing happened to me recently, ona very nice january day. I saw one guy on a road bike by the boston pizza, and another riding on the wrong side of the road passed a gas station, with a trailer and some little kids behind him. it was strange.

Steve

Machka, has it occured to you that you might be hallucinating? February in a cold climate can do weird things to people.

Machka, has it occured to you that you might be hallucinating? February in a cold climate can do weird things to people.


Ah ... maybe that's what it was. :D

Maybe what I saw was actually a mailbox ... or possibly an escaped llama! :lol:

Machka, the other cyclists are mere humans, and do not have your cycling super powers.

That reminds me........ Why didn't I see another cyclist when riding in blizzard white out conditions ?
Am I absorbing some of your special powers by reading your threads? :)

Hi Machka - I drove thru your territory today (from Ft. McMurray to Didsbury) and I too saw 2 cyclists all decked out in bike finery. Only they were closer to Camrose. I did a double-take on the first one, but by the second one it was old stuff!

By the way, it was chilly, but it was also mucho windy too. Maybe someday we'll pass on the road too, tho I rarely get that far north on a day ride.

See ya............Murray

Hi Machka - I drove thru your territory today (from Ft. McMurray to Didsbury) and I too saw 2 cyclists all decked out in bike finery. Only they were closer to Camrose. I did a double-take on the first one, but by the second one it was old stuff!

By the way, it was chilly, but it was also mucho windy too. Maybe someday we'll pass on the road too, tho I rarely get that far north on a day ride.

See ya............Murray



Seems there were a whole pile of cyclists on the road today!!


It was pretty windy. In fact, as I was getting my bicycle of the garage, I had to lean against the house because a gust came along and nearly knocked me over. But I decided to ride anyway because I haven't really ridden in much wind since I left Winnipeg.

I'm planning to come through your area in late April for the Okotoks 200K (Alberta Randonneurs). I've been to Okotoks, but I've never ridden down there so I'm looking forward to it. :)