Pete Clark
05-17-03, 05:17 PM
The other day I was riding home from work on my bike. It was nicer weather, being spring, and the rain had subsided. The sun was out, and so were other cyclists.
I saw a "yellow" cyclist up ahead, but he disappeared. I caught up with him later, and he had a "One Less Car" jersey on.
We talked as we rode for a few miles. Then we waved and went our ways.
Cycling is a uniquely human form of transportation. I have never talked with strangers otherwise, even while walking.
Has anyone else talked to strangers?
:beer:
Busses and subways are sometimes condusive to stricking up conversation. Especially on the longer city bus routes where you wind up seeing the same few very frequently.
On a bike not so much, I have had a couple conversations, but not too much. I usually assume that people are doing their own workout and don't want to be disturbed. I did manage to talk to the one cute mountain biker (on a road bike) after she took a rest in my draft. :)
When I was riding through Como in Italy, some Italian guys came up behind me and offered water. We made attempts at conversation, but with limited knowledge of each other's languages, it was a bit pitiful, but still fun.
I met a nice chick on my bike riding through the streets a few weeks ago. It was back when the weather first started warming up. She came riding up from behind and we started chatting about the great weather, and I told her about a ride I'd planned for that day. Then the next day, she saw me headed out for the same ride, and we started laughing and yelling at each other from across the traffic. I haven't seen her since, but she was certainly cool.
Last week, I was riding south on the lakefront, and at the end of the south part of the bike path, at 58th Street, and I saw that the section of Lake Shore Drive undergoing construction was finished, and no cars were riding on it (since it was still closed). So I jumped onto Lake Shore Drive and continued south. I was ripping along, when all of a sudden, a group of people ahead waved at me and pulled me over. As it turns out, the last part of Lake Shore Drive had just been cemented, and one of the riders didn't realize the cement was still wet, and he rode right into it and fell over into the wet cement. I began laughing, and I said something like "the Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction is ruined and it's all your fault!", and everyone was laughing. We all stood around and wondered why the construction workers didn't put up the wet cement signs, but I pointed out to them that we're really not supposed to be riding on LSD regardless, hence the lack of warning signs for the wet cement. The guy who fell in the cement went over to the lake to wash himself off, which was a big mistake since the water was only 40 degrees. When the guy came out from the water, I lent him my first aid kit and my towel, and we talked and laughed for a bit. By this time, another guy on a bike came along, and the three of us talked for a bit- complained about the path ending, the LSD reconstruction, etc. Then we all parted ways after exchanging our names and shaking hands. I hope I get to see them again one day.
A couple of weeks ago, I met a trio of riders just at Museum Campus, and we all got the chance to b*tch about the walk a thon the city didn't announce but was slowly moving along the path. One of them had a 'bent, and I had stopped initially because he was fumbling with the chain, and I offered up my tool kit, but he said he had it. Then we talked about riding and how much time we spend riding and having a good time riding the path. They were cool. A week later, I ran into them again, and we started yelling and waving as we passed each other. That brought a smile to my face.
Today, I met a couple of guys. One guy took a tumble at 5800 South, right in front of me, and went over his handlebars. I gave him my first aid kit and some wet wipes, and he wiped his legs of the blood, and we chatted for a few. Then when I got to the north end of the path (5800 North), I met another guy with a hand pump pumping away at his tires. I stopped and chatted with him for a bit and offered him use of my floor pump, which I carry with me at all times because I HATE hand pumps. He didn't use it, but we had a good laugh about my paranoia with hand pumps.
I'm pretty sociable when I'm out riding. Maybe that's a sign I need a real riding partner?
Chris L
05-17-03, 09:20 PM
Probably less so now than on my old commute. That 47km round trip at the southern end of the Gold Coast threw up all sorts of interesting conversations. Once, I met a guy riding with a full touring load, plus towing a set of golf clubs! I really wish I'd figured out how he arranged that one.
That's surprising, Chris, given your gift to yap. :confused:
:D
SD Fixed
05-19-03, 12:28 PM
Originally posted by Pete Clark
I saw a "yellow" cyclist up ahead, but he disappeared. I caught up with him later, and he had a "One Less Car" jersey on.
Where could you get one of these? I like the idea.
Has anyone else talked to strangers?
My commute zig zags, but I talk to people on the Ferry that I take when I reach the end.
I met a stranger the other day. He was RainmanP. RainmanP was visiting San Diego, and PM'd me to get togehter. We did a quick 19 mile ride up to Point Loma and back. RainmanP and I are no longer strangers. We are friends.
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