There I was -about 12 miles of my 36 into it- and here's this paved path alongside the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton (yeah, whoo.. hoitie toi. Most of the old time coastsiders hate it. It does look like a nice place to stay, though, dammit).
Now, I'm not sure if it's a MUP or a cart path -it *is* right next to a golf course, and all- but there are no signs and there are people -not golfers; people- walking along it so...
I slowly strike up the path -yes, it was uphill ;)- well behind a family of four. Husband, wife, son, daughter. That's America, to me. He sees me coming up and very nicely and considerately asks his family to step aside and let me through. "Rider coming up", he said. I'm still a good 10 15 yards behind them. He's just got a big ol' smile on his faceas they wait for me to go by. We exchange pleasantries as I say, "Yes, but coming up slowly". And he replies, "Slowly? Hey you're doing alright for an old guy..." Still smiling.
What could I do? Just smile back and give him a big thumbs up. Nice family. A nice moment on the day.
But, hey, the noive of the guy... ;)
Floyd
07-05-07, 07:43 PM
He apparently did not consider that you were on the bike getting exercize, ! and had to slow down for him!
Old School
07-05-07, 07:49 PM
I am sure if he had more time to gather his thoughts, he would have probably said, "Hey, with a nice road bike like that you must be training for the TdF!". Remember, 50 is the new 30!
Digital Gee
07-05-07, 07:51 PM
You should have gotten off the bike, walked over to him, and decked him. The noive of that guy is right! Where's your World Wide Wrestling skills?
The Weak Link
07-05-07, 07:59 PM
Hey, at least you passed them.
I've been passed by hikers before while I was struggling to go uphill, but yesterday I was passed by them while I was going downhill.
It was on a very steep downhill that in the middle of it had something like a two foot drop-off. No way I was going to try it, so I stopped. The slope was so steep I couldn't figure out a way to dismount. The couple, whom I had flown by only minutes before, walked right by me.
I finally had to lift up one of my legs and let the bike fall out from underneath me. Then I lugged it down the slope and up the other side.
When I caught up to the hikers, I wanted to take my bike pump and give them a sound thrashing.
But I only had CO2 cartridges, and I couldn't think of anything hostile to do with them.
Thanks for listening.
bac
07-05-07, 08:02 PM
Stories like yours give me faith that everyone is indeed NOT trying to wack me! Very nice - made my day! :)
... Brad
Old School
07-05-07, 08:02 PM
You should have gotten off the bike, walked over to him, and decked him. The noive of that guy is right! Where's your World Wide Wrestling skills?
I can just see it now... SKT stops, (falls over because he forgot to unclip first), gets up and calmly walks up to the insensitive perpetrator:
"As soon as I catch my breath, I'm goin' deck ya! :D
Tom Bombadil
07-05-07, 08:40 PM
All along the trail today, people were very friendly. Then right at the end, when I'm heading for home and have 62 miles in, I pass a 20-something on a road bike who completely ignores my nod & hello. Didn't bother me, in fact it gave me a chuckle as I wondered if Mr. High & Mighty had done anywhere near the miles that I had.
Earlier as I rolled into a small town's trail stop, I encountered a couple of young guys on road bikes taking a break. One looked at me and my dusty hybrid and asked, "So how many miles have you put on that thing today?" I replied, "50 so far, but I'm not done yet." Their eyes popped open a bit on that, I don't think they expected the old, gray-haired guy on a hybrid to give that answer.
maddmaxx
07-06-07, 04:39 AM
Just the opposit. Some little girl carded me a while back at the supermarket (I guess they have new rules).............Bless her heart.
Mrs Maxx thought it was extremely funny! :rolleyes:
tlc20010
07-06-07, 06:06 AM
when I'm heading for home and have 62 miles in,
Okay, Tom. You are allowed one more reference to your considerable accomplishment of Thursday past. After that, we'll commence to thinking that you are putting on airs.
"Slowly? Hey you're doing alright for an old guy..." Still smiling.
What could I do? Just smile back and give him a big thumbs up. Nice family. A nice moment on the day.
But, hey, the noive of the guy... ;)
Yeah, maybe every time we pass someone we should say, "<fill in age>-year-old passing on your left.....how come you aren't dropping me?" Then maybe they'll try to punch us.;)
gear
07-06-07, 06:16 AM
Considering that the alternative to becoming an "old guy" is death, it doesn't seem like much of an insult to me.
maddmaxx
07-06-07, 06:29 AM
Considering that the alternative to becoming an "old guy" is death, it doesn't seem like much of an insult to me.
;)
Coyote!
07-06-07, 06:36 AM
>>> Hey you're doing alright for an old guy...
I get that occasionally. My standard answer is, "Dude, I'm in training for the Fittest Old Man Alive award.". . .or some such. Anyway Sai, the comment probably originated from the guy's suprise. It was a kind of honor and you treated it with the class that we in BF50+ exemplify and aspire to.
One of my personal heores is Laurent Guadreau who last year in his 80th year crossed Grand Canyon 80 times.
Retro Grouch
07-06-07, 06:55 AM
So what's the problem?
As I write this I'm wearing my "Old Guys Rule" T-shirt with the cruiser bike on it.
BSLeVan
07-06-07, 07:16 AM
"Rider coming up", he said. I'm still a good 10 15 yards behind them. He's just got a big ol' smile on his face as they wait for me to go by. We exchange pleasantries as I say, "Yes, but coming up slowly". And he replies, "Slowly? Hey you're doing alright for an old guy..." Still smiling.
What could I do?
My thoughts would have been, "Yeah, I am." I mean let's face it, we're not posting on the 25+ forum. I've earned the title; and a whole lot of people I grew up with didn't make it this far. Young/old, tall/short, thin/fat, dark/light, hairy/bald, fast/slow.... who cares?
"I am what I am and that's all that I am
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man"
head_wind
07-06-07, 09:08 AM
You didn't catch the language subtleties even though you did repeat
enough. He clearly was from Brooklyn [noive] and the correct
transliteration is a pleading "Spare us the shock wave. We are innocent."
What?? Did he say it or you?? Are you from Brooklyn?? Gads!!!
SaiKaiTai
07-06-07, 09:16 AM
You didn't catch the language subtleties even though you did repeat
enough. He clearly was from Brooklyn [noive] and the correct
transliteration is a pleading "Spare us the shock wave. We are innocent."
What?? Did he say it or you?? Are you from Brooklyn?? Gads!!!
Me? From Brooklyn? Goodness, no. Just an old 3 Stooges fan...
Keep in mind, folks, that I stressed a number of times, the guy was smiling... I don't think he meant anything by it. Truth to tell, he didn't look all that young himself - though, truth to tell, anyone in their 40's now seems young to me. I took it as a statement of admiration. Plus picture the image with me on the LeMond wearing my tight yellow jersey, spandex (under baggies) shorts, helmet (with mirror), clipless pedals. TWO water bottles. I probably looked like Lance Armstrong to him.
Digital Gee
07-06-07, 10:32 AM
So what's the problem?
As I write this I'm wearing my "Old Guys Rule" T-shirt with the cruiser bike on it.
I have one of those! One of my favorite shirts!
stapfam
07-06-07, 11:29 AM
I get most upset with those walkers up on the hills. There they are striding up the steep hills and I attempt to overtake them. They never offer to give me a push up the hills- even though I ask for one- and they never have leads on the dogs- that I could grab hold of and use as a Husky.
SaiKaiTai
07-06-07, 11:42 AM
I get most upset with those walkers up on the hills. There they are striding up the steep hills and I attempt to overtake them. They never offer to give me a push up the hills- even though I ask for one- and they never have leads on the dogs- that I could grab hold of and use as a Husky.
The first dog Mrs SKT and I had was a German Shepherd/Husky mix. A big ol' strapping, 75 lb dog.
She was as sweet as could be (unless she didn't like the way you were handling the Mrs... Good dog) and just as gentle as a lamb. But put her on a leash and she liked to pull. Bad training? Genetics? Who knows...
But I was roller skating in Golden Gate Park one weekend and got that thought. Hmmmm, why not? SO I crouched down low, held on tight and said "Aja, Go!" And go she did. Quite a ride, that was.
I could use her on my climbs, now, that's for sure...