renegade5150

Sorry for the rant, but on my regular 30 mile ride yesterday a group of about 15 -20 teenage guys were jogging ahead of me on the bike/walking trail that I was riding on. They were spread out all over the road - some where ahead of their pack and some seemed to be lagging behind. I was crusing at about 19-20mph behind, so i slowed down when I saw that they were all over the trail and politely said "on your left" as i slowly approached them. 3 of them moved over to the right side of the road and the others moved to the left. As i rode in between them, one of them yelled up to the group running ahead, "MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, LANCE ARMSTRONG NEEDS TO GET BY!" I as passed the second group of joggers at the front, one of them looked at me and said " NICE HELMET!" (I was wearing a giro pnemos red,white, and blue helmet with a specialized blue/blk/white jersey). At first I wasn't sure whether they were kidding/joking/or just being wise asses so I didn't say anything back to them and kept riding since the area that I was in wasn't a good one and there like 20 of them and one of me. Obviously, I not the type of person that goes looking for trouble for anything and I normally would blow off this sort of thing. Not sure why i'm still erked about this but it seems that most of the time that i have to deal with a teenager(s) on the road there's always some sort of wise crack out of there mouths. My wife thought that they were being smart asses towards me. Is this a rididculous claim and has this sort of thing happened to you while riding?

HRPirate

They're immature teenagers.

They know not why they say or do certain things yet.

DRP

I've had lots of people yell out things at me while riding... why worry about it? Enjoy the ride instead.

Ineedhelp

I believe the appropriate response to both comments would have been to look them straight in the eye, smile, and say Thank You!

racer102

people are stupid and immature sometimes

inkdwheels

And this is where being a 6'1" 220# black guy comes in handy. I hardly ever get stuff said to me. When it does happen the people are either homeless (they are crazy and in large numbers here in hawaii) or they are in thier car and they speed away. The funny part is, im a really nice guy~ i just don't look like it.

HRPirate

Yeah because as we all know, all black people are poor, violent and are on drugs all the time

twahl

Their frontal lobes aren't fully developed yet, why let it bother you?

inkdwheels

That and i probably stole the bike im riding along with the owners shoes, lycra, and helmet!!

HRPirate

Hahaha.

DXchulo

This sort of crap happens all the time. Get a group of teens together and they'll make smartass comments about anything, on the bike trail, in a store, at a restaurant, etc. They're just overall idiots and I don't think the bike makes a difference in most of these cases. Just ignore it.

The real annoying thing is when the adults (who are supposed to be mature) make comments only because you're riding a bike. That's what pisses me off.

DinoShepherd

When coming behind peds, I have found that shout-outs confuse more people than they help. "On your left" seems to mean, "move to your left". People just get all screwed up and confused.

So I just pick a hole and go through it. By the time they realize a bike was behind them, I am long gone. Easy.

I have dealt with tough-guy runners across the bike lane going the opposite direction the same way for years: pick a line, no change of direction, head down and brace for impact. They always move. Some wait a bit longer, but they will always move.

-Z

zonatandem

'Cruisng' a 19 - 20 mph on a multi-use path?
What are you doing/thinking? Bicycles belong on the ROAD, that's where vehicles belong, and yes, a bicycle is a vehicle!

SDRider

Eh, shrug it off and assume the guy commenting on your helmet was actually complimenting you. I would have said thanks and just continued on my way.

I just got back from a nice ride down to the coast and back. A little under 20 miles. Beautiful day and a very enjoyable ride!

SDRider

I cruise along at 19-20mph on a multi use path. It is about 5-6' wide and paved, there are many cyclists on there doing training rides going faster than me. The only rule for this trail is no motorized vehicles.

jhota

stupid teenagers.

one of my cars had an ... odd ... paintjob. you know, multicolour craft paint? i was driving down the road one day when a gaggle of teens walking down the unpaved shoulder hollered out (obvoiusly sarcastically) "Nice car!"

i slowed, leaned out the window, and hollered back "Beats walking!" i then drove off, as it started raining, in air-conditioned comfort.

Dchiefransom

You passed some Cunningham wannabes on the trail?

renegade5150

You didn't fully read my initial post. I stated that i WAS going 19-20mph, then slowed down, when i saw the group of joggers.

TheDTrain

Wise ass teens happen to me all the time!
Oh wait, nevermind, that wiseass is me.

But seriously, a path that's 5-6 feet wide isn't that wide at all. You acted like they were spread all over the path blocking everyone's way. But really you should ride on roads.

What's everyone's problem with teens? You generalize too much. We are the future damnit!

nova

Id not go that fast on such a trail. Theres a reason many multi use trails are made with lots of curvs and its not just to increase the miles. Its to force us riders to slow our buts down.
Bikes belong on these trails to though not just hikers. ohio erie canal towpath trail is essentially a highway for bikes and hikers for example.
I can go from center road to lake in masslion(sp?) non stop To get to the same place by car on the roads would take longer and thats with the bike doing 12 to 15 and the car following all speed limits.

renegade5150

For the record, the path is about 12- 15 ft wide and they were all over the path. I should also state that i run into groups of teens before with similar results. One time, i said "can i get by on your left?" and one of the teens said in a smart @ss tone "I dont know which way is left?" while his friends were laughing. Finally, they moved out of the way. Not trying to generalize here and I don't have problems with teens in general but this seems to happen often by the same age group when there are groups like these in numbers.

HWS

Happens once in a while. Ignore the problem and it'll go away....far away...... behind you.

Az B

What I really enjoy is when people yell at you from passing cars. All I hear is:

Fhgwogads, climmeny fulpepper!

I just imagine that it's Christy Brinkley complimenting me on some specific part of my anatomy.

Gawd know what they're really saying, but I like to live in my own world.

Az

Newberry

As a high school teacher, I spend 5 hours a day in a room full of teens. Most are nice enough when they are alone, but many have a bizarre group mentality.

There's always the "alpha" teen, and the others will snicker at anything he/she says regardless of its stupidy (probably the one who yelled out the "Lance" comment). Sad part is that many of them hate the "alpha" teen, but are too scared not to act like the rest of the sheep.

They will do insanely stupid things when in a group, and many are convinced that there is a camera is on them all the time, recording every ignorant thing they say and do.

Too much of a combination of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel (where the adults are always idiots), and "Jackass" and "Real World" (where stupid behavior is rewarded and encouraged).

Don't get me wrong, most are good kids, but that grouip mentality is a bizarre thing to witness.

I just kid with them at school, being timid is a death sentence.
I'd probably come up with:

"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, LANCE ARMSTRONG NEEDS TO GET BY!"
response: "Wow! Thanks really loud jogging kid! You guys have a good run."
or "Thanks guys, just so you know, whoever was chasing you, you lost them"

"NICE HELMET!"
response: "Thanks man, nice hairdoo!"

puddin' legs

30 kids on a jog...a gym class or a cross country group. Want to difuse and control the conversation? Comment/compliment on their fitness/speed, and then ask them what they're training for. J.High and High school folks loved to be asked rather than told even if their first exchange isn't neccessarily in good faith. Silence is the worst. Palpable fear is just asking for it. I'm sure they're good lads, but just less life experienced, AND running in a gaggle of their peers.

For example... "'morn'in gentlemen!"
" How you know we're gentlemen?"
" you haven't proved me wrong so far, so I'll give you
the benefit of the doubt!
"Nice helmet!"
"Thanks, you ride too?..what are you running for or from? c.c.? p.e.?" etc....

Again, it's amazing how some simple communication and a question or two can save and even make the day.


...and wat Newberry said above^^^^