marqueemoon

As I was rolling up to one of the trickier intersections on my commute this morning, and saw a strange object in the road. From a distance it looked like a piece of rubber that had peeled off from a truck tire. As I got closer I realized it was definitely not what I thought, but instead a large double ended *****. I'm sure there's an interesting story behind how this ended up in the road but I'm not sure I want to hear it.

CrosseyedCrickt

well....
did you pick it up?

cyclezealot

I want to make yesterday's sighting fit this thread during our club ride. Seen couple strange things on a bike, the past couple years. Once, I swear from the other side of the road. A younger woman cyclists- sure the heck looked to me. She had some kind of white bandage on one arm. TO me, I swear, it looked like a cast for a broken arm. THis was several years ago in California.Could be wrong, looked that way.
But, yesterday's sighting. More bizarre to me. Some cyclist in kit, passed us. Swear to god, looked like he was smoking a cigarette while riding. New one to me.

SingleSpeeDemon

Pics?

JoeUser

Maybe you should check out the new trade forum. (wink)

GTcommuter

I used to ride on MS 150 benefit rides with a guy who smoked a big Churchill cigar. If you were behind him, you could smell it for half a mile before you saw him.

sgtsmile

Oddest sightings to me were the young couple making out, very literally, in a field full of flowers as I cruised by in the heavilly used single track mtn bike trail.....

that, and a rabid groundhog.... kinda attacked me, but missed.

CigTech

I smoke while ridding all the time. I do have to slow down between 16 to 18 mph to keep it from going out.

Roody

So which one of you dropped your toy while you were lighting a cigarette?

Little Darwin

I haven't seen it in kit, but in my area, it seems like I am just as likely to see someone on a bicycle smoking as not...

I often see people on full suspension Wally World bikes with the seat all the way down, knees hitting their chest as they pedal, puffing on a cigarette... Of course, I guess this does account for the other strangeness I see... people pushing their fully suspended mountain bikes up a paved sidewalk any time the grade exceeds 1%

cyclezealot

marqueemoon. Should have mentioned it in my earlier thread. When riding with a group on the Oceanside bike trail. looked down while pedaling slowly. A unrolled condom in the middle of the pathway. Guess, not a surprise since lots of homeless live in the area. Camp out near the river. But, in the middle of the path. Wonder how that effects bike traction. Unrolled, I guess it would likely be used. Bright red so easily seen THis was many many years ago.almost forgot about it.

Itsjustb

It does give a whole new meaning to "Keep the rubber side down"....<snicker>

bbonnn

My friend worked in a non-touristy non-hipster part of the Mission (SF) for a while. Lots of hookers and johns doing trade. Sidewalks littered with junk; whenever you think you're stepping on a yellow leaf, it's probably a used condom.

There are volunteer groups who pass out wrapped condoms, lubes, AIDS info and Hep-C info for free for these guys. This is acutually a type of litter I'm glad to see. Happy that they're using 'em.

BroMax

Helps to keep the bugs away. I only smoke 'em at picnics and such outdoor events where people can stay away from me if they wish.

squeakywheel

Life isn't that interesting here. Lake Wobegon, where all the students are above average...and the only contraband found along the road is a spent 12 pack of Pig's Eye (beer don't cha know).

capejohn

I see commuters in all kinds of weather on bikes that don't fit. and wonder if they are DWI bikers. The suspect once almost always are smoking. It is true that they have to keep their chins up to keep from knocking themselves unconscious with their knees.

shakeNbake

Nope, medical research proof smoking while riding makes you a stronger sprinter.

cyclezealot

Shake/bake. After say ten years of smoking, maybe you can sprint but how about steep climbs. Really bad climbs my lungs are gasping for more air.

jkreuzig

I can't say I've seen anything quite as odd as a double ended *****, but I have seen something I can't explain. A late 40's - early 50's Asian man riding a hybrid bike with one front and two rear baskets filled with groceries wearing a helmet... A full face covering, racing style motorcycle helmet (visor down). Now if he was going downhill at 80 mph, I could understand it. However, he's cruising along at 8-10 mph on a bicycle path.

I see the same guy every week at around the same time on the path.

HardyWeinberg

I haven't read the helmet thread in the 'advocacy' folder here, but I have participated in enough helmet discussions to at least get to the point that no matter what you think of bike helmets, motorcycle helmets are something you can't really argue with (until you get a quorom of motorcyclists in the room, of course).

But I'm betting your guy probably just had one sitting around and used it rather than buy a bike helmet. Still, you never know, maybe he's a neurosurgeon and values his melon.

Bizurke

How could you tell his age and ethnicity if he had his whole head and face covered up?

LóFarkas

Not all that strange. Probably not broken, probably a leisurely ride.
I did meet a bike messenger with a proper cast on his hand from elbow to wrist once. When I asked if it was broken he said "Yea." "And you work 8 hours like that?" "Yea." Tough guys, those messengers.

Grease folder

I once saw a guy riding a little pink Magna girl's bike (a very small bike, the kind with white knobby tires) on the lake shore path. He had a fishing pole with him. Even though he was small guy, he still was pretty big for the bike.

squeakywheel

I did that once. Bought a bike for my youngest kid for his birthday. We were living in Yokohama and didn't own a car. I rode the too small bike home through the heart of some busy shopping districts. Must have been a sight. Some crazy old bearded gaijin on a little kids bike.

Dead Extra #2

Yesterday, I say a kid riding an old full-fendered Schwin with a normal wheel up front and a plastic, 4-spoke, bmx wheel with no tire on the rear.