Mr. Beanz

Sweet little cyclist lady on the trail turned out to be quite a racist. We're on the trail today we're somewhere near Kraemer. We pass a dude on a roadbike, nothing fancy and looked rather old. No helmet, guy in dress clothes and yes, he's Hispanic. I give the courteous 'onyerleft' like I always do. He's not going very fast so it's an easy pass. We're gaining on some tri-guy and a lady a bit ahead of him.

Right before we catch the pair of riders, the dude on the old roadie goes flying by with no warning. Like always, I figure he will pass out within a mile or he'll turn off while we drop our jaws in awe of his performance. Doesn't bug me much but I'd like the courteous 'onyerleft' every now and then.

But the guy pulls up behind the other pair of riders. There are a few others coming in the opposite direction so we slow to avoid a dangerous situation. But the guy blows around the pair of riders in a rather idiotic manner. Sure, the guy is an idiot and what he did was stupid. Just then we pull up on the pair of riders. Right as I'm about to say 'onyerleft', the lady start shouting bigtime! "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO RIDE GODDAMMIT! YOUR PROBLEM IS YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH GODDAMMIT! I SHOULD HAVE STUCK MY LEG OUT AND KICKED YOUR BIKE GODDAMMIT! LEARN ENGLISH GODDAMMIT!"

I couldn't help it! As I rode by , I looked at her and said, "Those Goddamm Mexicans!". She just looked at me in shock and the tri guy sort of giggled.

Later at the beachstop the tri guy shows up so we begin to talk. Turns out to be a nice guy so we have a few laughs then he says he can't believe that lady went all racial on the guy! Yeah, the guy was an idiot, but did he deserve the racial stuff? Now everytime I see a sweet old lady with a helmet mirror, I'm gonna wonder if she has plans to yell at me when I ride by!

Surferbruce

people are dumb.

urbanknight

Sounds like something my mom would have done. I don't think of her as a racist, and she generally treats everyone with the utmost of respect regardless of race. However, cut her off in a car and her southern upbringing comes out of nowhere with an onslaught of discriminating remarks.

Tumbleweed

Prejudiced.

cjbruin

Geez Beanz, lighten up. It's not like she called him a "wet back"...or a "Beaner"

Mr. Beanz

No, but she called me a "Taco Bender"!........................No, I'm not upset at all, just shocked and actually think it's funny that she would go there!

big john

I heard that one when I was a kid, rarely hear it these days. I actually enjoy bending a taco or two myself.

cjbruin

The first time I heard that one was when Cartman yelled it at Cesar Milan. Served him right for withholding the KFC.

alicestrong

Were you riding with your bars turned upside down again?

v6v6v6

John R

I ride the SART every day to work, at night when I return home around 7 pm the trail is crowded with families walking, with kids, dogs. They are clueless to cyclist. It's easy to get mad when the step in front of you, but you have to remember they are out enjoying the trail like everyone else. Plus, they outnumber me. So I nod and smile at them as I go by....

SunFlower

what was the racist part ? did she call him a racist name ? is it possible he didnt say anything because he didnt speak english ? asking someone to speak english in america isnt racist. in fact, its often a safety issue like the one you just described. just yesterday i yelled the same thing at some russians. then i yelled it at some germans. then i yelled it at some french. none of them spoke english. good thing i am not black because i would have been called a racist ?

Rick@OCRR

Apparently, not speaking English (or American in this case) was the racist comment. Not what I would call racist either since language is not ethnically linked, and esp. in a mixed society like the U.S.

My favorite comment was from an old guy who didn't like racing cyclists, but was way into bike touring. His comment "I'm a tourist, not a racist!" led me to think he could use some study of the English (or American) language as well.

Either way, though, it's another chapter in the "Mr. Beanz on the SART Adventure!"

Rick / OCRR

jomalley

Moral of the story: not speaking english makes you ride faster and increases your hematocrit.

CritEastwood

I'm commuting on that path around that time and can't wait for Daylight Savings Time to end again. At least once a week I yell at some fools pull their heads out of their butts for walking 4 abreast or not containing their rugrats. Their enjoyment does not include entitlement to act like a moron and endanger or take away from the enjoyment of others.

Eric Anderson

I ride the SART most evenings from mile 19 to the beach and back on my recumbent. I often have to almost stop before the groups of people realize that they are blocking the path and move out of the way. I usually say "Thank You", and move on down the road. I like to ride fast; but I'm not in a hurry.

It does bother me sometimes that "these people" (meaning pedestrians) are allowed to walk on MY BIKE PATH. I'm equally sure that it bothers many of them that I am allowed to ride my bike on THEIR SIDEWALK.

One night last week I picked up a tow on the way back from the beach. With the usual tailwind we were rolling pretty fast. The guy behind me would yell at the top of his lungs at whoever we were coming up on, whether other bikes or walkers. When we got to mile 10 around the golf course there were the usual groups of families out for their evening walk. My follower yelled "MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT, MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT." It actually worked pretty well, although I would never do it.

From the language angle: in that neighborhood, judging from the conversations I have heard while passing, whatever he yelled should have included the word "direcha."

CritEastwood

So, you're one of the couch pilots I see out there.

Eric Anderson

I've been known to yell "lawn chair on your left."

CritEastwood

How about "Hatteras Hammock"?

At least you have a sense of humor about it.

Placid Casual

I don't know. Would you have even heard it above all the yelling?

Mr. Beanz

Be silly! You know if you saw a white flesh colored person on a bike, you'd assume that he spoke English and wouldn't yell the same thing!

I guess it's different being raised in the real world rather than Disneyland!

Oh yeah, and the doctor that injured the 2 cyclists, that had nothing to do with being cyclists. It was an accident!