New to this particular thread, but yesterday was a little more eventful than usual, so...
Riding home was a complete mess due to the UN General Assembly closing a lot of streets on the east side, and cutting right into my route to the 59th street bridge. Waiting at a light with a few other riders, some guy pulls up next to me and says, "Hey, Lotus."
Now, as a NY'er, I generally don't talk to strangers. But when I looked at him he immediately asked what year my bike was, so I figured he was 'Ok.' Then I glanced down and saw that he was also riding a vintage Lotus, so we exchanged a few more words and it was a pleasant interaction.
Fast forward and I finally get to the bridge, only to wind up with some serious dude in front of me (carbon bike, full gear, basically race ready). Well, I started my climb in my usual gear and usual cadence, and I guess he didn't like the fact that this carried me past him pretty briskly (I could hear him banging on his brifters a second after I went by). Fast forward a little more, and Mr. Hardcore can't manage to get past the guy on the 1986 Lotus riding with tennis shoes, soccer shorts, a t-shirt and a backpack caring work clothes, a lock... until the point where the path starts to level off and he begins drafting me into what must have been at least a 15-20 mile head wind.
As we reach the point of decent, I give a little signal as if to say, "better luck next time, and thanks for being a weenie." His reaction was to pull out and commence riding like a maniac down the other side of the bridge, which is replete with slower riders, people walking, people walking their bikes, people walking their dogs, people taking pictures... So at the traffic light after the bridge I let him know that the daredevil routine was neither impressive nor redemptive, at which point he went through the light to try and get away, while I laughed and turned toward my rout when the light changed. So a special shout out to Mr. Try Hard out there.
Originally Posted by
noglider
We should all just run our headlights all the time. That's what I do. I don't have to ask myself if the conditions merit doing so.
Can I ask what kind of lights you prefer? Regular battery powered or rechargeable?