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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: '16 StumpJ, Salsa Mukluk, Soulcycles SS, Dean Colonel HT, BMC FourstrokeTrail, Dean Torres CX, Santana Visa Tandem, Trek T2000 Tandem, Cupertino MTB Tandem, FreeAgent26"Xtracycle, Dirt Drop Dingle, Jamis Dragon Dingle, Airborne Skyhag SS, SSDean Cols
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Hilarious!
I try not to use bike paths in my area because there are some riders who are obviously not okay with someone riding faster than them and for that reason they ride faster and pass on places that aren't safe for everyone including me, and the joggers, runners, strolling lovers, dog walkers, electric scooters and what have you out there.
However I am not above pushing the pace and rising to a challenge, and that is something I try hard to keep a lid on.
The other thing I commute on are multiuser bridge paths over freeways.
Last year on winter I had a terrible fright going around a bridge which I enclosed in cyclone fence on a corner just after dusk. I had lights blazing. I came around the corner on the right.
The fence, although open wire mesh, is at certain angles, like at this corner, quite opaque.
At probably 12mph just past half way around the 90° bend right, I suddenly saw a stroller in front of me, with a dad pushing it, and a small child walking next to it, all of us close to the same side, my side, the right side.
I basically braked hard, got as far back as I could and did a nose wheelie, and I remember I was certain it was going to hurt me too, as I would fly over the bars as soon as the front wheel made contact with the stroller.
Well the dad, short stocky man, put his hands out and pushed on my helmet like he was returning a spiked volleyball and saved us all.
It was a great save, and I was grateful!
He was hispanic and gave me a well deserved shellacking which began with something like, " why you ride so fast?"
I was sincerely sorry and gave him my number and told him to call me if he wanted me to pay for any damages or hurts.
Everyone seemed okay, by some miracle, his strong defensive reflex, and luck.
Okay, I didn't give him any crap about why was he walking his stroller on the wrong side of the path. Of course when there is an infant and children involved what could I say.
Needless to say, I ride slower there now.