Heathen power!

I took the family to ride to the MUP today. 13 miles and at one end is a grocery store. We decided to grab a slice of pizza there. After finishing our lunch, we have to walk our bikes from the outdoor table area, down a stretch of sidewalk, store on the left, parking lot on the right. It is a bit tight and busy.

A couple,in full kit, come riding at speed off of the path right on to the sidewalk. I am watching the whole thing from about 25 yards back. My daughter, who is 8, is in front walking her bike toward them. They refuse to dismount, slow marginally and keep coming right toward her. She gets scared, tries to move out of the way and knocks and errant grocery cart into a parking space, just as a a car is pulling in. Guy on the bike Yells "whoa!!" finally dismounts, cars screeches to a halt, driver looks angrily at her, as if it is her fault.

My wife, who is ahead of me, moves the cart and the guy says "who put that cart there?" completely oblivious to the situation he just created. I tell him that you are supposed to walk your bike off the path and he says "Yup" and gets back on his bike to ride the next 15 yards to the table area. I think there are a fair number of people out there who are so self-absorbed (car/bike/walking, etc) they don't even see you, let alone stop to think to ask if you may need help.

What's the deal with that? I've noticed no difference in my ability to no-hand or one-hand with Ergos, compared to other types of levers. There's always a risk in braking response if your hands aren't near the levers but it's no worse with brifters or Ergos that it was with aero levers, turkey-legs, or early drop levers.

I think she's talking about newer riders who've never known anything else.

I think it's just you.

Not at all surprising it took you this long. Let me know if you need to be spoon fed some more.

Your welcome.

That should be 'you're welcome'.

That, and I don't think she meant while braking, but ANYTIME.

I've noticed a lot more people riding- not so much this year- but in the past few years, a lot more people on the paths. I haven't noticed a higher percentage being rude or unfriendly.

I've also noticed that there's a lot of old bikes with non-aero brake cables and or bikes with old bags- I still see a lot of variations of the Cannondale handlebar bags.

True, assuming she saw me stop; but I don't make that assumption.

We did that in the early 80's when Lycra shorts were new but synthetic jerseys weren't yet common.

And no, it's not just me, it's just I.

You may have a point there. I once stopped in Long Beach, Mississippi, to get out and push a car over to a gas station. The others in my car never even got out. I got back in and said "that was fun." They just looked at each other as if I'd just arrived from Mars.

If I saw iab stopped, or another bike/rider like him, I'd stop.
Then I could talk to him while he fixed my bike, too.

There are more in the early season, and more in the shower at work!

I try not to judge rude or not, with the exception of bad behavior. WRT stopped cyclists, I size up the situation they are in while approaching. If they look like they might want help, I'll ask. If they look like they know what they are doing and in the middle of it, I don't interrupt.

WRT clothing. Its my business and not anyone else's. What I wear is for me not for others to notice. Same goes for my bikes, well mostly. I would rather someone notice my bike than what I wear. Now what would be worth noticing is Lycra/Wool and an old rusty-just-pulled-from-the-shed Firestone balloon tire bike!

I stopped in that little thrift shop west of downtown Waukesha a few months back. They had a CL ad that looked like they had Cannondale bags, but those were gone.
They had other cycling stuff in there that might make it worthwhile.

Oooh, which shop?

There's a few around town-