Karma? Bah! Humbug!!!
 

About a week ago I passed a salmon ninja who was of course, being a salmon riding across fom me on the other side of the road. He was SUCH a Ninja that he apparently had NO reflectors and was COMPLETELY dressed in black. The only reason I saw him was that he momentarily silhouetted a driveway entry light. As I passed him, I told him he was invisible and must be "tired of living." Like all Ninjas, he was silent too.

One night later while driving with multiple lights, some jerk in a pick-up trick screamed at me in a roundabout even though I wasn't blocking him. One dark morning after that, while I was riding on the shoulder (WITH LIGHTS as always) some jerk gave me a long blast of the horn as he flew past. And a coupla nights later I got te same treatment at night. LAST NIGHT, A girl about 21 yrs old right hooked me into the curb as she entered her fitness club. I gave her some $hit and SHOWED her my tail light. "How could you NOT SEE this?" I asked. She appologized and I went on.

Where is the F___ING KARMA!!!???? HOW COME ninjas ALMOST NEVER get harrassed, hooked or injured. I've seen QUITE a few of 'em in my day and NONE other than one idiot teenager who fell OFF his bike (with no help) has ever has a consequence??? And even THAT wasn't as a result of the ninja mentality.

RANT OVER! VENTING COMPLETE!!! We now return you to our regular programing.

hihi! Great Rant Fred! :beer:

Well, for the question why Ninja's don't get harrassed, the answer seems to be, because you can't see them.

But I understand the sentiment. I see sooo many ninjas around here, people without lights. One time I was actually passed by some guy in all black/no lights/black bike. I caught up with him and some Japanese tourists coming out of an alley didn't see him and most have clipped him. In addition to the Ninja thing, I don't get why he was riding so fast, give people at least a little chance to see you. Obviously slowing down would have probably avoided the crash all togehter, or at least lessen the impact. I almost felt sorry for the tourists, what a way to spoil your vacation. I don't know about injuries, but it always suprised me how few deaths we have compared to the large number of riders without lights.

Oh, but Karma there is, my friend.... You're just not there when Karma catches up with those people. All bike accidents in city traffic that I was ever aware of or even witnessed involved idiots on bikes breaking the rules or taking their chances.

As I was reading this I was thinking, "guy harasses a fellow cyclist and bad things start happening, yup that is karma for you" .

Then I see you are wondering where the karma is. It is staring you right in the face.

Paul

I want to see BONE and brain tissue!!!! Ooops, I forgot. These folks are nobility: Baron of Grey Matter.

Then I hope YOU harrass HIM by crashing headlong into him some moonless night! :D Just kidding!
Besides I wasn't HARASSING him> I was WARNING him he was INVISIBLE!

I appreciate your good intentions. Telling someone they are "tired of living" may not be the best way to convey your message.

Fortunately I've never encountered a ninja salmon on my route.

Paul

... that you knew about... :ride:

Such is the price we pay for being visible. If they are yelling or honking at you then they are aware of your presence. For better or for worse.

Otherwise, I'm with Adam. The bad thing about karma is we are not around to see it happen.

I try not to be the nanny out on the road, as tempting as it is sometimes. In my experience, no good comes of it.

I used to ride down a freeway access road as part of my commute (kind of a pain right now due to construction). Anyway, just about every morning, a middle-aged woman would be ninja-salmoning up as I came down the road. The first few times it was really unnerving. I wanted to say something but literally didn't see her until the last minute. Finally it got to the point where I pretty much knew when to expect her and would just wave and smile.

There are so many carless immigrants around here, and they seem to most often ride their X-Mart BSOs on the sidewalk on the left side of the street. I'm not gonna change them. I just go with it.

They do get their Karma. It's not pleasant when they are hit and killed. It happened this morning in Louisville. I don't think this one was a salmon, just a ninja.

Good point!

http://www.courier-journal.com/artic...rne+identified

http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/Bicyc...108837549.html

I agree with dcrowell, Karma can have a heavy price.

Demanding retribution for something that did you no harm doesn't seem like a way to gain positive karma. Maybe you're just being sarcastic but that rant sounds pretty ornery.

Yep, that has been my experience as well.

How often do you get harassed, percentage-wise? Maybe sub 10% of your riding time? What are the chances you would see a ninja getting harassed in that short period it happens in?

Grow up.

Such hostility. Were YOU the ninja?