skinnyone

Yup happened to me once... We were on a group ride when a 3 teens were mandering around theier BMXs on the wrong side of a back road... I promptly yelled watch it.. and couple of them aplogized while the 3rd tried to recover and crack a wiseass comment.. We were going fast enough that we couldnt hear what he said...

krazyderek

talking with the balls they think they have... standard teenager "i own the world, bow down to me" bull****... thankfully my transition thru this stage was a bit more mature most of the time...

Warblade

Last time that happened to me, I gave them the one fingered salute!

Retro Grouch 

I think so too. I drive a school bus so I feel like I've got some experience dealing with high school aged people. I might carry three times as many students as ae in a typical teacher's class and I'm faceing the wrong way so that I can drive the bus. I'd have asked them if it was a cross country team or what. Once you get them talking with you, the rest is easy.

I'm often surprised at the amount of fear that some people express on these boards. I think that worrying about 30 high school kids just because they're in a group is on excessive side but not nearly as paranoid as the guys who feel like they have to carry a pistol with them when they ride.

chipcom 

So multi-use means no bicycles? I think not. These paths are made to be shared, if they are not it is usually clearly signed. (you know, the little bike with the circle and the slash). The great thing about a bike, as compared to a motor vehicle is that you can travel on many different types of routes.

As far as the speed goes, common sense is all that is required - you ride as the conditions allow.

chipcom 

I've ridden the same route, usually to Bolivar and back...in fact just got back from doing so this morning. There are plenty of stretches where you can cruise at 20+, depending upon traffic, but yes, for the most part it's nice to do 12-18 and just enjoy the scenery. When I feel the need for speed, the road is my huckleberry. ;-)

chipcom 

Shake it off with a smile or a witty retort like 'nice legs, I thought you were girls for a minute there'. Kids will be kids, nothing to get upset over....though I do tend to get irked by their inability to yield to the right...but again, they're just kids. Like we were angels at that age? ;-)

chipcom 

F_ing can't win - you ride on the path people think you should be on the road, you ride on the road they think you should ride on the path. Maybe we need to fit up some wings and have pedal-powered aircraft - but then the airlines and the military would give us hell.

gcasillo

Jogging/walking trail = lowest common denominator. If you're going to be a roadie, be a roadie.

georgiaboy

"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, LANCE ARMSTRONG NEEDS TO GET BY!"

Even though the comment smacks of ridicule at the same time he was in a limited way trying to help you by informing the others you were coming through. IMO opinion what was said while not being overly hospitable at the same time was not vulgar or obscene. I say cut the kids some slack.

I remember when I was a teenager I said some really stupid stuff mostly because I was trying to fit in somehow. I was not clear sometimes of how to speak or act and tended to find out by trial and error. This meant saying some stupid things along the way. In fact I still say stupid things from time to time I just do it less frequently now.

55/Rad

When I lived in LA, the common response was to pull out our 9mm and shoot a couple of them. But not until we were past and looking back.

Wink wink to you people who don't see the attempt at humor.

There are many reasons MOST of us stick to the roads and avoid MUP's. This is only one of them.

55/Rad

JoMo

I was riding the path in our town once and came across a bunch of teens sitting on there mountain bikes, I was on my road bike. One of them, trying to be funny said hay Lance ride a wheely. I flipped him the bird and said hay ride this, They all laughed. Now when I see them they are cool, We get along fine.

rufvelo

Very accurate and well described. Also, most adults since the 50s, have gone thru a similar period displaying varying degrees of teen daftness. The difference today being a culture obsessed with youth, favouring youth, to the detriment of their long term well-being. Unfortunately we probably don't explain to them loudly and clearly enough so as to get thru, that somewhere in the world a similar group of teens is slogging thru competitive examinations towards their engineering or medical degrees. They may not be technically more street smart or even 'mature', but they have no time for this sort of coming of age rebellion. This is the competition and the long term prospects are bleak indeed for these youth in the global economic scenario.

rosem

I swear road bikers can be the biggest bunch of whiners ever...

CPcyclist

To the lance Comment say "thanks, I hope to make the tour next year"

As for going fast on MUP's IMHO you should not be going faster then 15mph. I see MUP's as more of a family cycling thing.

Teens make some of those wise crack out of fear as much as a lack of self control. Sorry a guy like you get lumped in to a group like this when we generalize DTrain, you seem wise beyond your years. Just don't let your wiseness crack.

rufvelo

I agree completely. I use the train for mileage when I often do several hours at 15-16mph, often a century. It's just too dangerous for all concerned, especially with kids, dogs, strollers, seniors.

The other day one serious looking dude in pro gear (acc to his shirt, in the employ of ONCE) braked hard but still hit a kid with his parents. Then began the arguements about who was in the correct lane etc. which if you seriously injure someone is pointless and will go against you especially with the 15mph signs often posted all over.

Hard training can only realistically be accomplished in a group of similar ability and on the main roads.

nova

Yeh when im on the tow path i make a day of it. Some times i just do 12 or so on it some times 20 to 40. When i ride it im not there to set any speed records personal or other wise. Tons of good roads to ride on for speed. I like riding silver creeks roads coming down the grade 6 avarage hill from medina line in silver creek gives you most of your speed to just well coast up the other hill to the hamtown entrance road. Just curious where about s you live in ne ohio? Im on rockcut off jhonson road my self. I can look out our front windows and see lucas nuseries main sign on melrose. Im always looking for some one to ride with on the canal or silver creek or up hametown towards the stone jail and down towards grill road. Its a great area to ridegood rolling hills that are just a total blast to ride on. Im not a fast rider and get dropped fairly easy. (only been ridign again for a little more than a month) But ive done 40 + on the towpath at least 3 times a month. Mostly dont do more cause well it gets boring riding solo on the tow path for any period of time.Navare defeently doable for me possibly down to bolivar.

Maceman

I get that stuff all the time in this yuppie town I live in. I love riding so much when it happens it rolls right off my back....plus it's not like they can chase you

baj32161

Where have I heard THIS before?!?!

baj32161

I hate to admit it, being a roadie, but you are right about this.

Aus_MTB

I wouldnt necessarily take the nice helmet comment as a sarcastic comment (it could have been) but perhaps if they were joggers they also rode. I am only 18 but i have often been waiting at traffic lights and a cyclist has pulled up at the lights and just chatted to them until the lights go green... But that could also be because i ride as well and they could tell i wasnt being sarcastic

nova

Yeh but with good reason. We are some of the most harrassed riders out there. We ride the trails and get screamed at ride the roads and get harrassed by motorists.

rosem

I know, I am too - but people really need to learn to chill and just be happy they are out riding...

redfooj

wha wha wha someone drafted me and didnt ask!

wha wha wha someone passed me without notifying!

wha wha wha someone rode on the opposite side of the street and didnt wave! ...etc etc etc...

chipcom 

I live over in Stow, near Kent off of 59. My GF lives right next to silver creek metropark off of hametown. I have ridden those roads often (if you want to suffer, try the hills of Wall road), as well as that leg of the towpath. We also ride the roads in my area a lot, as well as the towpath between Akron and Cleveland and the Summit Bike/Hike trail. This year's STOMP was her first metric century, she finished but hurt her knee on some of the late climbs. She still managed to finish the HHH century the following week, under 6 hours too boot. She only started serious cycling in July....I am so frigging proud of her.

Riding to Navarre or Bolivar from Center Rd. is doable for you, the hard part is getting through the detours in Massillon. You actually need to take the road for a few miles to get into Bolivar itself...but it is a nice ride and the little traffic there is is friendly. We often ride down from her house to the towpath at Center Rd then down the towpath to either Bolivar or Navvare, have lunch and look at shops (she looks, I just kinda tag along), then ride home, about 83 miles round trip. I will be glad when the section of the towpath from Center Rd north to Akron is complete, not to mention when the whole darn thing is done down to Marietta. Don't get me wrong, I love riding on the road, but the towpath is better suited for a nice relaxing ride and a change of pace...other than some of the kids, (way to stick to topic, eh?) and poseurs.

Actually I have a theory why so many poseurs - decked out like Lance himself on fancy road bikes, race their butts down the towpath. I think they think they can impress and pick up girls! My theory was bolstered today as we had lunch at the Century in Canal Fulton, that overlooks the towpath. I saw the same guys going back and forth dozens of times in the space of an hour. Trolling for chicks?

I have ridden the towpath (and area roads) solo for years, and still do. I never get bored, it's relaxation to me. Admittedly, it is nice to have a GF who rides now too, but I still like to go out alone just as much - something about only having to look out for myself and not having to engage in conversation or share my thoughts. Of course up north in the Peninsula area you have plenty of people using the trails to keep you on your toes. Sometimes I think that area is more dangerous on a summer weekend than any road!