Do you like talking on the road or not?

[li10up]

I'm not much of a talker on the bike... or off if, for that matter, if the other person can't help carry the conversation. I ride with a super nice guy that talks nearly non-stop. It helps to take your mind off of the pain if it's a tough ride. He makes fun of me if I don't at least grunt at him every now and then. I don't mind conversation on the bike if they are still paying attention and pointing out hazards. I usually just listen in though.

[10ch]

If I'm riding solo, I often talk to myself.

If I'm riding with friends on a MUP or country road w/zero traffic, I'm a total talker.

If I'm riding in traffic or on single track, I'm too focused for conversation and often annoyed when people get chatty.

[mimitabby]

I like to talk and listen too. It does make the time go faster. Of course, on the harder parts, i can get out monosyllables! but there are lots of other times where I have enough steam to ask and answer questions.

[roguedog]

I really like social rides but now that you've made me think about it... I think I like talk on the flats if there's room. Once we hit a hill, I gotta focus.

[mimitabby]

you gotta focus or you gotta breathe?

[SheFly]

you gotta focus or you gotta breathe?

Can't talk - breathing!

[run it, ride it]

I love talking on the long, flat low-traffic parts. My excercise-induced asthma is such that the relaxation of talking to someone does wonders to control my breathing and relax me before a hill. That said, I often get worked into a wheeze-fit such that my only communications involve nodding and thumbs up when worried co-riders ask, "are you okay?!"

Mountain-biking is a different story--I'm usually concentrating too hard on the singletrack to chat. However, I do narrate my ride with little yips and curses as I go over the unexpected or tricky bits. I also like a few wild, "WOOOOO!"s down big hills, and more than once I've let out a bewildered "HOW AM I STILL ALIVE?!"s after a particularly interesting obstacle.

[10ch]

...I also like a few wild, "WOOOOO!"s down big hills...

I'm more of a WEEEEE girl, myself.

[makbike]

I'm not a talker simply because I'm extremely shy. My lack of talking has somehow resulted in me being labeled "intense" and "standoffish". The intense label is true, I can't deny it but the "standoffish" label is so far from the truth. I do listen for I enjoy hearing the tales of others.

[roguedog]

you gotta focus or you gotta breathe?

pppppphttttt

Hey, were you ridign the cindy with me?? or did you just hear me all the way up there :PP

We need more smileys!

[run it, ride it]

Oh goodness... I talk to animals, too. 'Specially when I'm running. I try to convince the geese they should be more scared of me than I am of them (ha!), and there are these two horses in a paddock on a back road who ALWAYS spook when I run/cycle by, so I try to shout up to them before I turn the corner so they don't bonk their poor heads on their feeder!

[Thorn]

I used to talk to animals and then....we were hiking in England where the walking paths often pass through pasture land. We walked through the gate and down the path, cattle on both sides of the path. Being the animal chatterer, as we passed them, I talked to them saying stupid things like, "Don't mind us, we're vegetarian." "Nice day, isn't it?" etc. etc.

After about 100 yards of that, DH said, "uh....we're being followed." Sure enough, several of the cattle were now following us down the path. We kept walking and I kept talking, now, more out of nerves than just animal chattering.

The longer we walked the more cattle followed us. We stopped to chat with 2 guys and one of the cows came up behind me and nudged me along. It was getting a bit unsettling and the guys were very nervous as well. By the time we'd reached the end of the pasture, we couldn't get over the stile to get out of the area because the cattle were blocking it (http://www.cassandrathorn.com/images...WayGroup_P.JPG) We hopped a barbed wire fence.

Later, this city girl learned that cattle like to be talked to and will follow anyone who chatters with them. I've learned my lesson....no talking to the animals unless there is a fence between them and me.

Hmmm...maybe that's why I bike more now....the animals can't follow me?

[RoadRaven]

I ride with a super nice guy that talks nearly non-stop. It helps to take your mind off of the pain if it's a tough ride.

This made me think of my partner... he does this, intentionally I think... just chats beside me as I mash my painful way up a nasty hill... it takes my mind off the discomfort and I can maintain my rythym!