Good ride w/short rant!

[margo49]

... Shheeesh, I've been riding bike way before some of these boys were even born...
meow meow
Smilingcat

Yeah, I feel like that too.
Some pathetic college student a few years ago asked me why I was wearing a helmet and gloves. So I said "I don't want to end up a vegetable". Then he started to assume I was some kind of wimp. So I let him have it; My entire international, touring, messengering and general riding history!

I usually say "Everything alright?" and then if so follow up with some vague conversation about it being a "great day for it". Met some nice people with that one.

[Veronica]

He didn't say anything. Just kind of looked at me funny. My husband said, "Nature break Veronica."

I do wish guys would be more discreet about it.

V.

[IFjane]

Me too.....but on the other hand, I wish we ladies had some way to relieve ourselves a bit easier than we do.

Yesterday at the final stage of the Tour of Virginia, the guys had to go behind the dumpsters to relieve themselves before the start. There were NO BATHROOMS available for either gender. Poor planning.....

[Fredwina]

I'll agree with everyone else here - it's hard to draw a line between encouragement and condescension.
I'm also on the plus side of size. I remember doing Crusin The Conejo last year and coming up a hill - I noticed several people were walking their bikes. I made it on the bike and several people said "good job". I guess why it's stuck with me was that it was an "easy" hill compared to what we had just done. I think most of the walkers were doing a metric route.
I always ask stopped biker "Do you need anything?" wound up rescueing some folks as well as being rescued myself.
Deanna, I get a lot of the "good for you" as well. not a lot of women are will to do solo long distance rides - Did I mention I was the Female on a single bike at my last two brevets?

[bcipam]

Hey Biker... I'm sortof with you on the passing thing... I started this hilltraining class Tuesday nights. I ride with two buddies. We are the slowest in class (and the oldest and heaviest - especially me!). We start 15 minutes earlier than anyone and eventualy the crew catches up with us on a long, steep climb and passes all saying things like "Looking good" [no I don't My cheeks are bright red, I'm a sweat ball and I look like hell warmed over!], "Just alittle further to the top!" [like i need to know - sides' been up this road before - I know you are lying!], "Great job" [yeah for an old, fat lady I guess], "Way to hang in there!" [like you are surprised I didnt quit on the last hill]. And nothing worse than I'm counting the tire rotation just hoping to reach the top someday... and two people come flying by carrying on a conversation. A conversation! I'm just having trouble taking in a breathe much less talking. Or the nice person who comes by and starts to engage you in conversation... all I can do is grunt in response. Yeah that's attractive!

Anyway it used to bother me but know I figure hey it's my ride, I'm enjoying it, and I figure they all mean well so OK "Thank's for the encouragment. now move along and let me suffer in peace..."

BTW I always ask anyone stopped along the road if they need anything (not are you OK, or need help). I figure that's just polite. If they do need help they can say so, if not, I did good by asking. And I have stopped and helped out men as much as I helped out women. I do have one good skill - I can change a flat in less than 5 minutes. Had lots of practice!

[li10up]

I was told by some experienced riders that you are supposed to say something as you go by someone so they don't think you are showing off or trying to "one-up" them. It still irks me a bit but now I look at it is as them trying to offer encouragement or be polite. Still, if it's a tour or big organized ride everyone should expect to pass and be passed so I don't think anything needs to be said unless you think the person needs help.

[Trekhawk]

He didn't say anything. Just kind of looked at me funny. My husband said, "Nature break Veronica."

I do wish guys would be more discreet about it.

V.

LOL V you crack me up. On the Party Pardee ride I saw a bike by the side of the road near a drop off and thought oh my where is the rider so I slow down and strain to see down the drop off to make sure the rider is not hurt and yep stupid me of course he is just peeing. I was so happy he didn't see me peering over the edge at him.

I always ask people that are stopped if they need anything. I sure as hell would like someone to stop for me if I needed help. I don't see many cyclists around my place but the few times I have (always blokes) they have said supportive stuff. I dont take it as an insult I just think they really are impressed that some women dont freak about doing stuff on their own.

[Cindyloo]

Most of the time when I am riding (particularly in warm weather) my face turns really red . I'm usually doing quite fine, but look like my head is going to pop (no high blood pressure). People will ask if I'm OK and I just explain that my face just turns red, but that I'm fine. It does get old but now I just expect it. Shortly after I stop riding my face quickly turns to its normal color !

Just saying I know kind of what you are going through. I will usually ask women if they are stopped and look like they have mechanical trouble but I'm skeered to stop and ask men particularly if I am solo (no offense Mr. Silver!).

[trekin']

Bikerhen, I can chuckle about this now...but it's the opposite of your story...

A couple of years ago I was riding through a neighborhood on my way to my daily loop when I slipped on some sand and hit a car. I was OK (the poor woman I hit was scared to death!), but was pretty badly scraped. After I convinced her I wasn't going to die or sue her, she left. I called my DH because I was starting to bleed and I didn't want to ride the 2 miles home if I didn't have to. As I waited on the corner, bloody and banged up, no less than 3 women and 2 men walked by. Not one of them asked if I was OK or even said hello!

I still wonder if I was 25, instead of 50, 120 lbs. instead of 165 lbs., blonde hair instead of gray, would someone have stopped and asked me if I needed help? Of course, these people were not bikers, so that must explain it!

[tprevost]

Seems like the subject of the rant has pretty much been covered....

just wanted to say that I'm really glad you had such a great ride BikerHen!!!! I love it when things come together and it sure sounds like it was your day

AND, when are you coming back to Cali for another visit???

[bikerHen]

Gee, I go for a bike ride and then a meeting and come back to all this. Wow! Thanks for all the input. I agree with what was said about checking on someone stopped by the side of the road. What got me about the gal that stopped was that she actually stop! Her attitude was like I WAS lying in the road taking my last breath.

Anyway, I was nice and polite to every call I got and I did try a little conversation with my well wishers on the hills, but they were all going too fast.

I just want to be a person riding a bike like everyone else! I'm sure no harm was intended yesterday. But as many of you have said, you need to choose your words wisely . . . and I guess that's the point I wanted to make.

And I guess I'm a little touchy right now. Spring is in the air and all the idiots who like to yell at bikers are out in full force. I've gotten more than my fair share of them the last couple of weeks. I almost caught one at a stop light. That would have been sweet revenge! bikerHen