Good ride w/short rant!

[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

[kjay]

You know, I have been riding for about ten years, am overweight, and in my 60s, so I actually appreciate the questions from those passing by, as one of these time I just may need the help. I am proud of what I've accomplished in spite of my age and weight, so I just keep on keepin on to get stronger, fitter, and thinner. I think it shows how compassionate and helpful many bikers can be, and it's great to see that.

[kjay]

Forgot to mention that I also ask men who are stopped if they're okay.
Why not? LOL

[DarcyInOregon]

It's like the lady I saw one day when I was out running. She asked if running was "helping". I was confused so I said "umm, I'm sorry. Helping?" and she said "You know. Helping to lose weight". My retort went something like this "I'm not training to lose weight. I'm training for an Ironman Triathlon. But yes, it does help to lose weight I suppose". She looked embarrased- as she should have been!! That's like asking a stranger when the baby is due!!!
Sigh.... I dunno. Just people not thinking before speaking I suppose?? - Or maybe I just have a complex. Living in the world of endurance athletes as a fat girl will certainly give one a complex!

Runningmommy, I looked at the photos you have posted, where you gave the link in your threads about your recent Ironman endeavors, and I can tell you I think you are an amazing looking woman. If anyone thinks otherwise, it is their problem for not understanding the physical and mental strength that is required to train for your sport, and be assured, you can out-swim them, out-run them, and out-cycle them. And on the inside, I bet you are healthier, with solid bones, superb muscle density, and with healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. In other words, you will never need to worry about getting osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.

I don't mean to side-track the thread. It is just that females with extra body fat can still be fit and healthy and do incredible things because it is about eating right, moving the body and burning the fat off in the middle. A person can be in the desired weight range, but eating the wrong stuff, sitting on the couch, have thin bones and soft muscles, and end up dead from heart disease in their 60s.

To get back on track, when I pass other cyclists I just say Hi or Nice bike or Beautiful day, no matter what sex or age the cyclist is, or what type of bike they are pedaling. When other cyclists pass me, it is mostly Like your bike or Hi or Doing good.

Darcy

[Duck on Wheels]

I think you just have to decide for yourself how you take those remarks. There's no time, as folks ride by, to ask how they were meant. Not really much point in speculating either. So I think you simply have to decide to take them all as well meant, though sometimes poorly thought out, and cheerfully call back stuff like "I'm fine, thanks!" or "You too!" or whatever fits with a positive interpretation of what was said. It'll make your day feel better, you can energize yourself with pride in being a good and cheerful rider, and if they did mean to be mean it might shame them.

[crazycanuck]

I normally say "Hey, everything cool" if i see someone stopped on the side of the path./road/trail.

I was about to ask a young lady if she was ok this evening as she was walking her bike but then realized she was on her cell phone...

As long as we're ok to stop or just ask folks if they're cool, then tis ok.

C

[Aint Doody]

I'd so much rather have somebody say [I]something [I]when they pass me than not say anything. I've warned some in our club that if they pass me without saying anything, they might end up wearing a "snot rocket!"