"Women who ride"... on the sidewalk...

[Trek420]

ummmmm how does one put a tennis ball on ones spokes and have it actually fit through the fork...... I don't think I have that kind of clearance on any of my bikes - not even my cross bike....

Ah, here is where I posted about "riders who put tennis balls in the spokes". So I saw one of these riders on the train this morning. Conversation went somethin' like this:

Trek: that's an interesting way to carry the tennis balls, do you play?
TBCR (tennis ball carrying rider): a little
Trek: don't you worry at all about throwing the spokes out of true or getting caught in the brake pads?
TBCR: no. I just do this as a conversation starter.

So far this non-scientific study shows these just to be a conversation starter. Maybe chicks dig 'em.

[GLC1968]

Ah, here is where I posted about "riders who put tennis balls in the spokes". So I saw one of these riders on the train this morning. Conversation went somethin' like this:

Trek: that's an interesting way to carry the tennis balls, do you play?
TBCR (tennis ball carrying rider): a little
Trek: don't you worry at all about throwing the spokes out of true or getting caught in the brake pads?
TBCR: no. I just do this as a conversation starter.

So far this non-scientific study shows these just to be a conversation starter. Maybe chicks dig 'em.

When we were kids, we put tennis balls in our spokes because it drove our dogs nuts trying to 'fetch' them. Of course, back then we also rode our bikes on the left, facing traffic because that's what we were told to do. And no one EVER wore a helmet. What did we know?!?

[Trek420]

When we were kids, we put tennis balls in our spokes because it drove our dogs nuts trying to 'fetch' them. Of course, back then we also rode our bikes on the left, facing traffic because that's what we were told to do. And no one EVER wore a helmet. What did we know?!?

and yet we survived to adulthood

[Spec&TrekGirl]

What a timely discussion...I'm going to a BikeLeague Road I class tomorrow.

I've recently gotten back into cycling after a break from my early 20's to my late 30's - not uncommon on this board it seems. The funny thing is, I remember having seen cyclists "control a lane" on several occasions while driving or riding in a car and thought they were absolutely nuts for being in the middle of traffic. But after reading the pre-class book and other online info about riding in traffic, I can completely understand the thinking behind it now. And it is a fact that we clearly saw those cyclists that I thought were "nuts" for getting right in the middle of the lane.

Funny how far a little education goes. Its not immediately intuitive, but it is totally logical that being assertive and acting like the vehicle you are will get you noticed more and keep you safer than hugging the curb where nobody is looking for opposing traffic.

Now, how do we tell all the people (like myself just weeks ago) called the same person "nuts" that I would now call a smart cyclist riding in traffic???

[Eden]

and yet we survived to adulthood

When I was a little one (I guess 2-4 ish - big enough to sit up on my own, but before I was big enough to ride a bike on my own) my dad used to ride me around in one of those rear mounted kiddie seats, of course without a helmet on my head..... you'd probably get arrested for doing something like that these days. I'm not even sure anyone even sells those kind of seats any more. I guess he never tipped over with me though.

[Trek420]

Arrested? Call Child Protective Services This was on a chicken farm so we weren't going very fast but when I was little the older neighbor kids would drive the old car we used to collect eggs in. This was a '50's car with those huge chrome bumpers we younger kids took turns riding seated on the rear bumper.

I think we knew enough not to sit on the front

It's a wonder I'm here today

[SouthernBelle]

It's a wonder I'm here today

I think if you don't have these thoughts as an adult, you didn't have a full childhood!

[alpinerabbit]

my dad used to ride me around in one of those rear mounted kiddie seats, of course without a helmet on my head..... you'd probably get arrested for doing something like that these days.

They are considered perfectly safe here - safety tests are done - lots of parents haul their kids with those - but with helmets.