Thread Drift

[Biciclista]

yes, you're right, except people were still posting, just not on this thread.

I was in the middle of a 68 mile ride on Saturday. We had come down a hill, about 25-35 mph on the tandem and slowed so that we could turn left.
There was a lady waiting to cross our street (in a car) on the street that we were turning left on. She waited for us to turn in front of us, and as I waved, this 60 year old woman took her fingers to her head and made the "you're crazy" gesture. It really took the wind out of my sails for a bit.
there wasn't a lot of traffic, we were trying to be safe, and it was a lovely day. We were in South King county. Maybe that was the problem?

[Tuckervill]

Oh, maybe she was being facetious. Or maybe she's a horrible curmudgeon. Either way, her opinion is worthless!

Karen

[NbyNW]

. . . this 60 year old woman took her fingers to her head and made the "you're crazy" gesture. It really took the wind out of my sails for a bit.

Don't let her get to you, Mimi! Thankfully, you will probably never see her again.

At least she's not a co-worker . . . or your boss!

[Zen]

as I waved, this 60 year old woman took her fingers to her head and made the "you're crazy" gesture.

How did you know her age?

CC, Many people in the DC area see the Rolling thunder cyclists as a PITA. I think only a small percentage of them have any connection to the Vietnam War and most use it as an excuse to party

[crazycanuck]

Zen, I didn't know that..interesting & sad.

I made it up Mount Street today sititng in my saddle I don't normally have info on the streets I cycle up but moons ago I asked the GIS dude at my former workplace for the info...

Length of Mount St – past bridge to top (cliff st): 280m
Height at bottom: 15m
Height at top: 50m
% Gradient = 35/280*100 = 12.5%
As Degrees slope: roughly: 7.125016348901798

Weeeeeee I could never get up it before without feeling like i was about to fall over etc. I'm so glad I got meself a compact double!

[Selkie]

CC - Actually, I live in Arlington -- where Rolling Thunder starts --- and I don't consider it a PITA. As a matter of fact, I like seeing/hearing the motorcycles roaring down Rt 66, which abuts my neighborhood, on the way to and from the start. Yes, many motorcyclists stay in hotels within a mile of my neighborhood and in the many years that I've lived there, we have never had an issue with Rolling Thunder participants. It's a mark of the start of summer for us.

I'm not going to cast aspersions on those who participate. As a matter of fact, I know several people who ride in it and while they are not Vietnam Vets, they are there to support all veterans and active duty military.

[crazycanuck]

Route 66..are there more than two in the US?

I missed the Rolling Thunder procession because the Washington YHA was booked out that weekend. I went to Antietam (sp..) instead.

[Fredwina]

Route 66..are there more than two in the US?

I missed the Rolling Thunder procession because the Washington YHA was booked out that weekend. I went to Antietam (sp..) instead.

I think the OP was referring to Interstate 66 which runs west from DC to Winchester (IIRRC) vs US rt 66 - (where one gets there kicks going from Chicago to LA)

[Selkie]

I think the OP was referring to Interstate 66 which runs west from DC to Winchester (IIRRC) vs US rt 66 - (where one gets there kicks going from Chicago to LA)

Correct, Fredwina! Not many get their kicks on Interstate 66 (especially those of us who must use it for our commute to work )

[Biciclista]

How did you know her age?

CC, Many people in the DC area see the Rolling thunder cyclists as a PITA. I think only a small percentage of them have any connection to the Vietnam War and most use it as an excuse to party

sigh, Zen, it was an approximate age.
she could have been 65 or 72

more to the point, she was just a little older than me.

and you're right,Jocelyn, i will never see her again, but that part of the county continues to give me bad vibes and that incident did not help.

[NbyNW]

. . . but that part of the county continues to give me bad vibes and that incident did not help.

Can you tell me roughly where, so I know to avoid?

[Biciclista]

Can you tell me roughly where, so I know to avoid?

south King county; Kent, Federal Way, Auburn. where MaryQFC was hit.

[MM_QFC!]

south King county; Kent, Federal Way, Auburn. where MaryQFC was hit.

yep, same here, Mimi and Jocelyn...while I have been back out on the trail (Linda and I, just last weekend, rode from South Park to the site in Auburn where we were hit)...and a bit on the road, I have not done some of my[former] favorite routes - through Kent out to Flaming Geyser or Auburn to Black Diamond (with mandatory bakery stop!)...am still kinda scared and am not going to push myself to ride down there again, while I still feel like this.
To note: I was hit (mowed down is a more accurate description) while in a painted crosswalk, with lots of signage for traffic approaching in all directions - whew!
Even when you, Salsabike and I rode on the Centennial trail recently, I noticed that I was still kinda "hinky" (technical term there, = shaky) on getting back up to where I was previously with bike handling, traffic crossings and the like.
It is all part of the crash and injuries experience, including aftermath, I guess...understandable and part of what I'm easing myself through, without pushing too fast.

[salsabike]

Hi, girls.

Just thought I'd say.