I think that's a good idea. I have often felt that there is a real
"body language" problem (I'm not enamored of the phrase, but it's the
best I can come up with at the moment) among supposedly-typical
cyclists who are experienced, fast, and decked out in the latest high
tech latex and carbon fiber. Blowing by a casual cyclist at 18 mph
with the dark shades and serious look on your face sometimes carries
with it a feeling of superiority/inferiority that is usually
unintended. I do this myself, so I'm not trying to point fingers.
It's just that I always enjoy polite smiles, hello's, eye contact,
and head-nods when they do happen. And I think that would be
especially true if you are feeling awkward and out of your league on
a bicycle to begin with.
When I was growing up in Memphis, cyclists were rare, and so anytime
you saw anyone on a bicycle, you said hello. There was a feeling of
solidarity almost. Here, there are so many cyclists, it has ceased to
be a special occasion to pass another cyclist. It would be a good
thing, I think, to try to make cycling feel more like more of a
community here. That's one of the advantages of riding a bike, right--
being able to share a conversation and a smile with the rest of the
"traffic."
Anyhoo.... Maybe I should break out my helmet-mounted propeller again
so I'll stop taking myself so seriously.
Peter
On Apr 9, 2008, at 3:54 PM, Eric Westhagen wrote:
Dear Group,
I would venture that many more times fat people ride "stationary
bikes"
and even motorized "stationary bikes" than they do ride bicycles on
the
roadway. And they receive a good part of the benefit they might
get on
the roadway.
For the obvious reasons which have been given on this site, they
stay at
home and ride these contrivances in private. And this exchange has
pointed to the structural problems of bicycle equipment constructions,
the personal physical constraints and even possible age related
liabilities. But, maybe there should be a campaign to get the
"inside"
bicycle riders to venture outside?
Eric Westhagen
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