So I had to take a couple of days off because I was going to pick up some of my Christmas stuff from my parents, and I needed my car for that. I still haven't gotten it yet. But I decided that today was a beautiful day to be out biking.
Rules learned from day 2 of biking:
1. Constant Vigilance!
pretty much the same as last time, make sure you know what everyone around you is doing. Today I successfully made a man on his cell phone feel bad because he was only looking one way to turn onto the road and not paying attention to what's going on in the other direction (where I happened to be.) By the time he noticed I was there I had already come to a complete stop about 3 feet away from his car and I was just looking at him waiting for him to notice I was there. I hope he remembers that there are people on sidewalks, many of them out walking and jogging.
2. Support the Girls!
This really only applies for females who are biking, but when you're going to work and you want to look your best, rethink changing at work. That awesome bra that makes everything look great and could possibly change the world, could also make you look very unprofessional and sloppy when you show up with the girls all over the place.
3. Focus!
This kind of ties into number 1. Don't be thinking about what stupid things you're going to be posting on your blog, or how you don't want to go see the doctor, or how funny your legs feel while riding... Focus on what is going on around you, if you let your mind wander you're susceptible to the going-ons of people who either don't know you're out there, or don't really care.
4. Watch out for your personal possessions.
Don't keep your cell phone in your back pocket, you don't want it falling out while you're crossing main street and watching it get crushed because you didn't watch where you put it. Also, don't keep your keys in you front pocket, it kinda hurts being poked in the thigh while peddling.
5. Don't judge other bicyclists.
I am kinda heavy, alright if you put my stats in the BMI, I'm obese. That doesn't mean I'm not trying, and it doesn't mean I have no right to bicycle my fat butt to work. I may not look as sleek as you do, and I may be wearing all the wrong clothes... but I'm doing this for my health and the environment... not to fit into some weird bicyclist click, but I'm not going to judge you for being apart of one.
6. Just because you're in a Prius, doesn't mean you're better than me.
I know we're both trying to help out the environment and save a bit of money on fuel prices. It's great that you can still cart around your kids and all your other awesome possessions. But that doesn't mean you should give me pity looks because I "couldn't afford a hybrid."
Sorry to the cool hybrid owners, and the other people who are awesome about bicyclists, I just hate getting weird looks from people who are driving.
Well, I think that's all the rules for today.
Remember, I am not a professional, in fact... I'm like the complete opposite. So take my rules as guidelines and do research from other sources. I'm just writing what I feel is important about bicycling.
No comments:
Post a Comment