Random
thoughts occur on the bike, coming from snippets of conversations with fellow
riders. Like when I was riding with Jon recently for the first time and we
passed a sign in a wooded hilly rural area near his home. A sign on the
property facing the road said something to the effect of, “Better lives with
dental care.”
“That’s
where one of the oldest dentists in the area lives,” said Jon. “His son, also
a dentist, committed suicide. The son was my dentist.” Then he sped up and rode
ahead.
As I
rode I thought about what it would be like to experience losing your dentist to
suicide. The office would have to call you so you didn’t go to your next
appointment, only to find out, uh, no dentist. How would they break the news to
the patients, without upsetting them?
“Uh,
Dr. So and So is no longer practicing dentistry, so you’ll have to find another
dentist.”
“Oh
really, why did he quit?”
“Personal
reasons.”
“Did he
retire?”
“Yes,
that would be accurate.”
Ran
into Jon on another ride about a week later. He passed me up and didn’t
remember me. I remembered his Wilier bike, and when I caught up to him and started
talking to him like an old friend, he said he didn’t know who I was. I told him
I was the guy who rode with him and his brother on New Year’s Day. Then the
light went on and we had a laugh. For a minute or so, he thought I was just an overly
chatty stranger, and my behavior didn’t make sense to him, and his walls were
still up.
Familiarity
often vaporizes the self-protective shields and that’s the requirement for being
open to chatting for some riders and people in general. Others, like me, don’t
need familiarity at all to talk with anyone. I like to chitchat with riders I
don’t know, and I find many are just like me, they don’t mind trading thoughts
with a stranger, shooting a little small talk of the day. I figure I can always
learn something from other riders I talk with, about bikes, where they’ve
ridden, experiences while riding, all fun stuff to talk about if you like to
ride.
I find
it fascinating to see how receptive to communication, or not, other riders are.
I have a habit of nodding or waving to riders coming the other way, or those I
pass or pass me. I always watch if they nod or wave back. Some do automatically
because they’re social, they like being friendly, not a problem for them.
Some
don’t because they’re winded and too tired, or they’ve got the weight of the
world on their mind, so they’re not in the moment. Others just would rather
ignore making any kind of acknowledgement, as if it’s some kind of obnoxious
gushing practiced only by morons and circus clowns.
These aloof
types on the bike align with the Too Cool for School crowd. TCFS riders are
fit, have a fancy racing bike with fancy wheels and wear a fancy riding kit.
Everything about them says, ‘I’m a badass rider.” They’re the same ones that
think it makes them look dork chic if they wear white plastic rimmed
sunglasses. Newsflash, it doesn’t. Or when sauntering around on foot, turning
their baseball caps backward, even when the sun’s in their eyes. Newsflash,
looks like you’re trying too hard for a passable score on the HipMeter. Or
insisting on wearing shorts and flipflops in freezing cold weather. #Ridiculous.
Maybe
they’re racing pros, maybe just wannabe racing pros, but most of them don’t
change expression when you wave or nod to them. They stare ahead, and
studiously ignore the chance for reciprocating as if to do so would be far
below their station and would tarnish their crafted images of pro riding chic.
But to
me, the TCFS crowd is a boring buzz kill world of stony faced cyborgs on bikes.
When I
see the TCFS rider I think of the accomplished pro cyclists who could easily crack
open the façade of these posers on any ride at any time. Pros like Chris Horner,
or Jens Voigt, veteran, successful pro riders who couldn’t be bothered to be
pretentious, just because of their high station in the cycling world. No, guys
like Chris and Jens are too busy enjoying the other riders and fans around them
to put on airs of superiority. They’re open. Talkative. Charismatic. They like
to laugh. These guys are a breath of fresh air to all of cycling. Cheers to
their spirit and dedication to the fun of riding a bike.
Opposite
the TCFS end of the rider spectrum I’ve encountered are the Happy Plodders. These
are riders struggling along in a too high gear on an ill-fitting bike that
squeaks for lubrication mercy. They have a manic smile on their face and
eagerly wave and nod, putting it out there that they’re just glad to be on
their bike. They send out nothing but a good vibe. Good for them, and good for all
riders that do that.
Til
next time, remember to strap on a helmet every time you get on the bike. Then,
do your best to keep the rubber side down. Be safe and have fun on the bike.
-- Mark Eric Larson
Mark Eric Larson has written two books of essays, "The
NERVE...of Some People's Kids," and "Don't Force it, Get a Bigger
Hammer. To read, visit:
http://www.scribd.com/Mark%20Eric%20Larson/shelfHis blog of personal essays is at: http://marksmuzings.blogspot.com/
