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rotten johnny
Social climber
mammoth lakes, ca
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LEB.....how bout just smiling and flashing the peace sign? rj
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2010 - 05:40pm PT
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It's cool Lois, I 've learned to always ride with my new body gaurd
-Locker image
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Jaybro, you touch on my biggest rant. ..."How about how I get pissed when I yell "FUKC YOU!" as loud as I can, when they almost kill me, and I know they can't hear me, with the windows rolled up, and they are not paying attention in the first place?"
...............
Since my bike is my main transportation, near misses are almost a daily occurrence. I swear i have the biggest potty mouth, temper change and middle finger quick draw. ;-)
ps..normally i'm mild mannered.
Pss. i should take Ed's approach...but......I want people to know that they almost killed me.
Wear your helmet kids and always be alert....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZgiVicpZGk&feature=related
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2010 - 06:36pm PT
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You, a potty mouth, Nita ? I don't believe it!
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Soulsurfer
Trad climber
carlsbad, Ca
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I am split on this whole bike vs. car thing. I have lots of friends and family who ride road bikes. You know, not just to 7-11 to get a slurpee, but the whole 'I love looking like Richard Simmons' tight pink outfit kinda biker. From a driver perspective, I see some road bikers acting like some college frat guys walking into a hooka bar. Just looking for a fight.
I know some will say, 'this is my right', 'share the road', 'at least I am not drive an SUV killing the planet', blah blah blah. I agree for sure, it is your right.
I love to run, but I NEVER think to myself, 'gee I would sure love to run on x street and hear cars, horns and breath ummm exaust! I stay on the trails for some peace and relaxation.
So I guess to counter the urban bike rant, I would say act responsibly, meaning no middle finger, maybe ride on side streets, and actually stop at stop signs and stop lights. Yes, if you want us to obey the rules you can't pick and choose the ones you want to obey. If you want any credability, then you need to earn it.
Please give me a moment to now get into position for the supertopo beating of my life.
Joe brophy
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rotten johnny
Social climber
mammoth lakes, ca
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if a group of cyclists are blocking the road i wait and pass when it is safe or i'll slow down to scan for any chicas in the pack....who gives a sh#t if you have to wait a few seconds...booh hooh , i have to wait a few seconds because there are some cyclists using my pavement....i'm so inconvenienced .......yeah run em over that'll teach em a lesson.....i wish more of the doctor thompson types would ram other cars when they have their hissy fits....that would get more idiots off the road and slow climate change...rj
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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After getting a ticket for allegedly making a right turn on a red light, and being found guilty in court, I now revel in my complete stop, foot down at red light and block the F'n car drivers behind me who are mad enough spit because I actually came to a stop!
Also at stop signs, complete stop, foot down....
I would not be surprised if you read that I got run down by some irate driver from behind... it is probably the most dangerous thing I do on a bicycle, obey the traffic signs.
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rotten johnny
Social climber
mammoth lakes, ca
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Ed....damned if you do , damned if you don't.....i try to stay out of the way of cars and if that includes running stop signs so that i don't inconvenience cars , so be it....
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Ashby Ave. is not a good option for east-west bicycle travel through Berkeley. A MUCH better option would be to ride any number of "bicycle boulevards" that the City has established, which are wide and much less prone to car traffic. I feel your pain Jaybro, having been knocked off my bike @ University & San Pablo ("the Nexus of all that is Evil"), but we both know that there are better, safer, and calmer bike routes.
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olivier
Social climber
Hood River, OR
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The really ironic thing is that once I started coming to a COMPLETE stop,
car drivers started to get REALLY pissed. All of a sudden they realized,
"now I have to wait!" "Damned if you do, damned if you don't."
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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.i think most drivers are cowards and will feel less inclined to run you over if you they know the cyclist has a face..
There's more to it than that,
If you don't make eye contact , they didn't see you.
Something I figured out back in my motorcycle days.
Oblivious old lady's and minivan moms are as, or more dangerous than the agro azzholes.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2010 - 10:34pm PT
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Ashby Bart to BIW, it's the way, when you get there you Are warmed up, if you make it, you feel alive. Unlike most climbing, I actually Do wear a helmet on these sort of adventures.
The one that scares me the most in that area is riding up El Toyonal in Orinda, over Tilden on the way to Indian Rock.
Ed, we all know that following the rules, Will, get you killed! Though it Can, save money.
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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mrtropy, that was creepy corny classic.
Jaybro, AnnMarie Rizzi used to comment on how i never swore........ ... It's a newish habit i picked up from my urban bike riding adventures.
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Greg Barnes
climber
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My brother and I used to revel in coming to a complete stop at every stop sign and then sprinting each other, and we did it biking alone too. We would bike fast and slow down fast to the stop signs. Got a lot of strange looks from other bikers.
Then I nearly got creamed by a car - screeching to a stop about 3 feet behind my bike.
Now I treat stop signs as advisory only. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one rule of the road for bikes - don't get killed.
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rotten johnny
Social climber
mammoth lakes, ca
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TGT....... a motorcyclist who's survived years of dodging maniacs on the freeways deserves a purple heart.....the eyes , like you said , are key....i feel for any motorcyclists driving LA's freeways and keep a vigilant eye out for them....
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there jaybro and all.... say, bikes or drivers, it sure is worse, sadly, than it was "back when we were kids" some how folks just seemed more tolerant of each other...
it was always...
look out for the bikes...
and if on a bike, it was always,
look out for the cars...
and--this was as to safety, ride of way,
as to situations, and respect...
it's all near gone now-adays, in the name of
"power plays"... or "selfish needs" ... or "lack of interest in others"
take care on the roads, all...
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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re: Ashby ave in Berkeley; the next street to the north (and parallel to Ashby)is Russel.. Bicycle blvd as someone mentioned. Very sweet quiet ride. Thats part of my regular loop, from Shattuck up Russel to Tunnel to Pinehurst Redwood. 28 mile loop from my house. must have done it at least 200 times. Three nice climbs, a great view of the bay and golden gate bridge just before the big hill down Claremont back home. Hit 50 mph on claremont once. But those damn cars go too slow most of the time and I have to ride my brakes. lol
Riding in the Berkeley hills is really great. Cars are infrequent enough that its really chill. Quiet, pretty, frequent wildlife sightings (especially at dusk) and hills just steep enough to make it challenging.
(edit: unfortunately Russel doesn't go all the way West to Ironworks - I think you would have to do some zigs and zags to get there and stay off of Ashby.)
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2010 - 11:15pm PT
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Russel, eh?
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