canasia.org

A few of the times that I've met benters while out on rides, they've been socially inappropriate. Kinda weird, I think. But I guess bents do attract geeks and geeks aren't always that smooth, but still, I think we can do better.... One bearded 40-something guy I met on the Katy Trail in St. Louis, started describing the shortfalls of various parts on his recumbent using swear words in front of my family and kids. He was obviously proud of being gruff. So very nice of him. And what a fine ambassador for the sport. Also he was patronizing and deaf. And silly, of course: he was complaining about the inadequacy of several perfectly adequate parts-systems on his bike and how they had to be replaced by expensive anodized CNC parts. Now, it may be someone's druthers that, say, existing cables aren't perfect, but I'm sure they do work for shifting and braking as intended. I've never found a problem with them on any bike, myself. And to be vulgar about it, too? And he continued to treat me as a person who knew nothing about 'bents during our whole chat. Even my saying Yes, I have the same bike as you, too didn't seem to get thru to him. Very odd. I told this story awhile back, but what the heck. Yesterday, I got another dose. I was out riding my unfaired custom lowracer on a big public tour ride with a few hundred others. I pulled into a rest stop and noticed a group of 4 Tour Easys and Friends pulling out. They were decked out with Zzippers and trispokes. 50's-ish. They exclaimed from a distance when they saw me, Hey check it out! So I pulled up to them and we said Hi. The first thing their leader did upon seeing my red bike, yellow coro-disk wheels and fluorescent helmet was to sternly say You need to get yourself a flag! So the cars can see you! Amazing...I must've been in the presence of some kind of god of cycling, such experience with lowracers he must've had and such insight into the laws of the universe. (They all had flags.) In my 30 years of hardcore riding, I don't think I've ever told someone what they need, much less someone who was an obvious experienced sort. I was a bit surprised by such a greeting

On the other hand, I stopped by a local bike shop the other day. They stock BikeE's. I was going to show them my Recumbent Bicycle book to see if they want to carry it. A guy was looking at the bents. No clerk helping him. This happens all the time when I go to my closest BikeE/Vision/RANS/Burley dealer (Aurora Cycles in Seattle).  There are few employees there who ride recumbents, and some of them have told me that they've never ridden one (yet they are trying to sell them?!?).  I often help out people who are looking at bikes there and try to describe the differences between the various models of bicycles.  This store has a nice selection in stock, but not very knowledgeable employees, and it really shows.  I end up going down to AngleLake cycles (near the Airport, way out of my way) to buy my recumbent bikes and some parts just to deal with a knowledgable staff. Now I'm off to get ready for a ride that I'm leading today (where I'm likely to be on the other 'bent rider). alex

Some folks figure out that it is the RIDE and not the ride. Wind in the hair, reeling in the feet, yards and miles. God's glory rolling by, trees, flowers, dirt, rocks and rain. Beauty all around. Could it be that the best things in life aren't things? Skip

amen brother Term, pass the collection plate and I'll but a dollar in! Seriously, you are correct, there are anal orifices everywhere and we all just gotta do what we gotta do! Ralph