Yesterday I got my calendar hand delivered from
MaLora and had a brief discussion about cycling in Seattle. The drama, the politics, the Junior High cliques and the what not. Like
Aaron says there are two kinds of cyclists the “wants to” and the “has to”. Although there are a few
has-tos around (these are the dudes riding hoopty bikes with DWI bars, literally because they can’t drive anymore and have to ride bikes) The vast majority of the cyclists in Seattle are
wants-tos, the commuters, the messengers, the ex messengers, the posengers, the fakengers, the racers in training, the BMX stunt masters, the Dead Baby tall bikers, the students, the Critical Mass extremists, the Bike shop owners, the Vashon Island no-fossil-fuel-mother-earth provides-for-us preachers, the .83 kids, the Cascade Bike Club experts, the Shoreline wheelmen with handlebar moustaches and/or moustache handlebars. the self righteous yelling lady, and all the rest of them. I ride a bike because I want to. I ride for work, I‘m a messenger. But I also ride because I don’t own a car. And if you ride a bike too, that’s great, I may or may not acknowledge you when I see you on the street, but I respect the fact that you’re out there just like I am. That doesn’t mean I want to shake your hand or give you a hug or go to your community activist meeting or join your club. Although I do respect you for riding your bike, I am not above chuckling at your purple anodized bar ends or your bungee-corded milk crate/bucket contraption. Good natured teasing is fine with me, but the battling cliques and clubs is crap. Cycling is inherently independent, and I like it that way. Do whatever you need to do, for what ever reason you need to do it. Just keep it outta my face.
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