When Bicyclists Attack

Dumb ass drivers: All cyclists deal with their share. Most of the time we laugh at them or give them looks to let them know that they are dumb asses. Some of us will take time to "educate" drivers about the error of their ways. Some of us get confrontational with drivers. Some of us take pictures to prove their stupidity.

Whatever we do in our coexistence with drivers reflects on us as well. That being said, I'm torn between what transpired last night. I had been doing SO GOOD lately not allowing my temper with drivers get to me. That, and for the most part, living in a town of 10,000, many people know me and know that I:

1. Play by (most) rules
2. Will respect you in your cage if you respect me on my bike.

Without further ado, the "police report" version of what happened last night.

After working at the Dakota Dome running my portion of the Dakronics system, I came out and headed on my normal trek home. Up Rose St. to Cherry and then crossing campus to avoid a good deal of traffic. Let's back up to the corner of Rose and Cherry shall we?!?!

I pulled up to the stop sign taking up the right hand driving lane to make sure nobody would pull up beside me. In theory a GREAT idea. In actuality, a nice car pulls up next to me putting over half the car into the oncoming traffic lane (dumb ass driver move number one). Being the calm person I've become, I looked over at them and gave them my "Your a dumb ass" smile while rolling my eyes and shaking my head slightly.

At this point I figured that they just could wait for those three extra seconds for me to go straight before they turned left onto Cherry St. The break came quickly in traffic and I started across the street. When HOLY-MOTHER-OF-WHAT-IS-HAPPENING I actually FEEL a car coming by me. This dumb ass (I'm trying to fill my blogs dumb ass quota for the year) actually pulled a "right cross" on me AT THE STOP SIGN.

I didn't even take time to think before I SLAMMED my gloved hand on the hood of his car....and the roof above the driver side window....and twice as hard as I could on his trunk (I missed with the third and almost fell off my bike because of it). In my moment of rage and the cagers moment of shock at my pounding he tapped his brakes and I was SO ready for him to stop. I even started to dismount to "greet" him. He decided he wasn't as tough without his cage and continued on his way.

Open letter to local body shops: If anybody stops by with a dent on the passenger side hood, roof above the passenger window, or trunk, please call me so I can come down and tell them how sorry I am (that they didn't stop so I could finish my "discussion" with them).

I don't know. Did I overreact? I could have been SERIOUSLY hurt had I not caught what was happening at the last moment. In a moment of "You could have killed me" I wanted to "tell" the driver of the cage of my dissatisfaction with his performance. So I did. I think they heard me. Quite clearly.

I feel much better. There is something so calming about writing this out.

Team Road Kill MS Bike Tour Kudos

Congratulations once again are in order for Team Road Kill as the final total for the MS Bike Tour is in. Team Road Kill fell short of their 25 for 25 campaign ($25,000 for USD Women's Basketball Player Natalie Carda-#25), but we did break $20,000 for the first time ever with a grand total of $21,536 raised.

Join Team Road Kill August 1-2, 2009 as we continue to ride for this great cause and try to raise even more money to eradicate this disease once and for all.

The Beard Stays

The people have spoken, the beard shall stay until...well...that hasn't been determined. I'm thinking that it will stay until some charitable giving level to the MS Society has been obtained. Let's go with $500. When my coffers hit $500, the beard will come off. So all you beard haters better get the word out for donations to my cause.

My Five Year Old Rocks

This morning as I was getting ready to leave, Carson let me know in no uncertain terms that he wanted to go to school with me. I actually tried to talk him out of it. I told him that it was very cold and that we should wait for a little warmer weather. He would have none of it. He wanted to bike to school.

So, being the good Dad I am, a Dad that will probably get turned in to social services for child endangerment now, I hooked up the trail-a-bike and away we went. Carson wasn't quite his normal chatty self on the way today. He may have realized the err of his ways shortly into the ride. It was definitely 'brisk' today. When we got to his school and he got off the bike I asked him if he was okay.

C: Yep! Thanks for taking me to school Dad.
Me: You're welcome. Want help with your helmet?
C: *shivering a little -- nodding head*
Me: There you go buddy. Have a great day. I love you.
C: Love you too Dad. Bye!

It was 8 degrees with a 10 mph wind this morning. My Five Year Old Rocks! So do my 12 year old and 10 year old as they rode today as well. I'm proud of my car-lite family.

Reader Poll is Up

Of all the things that I've done to cause a stir (and I've done MANY), I swear I've never had a response like I've had in the last week or so. About 1.5 weeks ago, I decided to grow a "winter coat" on my face. Partially for a little warmth with winter riding, partially to see if I like it and can stand it. This is longer than I've ever toughed it out in the facial hair category.

Now I've had some "that looks good on you comments" and I've had some "I hate facial hair" comments. To appease one of the "I hate facial hair" comment people, I agreed to put up a poll to let you, the humble reader, decide if I should keep or lose the beard. Pictures are below. You decide. Don't Delay...the poll closes Sunday night at 10:00pm!

Nike Cross Country Heartland Regionals

Last Saturday I helped out at the Nike Cross Country Heartland Regionals in Sioux Falls. There were some excellent races and all the good information can be found HERE about the races. It will be interesting to see how the kids who qualified to go to nationals do in Portland.

It was COLD on Saturday with temps MAYBE hitting 30, but when the sun disappeared and with the North wind being a constantly 20mph plus, well...it was COLD. Luckily I was still warm on the inside from my trip to Monk with the FAB crew.

Here is a picture of me with the "Voice" Greg Merrigan. Trying to announce a cross country meet is crazy compared to a normal track meet. You have to have spotters everywhere to tell you when people make moves, who is in the lead, etc. It was a great time with great competition!

Bike vs Car Report: Nov 1 - Nov 15

I drove up to the Nike Cross Country Nationals on the 14th and back on the 15th - although it was a friends truck and not mine - for my only vehicle trip of the month so far. This is a pretty bland report, but that's the way I like it...All bike and no car makes Kevin a happy boy.