07.11.09
Even More Random Notes
Needless to say, it has not been the ideal summer that I like to think of: hot summer sun beating down on my skin, tanning my body with weird tan lines that other cyclists could understand, stopping every few miles to drink water, checking out the cute guy on the bike next to me at the light. Nope, not this year. It has been quite cool, even during the day, and despite my best efforts, I haven’t really gotten a good tan. Perhaps it’s because by mid afternoon, I’m already covered in a light sweatshirt to stave off the cool breeze. Now I know some would say that that is optimal riding weather, and that may be. However, we can get that weather all fall and winter. I do not want to be cheated out of my summer!!
So I was riding behind this one woman on her bike who, thankfully was wearing a helmet, but I noticed that she was riding in a very strange way. First of all, she was wearing a short skirt. That said, she was riding with her knees held close together, for what I believe to keep people from seeing up her skirt. Now ladies, first off, let me say that if you are going to wear a skirt on the bike, please be prepared. Nowadays you can get short cycling shorts or my personal favorite, boy shorts. Believe me, I have worn some skirts that were scandalous to wear on a bike, but if you wear the proper shorts underneath, then you’ll be totally OK. Now, the problem with riding like she did is that the knees need to be square to the shoulders as you pedal, lest you risk the onset of tendinitis. Believe me, I have head tendinitis three times, twice in both Achilles tendons. That sucked. I can only imagine how it would be of the knee or hip. So please, do not ride holding your knees together, it is improper form. Knees square to the shoulders, pedal from the thighs, arches slightly high (like wearing high heels), and heel pointed down slightly in the downstroke. For a little more info on this, try this link.
OK. If one more pedestrian thinks that they can make it across the street before I pass them thundering down the road–they crossing against the light mind you!!–I’m going to brush them so hard, that I rip a button of their shirts. Maybe that’ll teach someone that they should freaking WAIT three seconds to let me pass.
I still have to scream at people walking in the bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge. Freaking annoying.
But on a good note, a very good note, I have a treat for you guys. Coming soon, I have an interview of a rider that just recently returned from a cross country ride across Spain!! I’ll have some of his pictures and everything. I’m pretty excited about this article and I hope you tune back in for the story.
Cheers for now. Ride hard.
