Rider Etiquette - So Rude!

This week has been amazing – spring is here!!! And you know what that means…biking season. My FAVORITE time of the year. Eric and I went for a ride on Sunday (that was utterly brutal), but the true test of endurance and strength is the first road ride I do alone. With him, I feel safe, secure and confident in my riding. Put me out there alone and I turn into a low self-esteemed biking weenie. After it is over, I am good for the season. Don’t judge – it is super scary sometimes!  I don’t know what it is. That first ride by myself causes me severe anxiety and this afternoon I literally went back and forth, in and out of the house for 30 minutes debating with myself if today was “The Day.” Pasha must have thought I was a complete idiot.

I pulled on my big girl panties (well, biking shorts) and went for it. I opted for a pretty easy 15 mile ride with a few moderate hills and then one monster hill to climb about half way back.  All went splendidly – my bike was in fantastic condition thanks to Eric, I felt good, riding at a decent clip, maintaining a good pace, and just taking in the first signs of spring. Then, on the monster hill, it all turned sour.  My complaints are not about a vehicle or driver, but another rider, which makes me sad. It is quite possible that my mini anxiety attack contributed to me being overly sensitive about this, because now as I am writing this, I am not nearly as pissed off.  When it was happening, I was seeing red and all I could think about was how to phrase my rant to you all. Well, I won’t rant, but I will give a few tips to anyone who is thinking about venturing into the cycling community. I am choosing to be optimistic and hope the woman was a new cyclist and no one had taken the time to give her the low down.

1. Always say “hello”. In a sport where you are often dodging cars, dogs and God knows what else, you should always greet, acknowledge and respect your fellow rider. 
2. Wear a helmet. NO EXCEPTIONS. EVER.  
3. When you are passing someone going uphill, always a) let them know of your approach, the side you intend to pass on, and b) say something encouraging as you pass. This hussy (not abiding by tip 1 or 2), comes up beside me without a peep, scaring the living crap out of me. I was STRUGGLING up this hill AND getting passed (very quickly) did not do much for the ego. The least she could have said was, “You got this girl,” “Keep up the good work,” or fill in any other positive remark here. 
4. Here is where it gets good...Don’t overexert yourself trying to pass a slower rider and have to pull over to the side at the top of the hill and take a rest, or get sick, or whatever she was doing as I blew past her. Bahahahahahaha!!! Note: I am not technically breaking any rules as a) this is my blog, b) I did not use her name therefore am not breaching confidentiality, and c) hopefully she is not reading this. If so, work on your skills girl (and wear a damn helmet)!   

I think that about covers it. There are all types of riders, all with different styles and sub-group rules (hipsters, hard-core riders, casual cyclists, tandem riders, etc.), but abiding by these basic will get you a long way with everyone.