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Ranty Mcrantpants.
Nov. 25th, 2010 08:58 amIt's getting so riding into work on your bike is like running a gauntlet of some kind. Let's forget for a minute the flies that dart into your path and try to get in your nose, the trucks that are bigger than your house coming in and out of the stadium, or even the people who look you in the eye before jumping in front of your bike. There's much more than that on the streets of Perth. Much more indeed.
For example, it's not uncommon for someone to remark at me. Sometimes it's a lovely lady who, upon seeing me at the lights in a dress and carrying a hula hoop says "That is a fabulous bike". That's pretty awesome. More often though, it's a pack of what we call bogans over here who yell things out. Some of them are nicer than others saying things like "Keep going darl" as a bunch of lycra clad cyclists thrash me up the cycle path, and as I pass the pedestrians I hear "Man, that is an old bike. That's a really old bike. It's cool!" while others ahead yell things like "you should get a better bike HAHAHAHAHAHA". They couldn't ride my bike if they tried.
Then there are the guys that make you want to swear loudly across the street and maybe take off your little ballet flats and throw them at them. They usually come on an electric bike that takes little or no effort to ride. Not only do they think that they are better than you for expending oh so much engery on their electric bike to pass a little girl on her single speed clunky old bike, they like to do things that involve getting in your way. Like taking up all the room at a pedestrian crossover or even better, pulling infront of you and cutting you off just because they think they are hardcore in their almost pink shirt. Well done.
Then there is the obligatory guy who tries to sneak through the lights in his "I can kill you because I have a car" vehicle, by going over the line and passing IN THE MIDDLE of the pedestrian phase. Today I had a real charmer. The kind who watches the pedestrians pass frantically and then zooms the second they are out of his way, with no regard for cyclist who are coming through. Luckily I moved over and out of his way and glared at him with my evil death eyes. Wanker.
And finally (well sometimes it progresses into the car park itself) coming down into the car park there are the pot holes, ramps, sheets of iron, sand, fork lifts and fresh tarmac that you are forced to avoid, all the while hoping that the guy with the "stop" and "slow" sign will pay enough attention to his JOB and not something else to advise either you or the guy in the massive scoop truck that you guys are about to collide. Thankfully, the scoop truck guy was a lot more switched on.
So at this stage, given that I am still alive, I think it's safe to say that I have passed through the gauntlet and am stronger for it. It doesn't make me want to ride my bike though.
/Rant Over.
For example, it's not uncommon for someone to remark at me. Sometimes it's a lovely lady who, upon seeing me at the lights in a dress and carrying a hula hoop says "That is a fabulous bike". That's pretty awesome. More often though, it's a pack of what we call bogans over here who yell things out. Some of them are nicer than others saying things like "Keep going darl" as a bunch of lycra clad cyclists thrash me up the cycle path, and as I pass the pedestrians I hear "Man, that is an old bike. That's a really old bike. It's cool!" while others ahead yell things like "you should get a better bike HAHAHAHAHAHA". They couldn't ride my bike if they tried.
Then there are the guys that make you want to swear loudly across the street and maybe take off your little ballet flats and throw them at them. They usually come on an electric bike that takes little or no effort to ride. Not only do they think that they are better than you for expending oh so much engery on their electric bike to pass a little girl on her single speed clunky old bike, they like to do things that involve getting in your way. Like taking up all the room at a pedestrian crossover or even better, pulling infront of you and cutting you off just because they think they are hardcore in their almost pink shirt. Well done.
Then there is the obligatory guy who tries to sneak through the lights in his "I can kill you because I have a car" vehicle, by going over the line and passing IN THE MIDDLE of the pedestrian phase. Today I had a real charmer. The kind who watches the pedestrians pass frantically and then zooms the second they are out of his way, with no regard for cyclist who are coming through. Luckily I moved over and out of his way and glared at him with my evil death eyes. Wanker.
And finally (well sometimes it progresses into the car park itself) coming down into the car park there are the pot holes, ramps, sheets of iron, sand, fork lifts and fresh tarmac that you are forced to avoid, all the while hoping that the guy with the "stop" and "slow" sign will pay enough attention to his JOB and not something else to advise either you or the guy in the massive scoop truck that you guys are about to collide. Thankfully, the scoop truck guy was a lot more switched on.
So at this stage, given that I am still alive, I think it's safe to say that I have passed through the gauntlet and am stronger for it. It doesn't make me want to ride my bike though.
/Rant Over.
