And on Sunday, Kevin and encountered mountain bike with aero bars. It was a 29er, so that was good – big wheels roll faster and all — and the knobby tires were still intact. But, despite the stiff northwest wind we were battling at the time, the 29er's owner wasn't using the aero bars. They must have just been for decoration. All of the coolest bikes have euro bars.
To us, people who ride lots and have a semi-warped view of what cool bikes look like, that machine was a freakshow on wheels. To anybody else: "Hey, cool bike!"
It all depends on perspective.
For example, someone seeing me on my ride home last night could have had a number of different reactions:
- Wow, riding to work. Wish I could do that.
- Wow, riding to work. I could never do that. Crazy!
- Wow, riding to work. What a loser.
The angle probably tilted again when I pulled over on the shoulder just shy of 129th and Maple. The air having escaped from my rear tire. I was ready to make a quick change right there, but I was worried about whether I had the right CO2 canister in my pack. The much bigger issue turned out to be not having a spare tube at all. Or a patch. I cleaned out my bag over the weekend.
Nuts.
So I ran home — mostly I just put the bike beside me on the sidewalk and ran in the grass. It's just a shade over a mile from where I flatted to our house. I can imagine how that looked. I'm guessing somewhere between "What's that guy doing?" and "That guy is a complete tool."
Luckily, I'm used to both. But really, I just wanted to get home. Running alongside what appears to be a perfectly good bike — and not using it — is the bike-commuter equivalent of bolting aero bars onto your bike, yet not using them when the situation clearly calls for it.
But hey, I made it. And an FYI for those who may have been wondering: Shimano winter boots do not excel as running shoes.
6 comments:
The one I heard recently, "Wow, riding a bike to work. Must have gotten a DUI"
Nice.
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I once ran my bike from Seymour Smith Park to Munson's house for a spare tube. That's a 5K jaunt alongside an otherwise perfectly looking bike, on the Keystone, while 29ers w/aero bars zipped by...
I once flatted w/o spare tube or patch a long way from home (and it was late, so no open shops...). I was pretty much saved by the fact that I was riding my folding bike, so I was able to walk about a half mile and then catch a bus home.
brady — I haven't heard that one, but I'm sure it's coming. It might have worked when I had my hobo beard this winter.
And I think you ran farther to Munson's house than it would have been if you would have gone to the store.
chris — unfortunately, buses don't roll where I was. Or, rather, where I was going. Nothing but hike-a-bike for me.
I get a lot of comments that I bike commute to work in MN year round. I hear, "Thats crazy" often. I then fight the urge to reply, "no, you are just a pussy".
(raises right hand) I promise to never use aerobars ....ever.
Wes J I know your out there lurking, please, please, please chime in on the aero bars.......Do Frank proud!
Yes, but it was late Sunday afternoon & the store was closed. At that point, I would have needed a crowbar for the trailer parked outside...
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