datlas 

We were on a club ride yesterday and came across a bridge that was "closed" for construction. There were workers there and it was clearly passable. I went ahead of the group and asked kindly if we dismounted and walked across, could we please pass....the hard-hat guys said "yeah but we never said that" which was fine, so we crossed. After we crossed, when we reached the other side, the Supervisor was there and saw us and started yelling at us. You can't come through! You are trespassing! Can't you read the signs? If you get hurt you are going to sue my company! I very diplomatically said so sorry, we are not from here, we were very careful, and we had already gone through the construction why should we go back? He yelled about calling the cops but we slunk on our way.

This experience made me consider all my cycling sins/transgressions. And although I am neither Catholic nor religious, I do expect confession is good for the soul. So here goes my cycling confessions.

1. I have trespassed over "closed" bridges many times. I understand that there is risk, but if it's passable why can't we please go through?
2. I have "run" countless stop signs. I pretty much follow the "Idaho Stop" rule, treat a STOP sign as a Yield (especially 4-ways).
3. I have gone through red lights, after coming to a full stop and ensuring there is no cross traffic. Idaho/Dead red "excuse"."
4. I have gone around stopped cars on the shoulder to get to an intersection. Carefully but that's still a sin I think.
5. I have exceeded the 15MPH speed limit on the local MUP. But only when it's deserted.

I do hope I will be forgiven by the cycling gods and/or legal authorities.

Please feel free to comment and/or add your own confessions. I expect many of us are scofflaws. Sad.

indyfabz

Crossed plenty of closed bridges.

Back in June I rode on two sections of I-90 in Montana that were barricaded at the on ramps. Don’t know if they were officially closed to motor vehicles only. (Every inch of Interstate Highway in the state is normally open to bikes.) It sure was fun having the road to myself. Don’t feel the least bit guilty, especially considering the alternative, which would have been riding the shoulder of the eastbound side towards traffic for a total of about 8 miles.

Nachoman

20180831_113544 by Nacho Neal, on Flickr

MoreLowGears

You didn’t snitch on the construction workers to their boss, and that’s what matters.

Bah Humbug

I have ridden a road bike in a tri kit.
I have used a disc wheel and aero helmet on training rides.
I have ridden in just bibs or shorts, no jersey.

I have not peed my bike, however.

Sojodave

While we are confessing...

• I own 5 saddles
• I own 6 pair of road shoes
• I have 5 bibs and 8 pairs of shorts
• I have 4 helmets
• I have stems in every size

I have a problem...

Welshboy

I've cut down a threadless steerer on a line drawn at the base of the stem instead of the line drawn at the top of the stem...

expensive.

MoAlpha

When I was 9, I ran over a pedestrian in a crosswalk at 14th and 5th in Manhattan. I'm pretty sure he had the light.

I've pulled the entire Kama Sutra of dumbass moves in traffic many times and, I'm sure, pissed a lot of drivers off. I don't do it anymore, as a rule, but ****'em anyway.

canklecat

• I have trespassed on blocked new roads to claim them.
• I have Idaho Stopped.
• I have filtered through traffic, risking the wrath of the passive-aggressive Texas driver's accidentally-on-purpose dooring. Bless their hearts.
• I have scorned the MUPpet warrior and pseudo-intellectual anti-A&Per.
• I have MIPSed and SPINed my noggin with polycarbonate and EPS mushrooms.
• I have worn Lycra and Spandex on my hybrid for casual rides.
• I have worn baggy shorts and t-shirts on my road bike.
• I have put turkey leg safety levers and dork discs *back* on a 1970s hi-ten drop bar bike. Because it was period correct and amused me.

All these I have done and more in the service of The Divine Ride.

tomato coupe

I use Shimano lock rings with Campy rotors on all my disc brake wheels.

bpcyclist

I routinely sprint when I happen to see a bike light coming up behind me on the MUP. Apparently, I am 8 years old still. And yes, of course, I have been caught.

Sojodave

I rode a metric century and sucked wheels the entire time. Didn't pull once...

datlas 

I forgot to mention peeing outside, but the pro’s do it so I am not even sure it’s a sin as long as one is out in the country behind a tree.

#RunOnSentenceConfession

deacon mark

I am deacon I can hear a confession but only the priest can give absolute.

MoAlpha

If that’s a sin, I am going to the Ninth Circle of Hell. One bad thing I have never done is heave a beat tubular into a tree, but guess I have been an accessory to that crime.

indyfabz

When I’m on a deserted road I often don’t get off the bike. Just stop and go to the right.

One cultural thing I learned on a supported tour in QP is that the men never went into the woods. They would just turn their backs even when women were riding by. The women would often say things and laugh, like they were cheering them on. I don’t speak French so I didn’t know what they were saying.

CAT7RDR

I have sinned so many times with trespassing on closed roads I think I am beyond hope. A couple of quick looks for the CHP and away I go. Once had the Sheriffs flying over me and thought for sure I was going to pay. I waved and they moved on.

Wrong board but I broke a statue of the Virgin Mary in first grade playing kickball and still fear a good spanking from one of the Sisters.

MoAlpha

I don’t always get off the bike either.

Anyone who races sailboats gets very used to peeing, changing clothes, etc. in mixed company.

Bassmanbob

This is one of the best threads in months.

• I've performed the Idaho stops.
• I've peed outdoors.
• I've ridden on a closed road.
• I've kissed a girl while riding, but we both instantly paid for that with an intertwined handlebars crash.
• I've paid more for bikes and equipment than I've admitted to my wife.
• I've yelled obscenities to bad or aggressive drivers.
• I've ridden an entire ride without pulling, then challenged others by pulling ahead at the end. (That was the most difficult one to admit)

Bah Humbug

Ok we need the rest of that story.

2manybikes

I put an Ultegra cassette on my Dura-Ace bike, and put the Dura ace lock ring on it so it looks like DA.

Seattle Forrest

Stop signs and lights, mostly. I'm also a hiker, so peeing outside isn't a sin. I've yelled at bad drivers. I've told friends rides "aren't that hard" and watched them struggle on the hills.

rseeker

I've been honked at and chased on a private road but they gave it up when instead of stopping I sped up. Possibly because I could dodge potholes and they couldn't.

I pee outside all the time.

I ride in jeans and hiking boots because you never know when something's going to need exploring off the bike. I wear bike-specific underwear, which I hope gives partial absolution.

Amt0571

Sorry about this, but I have to ask as it seems a recurring theme: what's so wrong about peeing outside that you have to confess it?

I mean... I pee outside on half of my rides. What am I supposed to do if I'm 20km from home and get the urge? I just find a nice tree outside an urban area and do what I have to do... heck, I'm the only one who had stomach "issues" while riding? not saying that happens often to me, but definitely happened a couple of times in the last 10 years.

I once peed from the top of a cliff on the pyrenees

datlas 

I am pretty sure it is against the law. Indecent exposure and public urination are typically outlawed (at least in USA). So pee carefully out there!