Favorite bystander comments
10-30-19, 10:25 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 1,326
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 535 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times
in
196 Posts
Cruising along the river bike path on a Miyata 310. As I’m passing by a kid who is stationary & off to the side, he yells out, “POP A WHEELIE!”
Last edited by deux jambes; 10-30-19 at 11:10 PM.
Likes For deux jambes:
10-30-19, 10:34 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,835
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 892 Post(s)
Liked 2,053 Times
in
1,074 Posts
Five of us rolled into a convenience store in the wee hours of the morning somewhere in rural southern North Carolina. We were not quite half-way through a 1000k brevet, tired but not yet done for the day. A Ford Ranger pulled up to the pumps, and a woman got out. Seeing us decked out in rando gear and geeked up for night riding, she hollered "Y'all must be famous! Can I have your autographs?"
We obliged.
We obliged.
Likes For downtube42:
10-31-19, 12:48 AM
#28
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
A few off the top of my noggin:
"Your wheels are turning!" from a fisherman on Long Island where I lived as a kid. Same guy, same line, every time, sorta daily ritual. Heckuva fisherman, though. Never saw him empty handed coming away from his little boat. He had the magic touch with lures for bluefish, weakfish and stripers.
"Wanna race?!?!" from teenagers in pickup trucks.
"I like your (bike/helmet/jersey/shorts/lights)!" usually from women. Go figure.
"Steel is real," from other cyclists (when I'm on my Ironman or Univega).
"Get on the sidewalk!" on a deserted two lane road with no sidewalk. Then the guy brake checked me at a stop sign. I offered to call the police to educate him on bike laws while we waited. He declined and went about his way.
"Get on the bike path!" in 1978 along Rock Creek Park early one morning on my way to work at the Navy hospital in Bethesda. No traffic. Just one crazy old man who actually kept swerving in front of me and braking to cut me off. I finally got around him. This was the same place where Chandra Levy was murdered years later. Someone should have warned her only fools and victims use that bike/jogging path.
"$%#^!!*?!!" or something to that effect from a Hungarian diplomat who doored me in downtown Washington DC. Apparently he was mad because my bike scratched the paint on his limo. He was in a tux and apparently headed to some function. I was a lowly Navy enlisted man and figured I'd lose any dispute over who was at fault, and he was probably too busy to wait, so I skedaddled. That was the last time I tried to be Mr. Nice Guy riding to the right. I've been a take-the-lane guy since that incident in 1978.
"Your wheels are turning!" from a fisherman on Long Island where I lived as a kid. Same guy, same line, every time, sorta daily ritual. Heckuva fisherman, though. Never saw him empty handed coming away from his little boat. He had the magic touch with lures for bluefish, weakfish and stripers.
"Wanna race?!?!" from teenagers in pickup trucks.
"I like your (bike/helmet/jersey/shorts/lights)!" usually from women. Go figure.
"Steel is real," from other cyclists (when I'm on my Ironman or Univega).
"Get on the sidewalk!" on a deserted two lane road with no sidewalk. Then the guy brake checked me at a stop sign. I offered to call the police to educate him on bike laws while we waited. He declined and went about his way.
"Get on the bike path!" in 1978 along Rock Creek Park early one morning on my way to work at the Navy hospital in Bethesda. No traffic. Just one crazy old man who actually kept swerving in front of me and braking to cut me off. I finally got around him. This was the same place where Chandra Levy was murdered years later. Someone should have warned her only fools and victims use that bike/jogging path.
"$%#^!!*?!!" or something to that effect from a Hungarian diplomat who doored me in downtown Washington DC. Apparently he was mad because my bike scratched the paint on his limo. He was in a tux and apparently headed to some function. I was a lowly Navy enlisted man and figured I'd lose any dispute over who was at fault, and he was probably too busy to wait, so I skedaddled. That was the last time I tried to be Mr. Nice Guy riding to the right. I've been a take-the-lane guy since that incident in 1978.
10-31-19, 04:42 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Western MI
Posts: 2,767
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 655 Post(s)
Liked 467 Times
in
301 Posts
“Hey buddy, you’re going to want to throw those away”
Says the guy riding behind me referring to my apparently worn out, see-through bibs. Embarrassing to say the least!
Says the guy riding behind me referring to my apparently worn out, see-through bibs. Embarrassing to say the least!
10-31-19, 06:34 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,653
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 156 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2323 Post(s)
Liked 4,936 Times
in
1,763 Posts
Best was probably a few years ago while out on my pinkish Giordana Antares....and wearing pink of course. Ran dow a couple riders that were going fast and pacing off each other. Talked to the older guy for a minute or two and then took back off. Heard the younger kid laugha and say something about a pink bike, to which the older guy said shut up, he passed us didn't he?
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
10-31-19, 06:50 AM
#31
No one cares
While slowly spinning up a steep hill in a bike lane a lady in her 70-80's is waiting to cross the road and she says to me, "you're taking a risk there aren't you?".
Without thinking I quickly responded, "Aren't we all."
Then we kissed.
Without thinking I quickly responded, "Aren't we all."
Then we kissed.
__________________
I prefer emails to private messages - holiday76@gmail.com
Jack Taylor Super Tourer Tandem (FOR SALE), Jack Taylor Tour of Britain, Px-10, Carlton Flyer, Fuji The Finest, Salsa Fargo, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Carver All-Road .
I prefer emails to private messages - holiday76@gmail.com
Jack Taylor Super Tourer Tandem (FOR SALE), Jack Taylor Tour of Britain, Px-10, Carlton Flyer, Fuji The Finest, Salsa Fargo, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Carver All-Road .
Likes For -holiday76:
10-31-19, 08:18 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Pico Rivera, CA
Posts: 4,182
Bikes: 1983 Basso Gap...2013 Colnago CX-1...2015 Bianchi Intenso
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1199 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times
in
716 Posts
Elderly man in his 70s says to me "Ive been mismatching my sicks since the 60s" pointing to my socks.
A few feet behind him his wife is rolling her eyes.
A few feet behind him his wife is rolling her eyes.
Last edited by malcala622; 10-31-19 at 09:40 AM.
10-31-19, 08:43 AM
#33
Just call me Carrie
I used to ride from my high school to the college where I took classes a couple miles away. There was a long bridge or a shortcut that involved me carrying the bike down three stories of twisting concrete stairs. Guy at the top as I hoisted the bike onto my shoulder: "If you were a really good, you could ride down those."
__________________
I was going to have a good signature but apparently I'm too verbose.
I was going to have a good signature but apparently I'm too verbose.
10-31-19, 08:46 AM
#34
Senior Member
I was dead last in a local 100K and the SAG vehicle missed my position and picked up all the turn signs ahead of me. I'm on a crossroads in the country looking at the route sheet and trying to decide where I was when a fellow comes by in a pickup, slows, points up one of the roads and says, "they went that way". Lol...theya also closed up the water stops, so I limped in on a drip.
10-31-19, 09:13 AM
#35
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Overheard...
...as I sprinted up a modest hill on an organized ride last weekend, where many riders were struggling and more had dismounted and were walking up,
"Look at that guy....whoa..."
"Look at that guy....whoa..."
10-31-19, 09:15 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
Dude there's a scorpion on your butt from a female coworker after I had biked to work in my Castelli bibs.
On my first STP (Seattle to Portland bike ride with about 8000 riders) we were going along lake Washington early Saturday morning (about 6 am) and the route took us past a boat launch with a line of fisherman waiting to put in, as my group rolls past I hear a guy in a trailered boat say to his buddy I thought we were fools to be up this early.......these people are on bikes!
On my first STP (Seattle to Portland bike ride with about 8000 riders) we were going along lake Washington early Saturday morning (about 6 am) and the route took us past a boat launch with a line of fisherman waiting to put in, as my group rolls past I hear a guy in a trailered boat say to his buddy I thought we were fools to be up this early.......these people are on bikes!
10-31-19, 10:18 AM
#37
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
"I've got a buddy with a bike that weighs 8 lbs."
I'm sure most everyone has heard something like this.
I'm sure most everyone has heard something like this.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
10-31-19, 10:23 AM
#38
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
Teenage girls driving by me and a buddy in a convertible car on San Ramon Valley Blvd in Danville, California: "F*****s!"
We saw them slow down to pull into the local high school, so we stood up, sprinted, and caught up with them before they got out. I slid up to the passenger side, he slid up to the driver, and simultaneously, without discussion, hosed them down with our water bottles, then rode off.
Definitely not one of the brightest things I ever did.
Definitely one of the most satisfying.
We saw them slow down to pull into the local high school, so we stood up, sprinted, and caught up with them before they got out. I slid up to the passenger side, he slid up to the driver, and simultaneously, without discussion, hosed them down with our water bottles, then rode off.
Definitely not one of the brightest things I ever did.
Definitely one of the most satisfying.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Last edited by gugie; 10-31-19 at 12:31 PM.
Likes For gugie:
10-31-19, 12:17 PM
#39
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,409 Times
in
909 Posts
(Altered it to make it fit.)
Teenage guys, with one girl, from a car wash stall in Greenville, NC: "F*****s!"
As I was running the 4th 5-mile leg of a 20-mile training run, with a new partner each time.
I had on Arizona flag shorts, with the star on the crotch. And running shoes. (Hey, it was summer).
Teenage guys, with one girl, from a car wash stall in Greenville, NC: "F*****s!"
As I was running the 4th 5-mile leg of a 20-mile training run, with a new partner each time.
I had on Arizona flag shorts, with the star on the crotch. And running shoes. (Hey, it was summer).
My partner goes, "oh, no." Two of the teens run behind the car. The girl just sits there, with a guy. I reach out to shake his hand.
"Hi, I'm Robbie, and I'm not a f----t."
I wink at the girl, determine his name is Greg, and up close, he's not quite as brave. Then I finish my workout.
The guy I was running with still tells that story.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 10-31-19 at 12:21 PM.
Likes For RobbieTunes:
10-31-19, 12:19 PM
#40
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,409 Times
in
909 Posts
"Dude, those two old guys just rode right by us."
On Thunder Ridge's climb, with @rccardr, on steel Merckx bikes.
Both "bystanders" were young, and on carbon underbikes.
Funny thing is, one of them was wearing a wool Molteni jersey.
On Thunder Ridge's climb, with @rccardr, on steel Merckx bikes.
Both "bystanders" were young, and on carbon underbikes.
Funny thing is, one of them was wearing a wool Molteni jersey.
10-31-19, 12:30 PM
#41
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
I stop.
My partner goes, "oh, no." Two of the teens run behind the car. The girl just sits there, with a guy. I reach out to shake his hand.
"Hi, I'm Robbie, and I'm not a f----t."
I wink at the girl, determine his name is Greg, and up close, he's not quite as brave. Then I finish my workout.
The guy I was running with still tells that story.
My partner goes, "oh, no." Two of the teens run behind the car. The girl just sits there, with a guy. I reach out to shake his hand.
"Hi, I'm Robbie, and I'm not a f----t."
I wink at the girl, determine his name is Greg, and up close, he's not quite as brave. Then I finish my workout.
The guy I was running with still tells that story.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
10-31-19, 12:42 PM
#42
Senior member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 8,115
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 656 Times
in
370 Posts
Got lots, but my all time favorite is the little boy walking with his mother after seeing me ride by on my recumbent, "mommy, what's wrong with that man that he has to ride a bicycle like that?"
10-31-19, 12:46 PM
#43
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Washington County, Vermont, USA
Posts: 3,776
Bikes: 1966 Dawes Double Blue, 1976 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1975 Raleigh Sprite 27, 1980 Univega Viva Sport, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1984 Lotus Classique, 1976 Motobecane Grand Record
Mentioned: 77 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 764 Post(s)
Liked 656 Times
in
348 Posts
One more (I've got plenty). Screaming down a long descent in the Blue Ridge Parkway near Wintergreen Ski Resort, I passed a sport motorcycle - he shot past me again, so I let it all hang out and used every single bit of descending skill I ever learned. BTW, I learned how to descend from Davis Phinney back when he was still riding for Coors Light and I was on Team Richbrau. I passed him again and then railed every turn, sprinted up to speed and carved the next bend. I got to the bottom with about five seconds on the guy. The moto rider pulled alongside me and said "If anyone told me that had happened I'd have called them a bare assed liar -and I still don't think I believe what I just saw!"
__________________
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
10-31-19, 12:48 PM
#44
Hump, what hump?
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SC midlands
Posts: 1,934
Bikes: See signature
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 337 Post(s)
Liked 227 Times
in
145 Posts
What is it abut celeste Bianchis? I took the Brava on a ride with a couple friends, just after I got it. They were on much newer bikes, one a carbon Orbea. We stopped at a convenience store for something to drink and parked the bikes outside. A local walked up to us to admire the bikes and said, pointing to mine, "I bet that one is worth more." I just grinned.
__________________
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
Likes For horatio:
10-31-19, 01:52 PM
#45
Senior Member
After a breaking my pelvis in a crash, I'm trying to walk out of the ER (my brother is getting the car) and one of the nurses offers to help me. Once we get outside, she lights up a cigarette. So, I say: "With all we know about smoking and you working as a nurse, you're still smoking?". She replied: "Look what staying in shape did to you!"
A plumbing company van pulls along side and the driver yells: "What are you some kinda f*g in those shorts?" To which I replied: "Your the one checking out my butt."
A plumbing company van pulls along side and the driver yells: "What are you some kinda f*g in those shorts?" To which I replied: "Your the one checking out my butt."
Likes For gearbasher:
10-31-19, 05:04 PM
#46
Senior Member
This summer returning to the motel I was staying at a 5-ish year old boy asked his dad "Why is that man riding a bicycle?", like it was the darnedest thing he'd ever seen.
10-31-19, 06:27 PM
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,239
Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Liked 1,262 Times
in
602 Posts
Last Sunday I was on the commenting end, my wife and I were at a nearby park checking out the fall colors, on foot. We were walking on the MUP and I told her there was a bike coming behind us so we moved over just as I heard "On your left". A man about our age rolled by on a nice blue Lemond and I remarked as he went by "Ooh, a Lemond, nice." It must have taken a bit for it to register but about 50 feet past us he came to a stop and turned with a grin and said, "Thanks." Then sounding like he was half in disbelief he asked, "You know about Lemonds?" We chatted briefly and then he was off, I think I just may have made his day. 
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
10-31-19, 06:46 PM
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,474
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1635 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 824 Times
in
533 Posts
This time the comment came from me and my brother.l back in the early 80's.
We were at Wares Cycle Center, just southwest of Milwaukee. College students and all starry eyed whenever we saw nice race bikes. 9 times out of 10, we just gawk at all the nice bikes and framesets and never buy anything.
We saw this old man in full racing kit (seems to be at least in his late 70's) at the counter, talking to the store manager and holding his beautiful black anodized lugged aluminum bike with full Campy SR Gruppo, next to him.
My brother and I got closer to him and the bike and we were trying to figure out what brand bike it was. I insisted it was an ALAN, but my brother thought it was a Vitus. Apparently the old cyclist overheard our mumblings behind him and turned around glaring at me and my brother looking furious and bellowed out. "IT'S NOT AN ALAN OR A VITUS!, IT'S A GOD DAMN BADOR!! THE LIGHTEST BIKE IN THE WORLD!!!"...Then he turned back towards the store manager at the counter and continued their conversation shaking his head as he turned away.....
The guy scared us and we got out of there quickly with our bike knowledge pride hurt and tails between our legs.
My brother and I still remember and talk about that incident, but now older, we have good feelings reminiscing about it as we think the guy was just funnin with us whipper snappers back then and must have had a real good laugh with the store manager at the counter, after we left.....
We were at Wares Cycle Center, just southwest of Milwaukee. College students and all starry eyed whenever we saw nice race bikes. 9 times out of 10, we just gawk at all the nice bikes and framesets and never buy anything.
We saw this old man in full racing kit (seems to be at least in his late 70's) at the counter, talking to the store manager and holding his beautiful black anodized lugged aluminum bike with full Campy SR Gruppo, next to him.
My brother and I got closer to him and the bike and we were trying to figure out what brand bike it was. I insisted it was an ALAN, but my brother thought it was a Vitus. Apparently the old cyclist overheard our mumblings behind him and turned around glaring at me and my brother looking furious and bellowed out. "IT'S NOT AN ALAN OR A VITUS!, IT'S A GOD DAMN BADOR!! THE LIGHTEST BIKE IN THE WORLD!!!"...Then he turned back towards the store manager at the counter and continued their conversation shaking his head as he turned away.....
The guy scared us and we got out of there quickly with our bike knowledge pride hurt and tails between our legs.
My brother and I still remember and talk about that incident, but now older, we have good feelings reminiscing about it as we think the guy was just funnin with us whipper snappers back then and must have had a real good laugh with the store manager at the counter, after we left.....
10-31-19, 08:06 PM
#49
Senior Member
Late '80s, riding along in a group, we passed a guy walking around an old Ferrari. 'Is that a 250 GT?' asked a rider. 'It was,' the driver said, 'I'm about to shoot it.'
10-31-19, 08:16 PM
#50
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,823 Times
in
1,709 Posts
DD
