boomer58 

Just wondering what you guys and gals encounter out there on the bike paths and trails more geared towards the comical side but I guess anything goes. I was on the Florida Pinellas trail on Saturday, it was a fairly cool day maybe around 55 to 58 degrees with a pretty strong wind. As I was going up the ramp to one of bridge crossovers, a guy on an electric bike passes me wearing winter boots, a very heavy winter coat with a ski mask and hat and gloves. Hanging out of his mouth was a cigarette that he was puffing on. He got ahead of me by about a couple hundred feet and the smoke kept blowing right back at me. Never once did I see him pedal, just cruising along. I was trying to slow up a little but it seemed I couldn't clear his smoke trail. As I came to one of the bridges he was at the top of the bridge lighting up another one and yes a little further on down the trail he passes me again with a cigarette hanging out of the ski mask mouth just cruising along getting his miles in. Funny stuff. Anyone else have something to share ? boomer.

mpetry912 

ha! Holding the throttle button down en route to another Red Power lawsuit.

it was probably a doob.

/markp

roadcrankr

Lately for me, multiple sightings of teenagers on minibikes on SoCal dedicated bike paths.
At least we hear them coming. Loudly. And quickly. Sometimes thirty mph. No helmets, either.
Not amused by it, whatsoever. And they do it because law enforcement cannot curtail it.

indyfabz

I saw Lance Armstrong riding a Trek with Shimano components on an MUP. Does that count?

Maelochs

Did you give him "The Look" and dial up 400 watts?

Maelochs

Weirdest thing I see---and I see it often--is this really ugly fat old guy who obviously is too unhealthy to be riding a bicycle.

If I keep seeing him I might have to remove the mirror on my bike.

genejockey 

A dozen young guys on those gas-powered scooters, blatting along, trying to get up speed ahead of a half-mile, 6% gradient. Easily one of the loudest things I've ever experienced, and also one of the most annoying - like a chorus of leafblowers.

DangerousDanR

fify

CAT7RDR

Two full blown dune buggies blasting past me at 40 mph kicking up pebbles, dust and a fume cloud.
Just another day on a SoCal MUP.

indyfabz

I was on the side of the trail manually screwing back in my bottom bracket shell. I later voiced my displeasure to my mechanic.

indyfabz

Young rattler on the Lehigh Gorge Trail.

indyfabz

This was freaky. I ran into some walkers in one of the tunnels of the abandoned stretch of PA Turnpike, which is now a MUP, while touring across PA. We chatted for a bit, then I took this photo. That night in camp, I was the only person there. I started reviewing the day’s photos. When I saw this, a chill ran up and down my spine. I hadn’t realized there were three of them. It was dark, I had my sunglasses on, and I was looking into the lights. And notice that the woman in the middle didn’t have a flashlight.

Black wallnut 

I see people on Zwift sucking my wheel for a good long time only to drop me at the climbs. They don't even bother to type Hi when I introduce myself with a message. Sometimes though I do get a ride on....

So much for the social aspect of it.

dedhed

Various forms of sexual activity . Obviously I don't' stop and take photos

indyfabz

It would have lasted longer if you had taken photos.


I encountered a used condom in one of the Adirondack shelters along the GAP trail in Connellsville, PA. I took up residence in a different one.

Rick_D

We get mystery swarms of those dudes, occasionally. My SWAG is they have some kind of on-line presence and plan meetups, something akin to the sideshows. Loud doesn't begin to describe. Further SWAG they haul them to meetups since, you know, riding 90 miles to one would present problems. I did encounter one in traffic eastbound on the Bay Bridge, weaving around and past everybody. Was relieved to have not watched him be squashed like an insect among the standard fleet of F-150s and Suburbans.

As to the OP's Michelin man, even in the peak of summer I see dudes here riding in full sweats with hoodies tight over their heads. Smoking not uncommon, also phone in hand. Given the high ranges between 90-105 most of summer, I'm astonished they don't burst into flame.

Rick_D

Have bunny-hopped a few of those bad boys, and/or gopher snakes it's hard to tell sometimes and I'm not turning around for a second go.

When they span the path and then some, it's a real attention-getter.

Sierra_rider

I'm out in BFE up in the mountains, so mostly wildlife. I've seen bears probably a dozen times, while riding. I've seen a mountain lion a couple of times...what's scary about them, is they're probably around a lot of the time, it's just that they're good at not being seen.

Funniest was while out riding on a gravel road. I came across a big fat naked guy, walking his dogs. It wasn't exactly the best road to be a naturist on, if that's your thing. He tried to jump into a patch of Manzanita, if there are any botanists on here, they'll likely know that Manzanita isn't the friendliest bush to jump into when nude.

I see lots of kids on dirtbikes on the roads here. I don't complain, as these are rural roads and I did the same thing when I was their age. I usually just give them the "throttle fist" hand signal and they'll pull a wheelie in response.

Iride01 

A couple years ago I was crossing the reservoir spillway and saw a very old guy all dressed up in proper kit on a folding bike that looked too small for him. However he was doing a much better go of it than the other guy coming the other way on a proper road bike that was just in a sweaty undershirt and shorts.

downtube42

Coming back into suburbia on my morning ride a few summers ago, just getting light, in the distance I see a dude walking to his mailbox in whitie tighties. Then he sees me, too late to bail, has a slight hitch in his step then decides to go for it. As I ride by we recognize each other from church.

It was never mentioned.

Erzulis Boat 

I have accidentally ran over some snakes on the bike path, just simply could not avoid them. It always bothers me, I feel that it's bad Ju-ju, if there is one creature that I don't want mad at me, or tell his buddies, it is a snake.

veganbikes

Law enforcement may not be able to stop it but a nice stick or a frame pump, ala a certain movie that hopefully everyone here has seen, should do the trick nicely

Generally most MUPs have a no motorized vehicle rule so those on mopeds and motorcycles should be banned people should say something or do something when possible. It would be nice to have a place free of fumes and throttles.

CrimsonEclipse

I was biking on a levee in the middle of the everglades and suddenly: naked dude sun bathing. Lawn chair and all.

He seemed more surprised than I was.

Whatever dude, enjoy nature your way....

_ForceD_

I’ve seen this a few times now…in SE Florida…people on bicycles that don’t have tires. Just riding along metal on pavement. I think it’s probably homeless folks so it’s kind of understandable. The last one I saw a couple days ago was making a turn…very slowly and methodically. Certainly can’t be much traction on either wheel.

Dan

Reflector Guy

+2

Where I ride, those kind of cycles are specifically prohibited, but I think e-bikes opened the floodgates and now it seems anything goes. It's now common to see anything short of a full-size motorcycle sharing the path.