Even though I am one, sometimes I hate cyclists. Especially when I’m running.
I grew up in the day when you just road your bike and didn’t run into people or in front of cars. We sort of used . . . logic. Sure, sometimes we crashed and did stupid shit, but for the most part, we just rode our bikes and it was all good.
I live near a bike path, which is more often suited for walking or running and many times I will take off on a run. It’s really pretty serene and peaceful. I rarely listen to music and typically drift into a meditative state, at one with my breath.
It’s very quiet and I can normally hear a cyclist coming up behind me if they coast a bit or change gears or talk, etc . . . Sometimes you’ll even get the guy or girl who is hammering away at 17 mph and they just cruise right by you in peace.
I have no problem with any of those scenarios because I am just running on the right side of the path and for the life of me can’t remember the last time I suddenly made a direct left turn to chase a squirrel or pick a mulberry. I just go straight and if the bike goes straight by me on the left, it works just fine!
What I do have a problem with is the guy or girl hammering away at 17 mph who suddenly feels the urge to shout “ON YOUR LEFT” 10 feet away, subsequently scaring the shit out of me and forcing a quick right cut to the far side of the black top and further putting my tender Achilles tendon at risk.
Why???
Just make a little noise, coast, or shift your gears 20 to 30 feet back. Now, if I have a dog or a child or something, it’s different. But in that case you should really slow way down for your pass and use a normal conversational voice. Please don’t be this guy!
