A Dr. Phil Moment

This afternoon I watched Dr. Phil.  He was differentiating aggression and assertiveness.  He said aggression was defending your rights at the expense of the rights of others.  Assertiveness is defending your rights without infringement on the rights of others.  Little did I know that snippet of wisdom would be illustrated in my life an hour or two later.

Chris has already written up the events of the day, so if you follow Pavements Edge, please forgive me for repeating.

The Back Story

Our youngest and I ran to the store this afternoon on the Ute to pick up a few groceries.  Our trek takes us through our neighborhood to 57th Ave (which has bike lanes) to a shopping center.  We cut through the parking lots to a light to a second parking lot to a light to the King Sooper parking lot.  This path keeps us off major roads and we pedal through these lots that are NEVER busy.  Our trip to the grocery was uneventful.  As we locked up the bike I noticed nasty black clouds to our west.  We sped through the store and used the self check out to get going ASAP.  Loaded and off we headed toward home.  Our first stop was the intersection at the King Sooper lot and Independence.  This intersection contains to eastbound lanes.  One for left turns and one for going straight or making a right.  I was going straight to the next lot and in that lane.  I take the lane at these intersections because people will try to squeeze around me unsafely and I had my 4 year old.  I like to be safe, especially with her.  I hadn't been there but 10 seconds when the rain started and a white Mazda pulls up, immediately blowing her horn at me.  She then screams out her window, "get out of the way!"...I wasn't in the way.  I was right where I was supposed to be.  IF I had been a car, she would have been in the same predicament.  I shook my head no and waited.  She continued to lay on the horn and scream at me.  (Using obscenities, I might add.  Nasty 4-lettered F words even!)  I shook my head no again and yelled back that I had the right of way.  She continued to lay on her horn and I waited for the light.  Only a few seconds later the light changed.  I entered the intersection and as she turned right she screamed at me, "You better move next time or I will make you move!"

I was so mad when I got home I shook for 15 minutes.  Chris explained to me what she did was harassment and if I had gotten her license plate number she could have been charged with a misdemeanor.  I didn't have a chance of course to get the plate number.  I doubt I will ever forget what she looked like, so you never know, I might get it next trip to the store.

Back to Dr. Phil

She was a fabulous example of an aggressive person.  You think she has the Warrior Gene?  Pavements Edge calls people like her a motofascist.  MFers for short.  I'm not sure what she was going to accomplish by  bullying me but I asserted myself so that I didn't get injured or give up my place on the road.  Another key difference in aggression and assertion is the rationality of the person in the situation.  I'd like to think I kept my cool.  She did not.  Let's hope when next we meet, she is in a better mood.

Colorado Bike to Work Day

May is Bike To Work Month.  June 22nd happened to be Bike to Work Day in Colorado.  We've been volunteering lots lately and signed up to help run a breakfast station here in Arvada.  Fun was had by all.

We arrived at the station off the Ralston Creek Trail near Balsam shortly after 6:30 this morning.  (Hey, I'm on vacation...I'm surprised it wasn't later.  ;-) )  Anne and Sandy had various muffins, bagels, fruit and yummy snacks ready to go.  The typical set up is under a pavilion at the park, but they lose a lot of riders who pass it up on the trail.  This year they decided to set up a satellite table with breakfast at the trail converge.  Chris and I were to man that.

The turn out was good.  We probably had about 40 riders stop by.  Passed out lots of Bike Arvada cards and talked it up.  All was good.

Speaking of volunteering, we helped at the 1st Aid Station for the Denver Century a couple weekends ago and helped out at the booth for ACT at the Rocky Mountain Bike Festival.  We've really tried to involve ourselves in the cycling community.  Everyone has been so amazing and we have had tons of fun.  Oh and we've gotten to ride our bikes!

Musings on a ride about town

I suppose you could say I scolded another cyclist today.  I use the term cyclist loosely, but she was on a bike.  I sure hope she doesn't drive a car like she rides a bike.  I was traveling up Pierce through Arvada and passed a woman on a bike, riding against traffic in the left lane.  I assumed she was almost to her destination and pedaled on.  I assumed incorrectly and was passed by her a few minutes later.  This time she was in the right lane, on the yellow line.  I figured she was just giving me room and was going to move over immediately.  She instead weaved in and out of both lanes of traffic.  I finally yelled to her that she needed to ride with traffic and get over to the right.  "Huh?" was her response.  I repeated and said it really is much safer to ride with traffic.  She headed my warning for a few feet and then repeated her erratic cycling.  Luckily we had made it to Seacrest Rec. Center and she pulled in to the parking lot.  It is no wonder that motorists get annoyed with people on bikes.  I get annoyed with people on bikes.

On a happier note, been riding lots.  Did almost 20 miles today.  Plans are to ride again this afternoon.  I'm hoping to have almost 40 miles by the end of the day.  Took the Ute out to Hyland and then Sunflower for groceries.  I think I'll take the road bike this afternoon.  I definitely notice a difference in the rides.  The Ute has a much more comfortable saddle, but my Giant flies!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was a mother's day on bikes.  I'm usually the oddity out on the roads.  I typically see road bikes with lycra clad riders and guys on their Wal-Mart mountain bikes because the car is in the shop.  I will occasionally see a family-type unit, mom, dad and kids out and about, but today I saw no less than three different moms pulling their kids in trailers behind their bike!  Go moms!

Longtail Bravery

Chris commented a few days ago about my cycling evolution the past year.  I suppose my mentality toward cycling started changing a year ago, but I think the majority of the change has happened since I got the Ute.  I suspect my change is ultimately because I have the convenience of being able to haul kids, groceries and other necessities by bike.

Loading up for a trip to Golden

I also think it's because I'm getting a little dose of bravery when it comes to exploring my neighborhood.  I have traveled the roads enough to know how to get where I need to go and survive the detours if I take a wrong turn.  I've started picking Boone up by bike in the afternoons from school.  It's 18ish miles round trip so it would be tough to do twice a day, with kids.  I have elected to load Boone's bike in the subaru in the mornings and then ride up with Lily to grab him.  It works nicely because he is only having to ride 9 miles and most of it is down hill.  The first week I attempted it, we got more than 50 miles in on the bike.  Awesome.  Last week I only got one trip in.  We had rain!  Can you believe it?  Rain for days!  No rides.  It was sad, but we're back at it tomorrow and we're all pretty happy about the prospect.  

I think this step has been a good one.  There is a certain contentment that comes with using the bikes as our primary mode of transport.  

April's 30 Days of Biking Recap

I did not ride everyday of April, but I rode a lot.  Much more than I usually do.  I managed a couple trips by bike to and from Golden.  On Thursday, I ventured all by myself (with Bean on the back of course) to Westminster.  That was pretty exhilarating and empowering all at once.  Chris texted me the directions and without much thought, I just went.  In about one hour I maneuvered the Ute north and east to Hyland to pick up Boone.  With both kids on the back, I travelled home.  I was pretty thankful when I met up with Chris on Garrison and unloaded the big kid to his bike.  We did it a second time on Friday.  I think it is going to be a habit for me most days now.  Picking Boone up from school is a fun and easy way to add my bike to my day.

While I didn't do 30 consecutive days of riding in April I made a conscious effort to ride more.  I think I shall one up myself in May.  I have visions of a Thistle Gin transformation happening to me.  Who knows, maybe it will.

Car Free(dom)

We went the entire weekend without driving the car.  That's big for me.  Not a single trip in the car.  While I have tired legs, life is pretty amazing right now.  I managed about 36 miles on my dear Kona Lisa.  (With Lily on the back, I might add.)

We've modified the child seat to attach to my back deck and it works great.  Lil is much more comfortable.  We're getting more looks and comments about the bikes these days.  People are noticing us.  I like that.  We are visible and can promote cycling lifestyles.

I'll be back to driving tomorrow, but just to and from work.  Still haven't figured out how to get all the kids to Westminster by bike.  That will come with time.  Until then, I'll look forward to my car free weekends and the freedom of my bike.  :)