#newbikeday happened here today! His first ride was #barefoot because he’s #myson #singlespeed #babyboy #rideon #bikelove #tourdefat

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Riding over here in a skirt and sandals and dropped my chain over the top of the big cog in the back. I really need an adjustment/new cables. #bikelove #commuter #chaingrease #biketowork #workinggirl #tourdefat #takecareofyourcrap

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NICA, NCICL, MTB

I heart NICA so much.

Oh the Facebook of it All

An interaction on Facebook has me all worked up this morning. A friend made a complaint, and friends chimed in with shared frustration. The drivers who weren't actually experiencing the interaction were jumping to anger over the reality that bicycles are occupying space on the road. Here's what I'm thinking. I want to resurrect the human status of cyclists by sharing my experience, and also recall the legality of the choice. 

{Did I mention I ride bikes? You guys know this because you're here and probably got here because you know me personally or you ride bikes. Not everyone agrees with my choices, but we can at least civilly disagree.}

When a driver and I disagree about a lane use issue. The exchange is typically punctuated by honking. Sure, that's predictable, but I invite you to an experiment. Try this. Set your 3 year old in the driver seat of your car, obviously not running or in any way powered on. Just set the child in front of the steering wheel's horn button. Now, go stand in front of the car facing the same direction of the vehicle with it behind you. Wait, and then see what happens. 

Often in-motion lane use arguments are much more brutal: A bus driver passes and tips my helmet with the mirror of the bus, nearly spilling me into a rash of poison ivy in the culvert of the road. The mini van mama screams obscenities through an open window while honking and cutting into the lane in front of me to turn right. A one-ton truck driver discards the remnants of a fast food drink, including cup, and then accelerates heavily to leave me in a puff of exhaust. All of these examples have happened to me this year. Everyday I ride my bike, I have an encounter like this.

Please pause and think about the last time you were walking and somebody threw a drink cup at you, screamed obscenities, or just straight up hit you. What was that like for you?

It happens to me every single day that I ride my bike. My humanity wants me to believe this type of interaction isn't normal and doesn't characterize the morality of the individual. I try to lift the interaction out of the well by responding with a super-big smile and wave, "Have a good day!"

(Would you shoot a person who is smiling and waving? It's my only defense on my 20-lb bicycle against a 3,500lb vehicle.)

This is a real fear. Regularly, cyclists are physically assaulted. A driver has pulled a gun on me while riding my bike. I happened to have been pregnant at the time.

People who ride bikes are people. In my case, I'm a mom of three kids. I manage a team of engineers for a major corporation. I also teach yoga for peace, and math to little kids. I pay taxes on my car, my home, and my income. 

When I ride my bike, I am not trying to take anything from you. I'm trying to get to work. When I ride in a peloton, I am not trying to prevent you from using the road. I'm getting a workout. Any delay you experience will likely be short, and I appreciate you waiting until it is safe to pass. 

I’m out here #biking my #commute waiting on #cornsyrup I’m thinking this is #messedup because that train car holds 19,750 gallons of corn syrup and there were 5 or 6 tanks. #fatamerica #getoffyourass #tourdefat

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#jjgrey in my earbuds singing #glorygloryhalelluia #sunisshiningdown and I’m right there in that moment on my #morningcommute #coffee #raleigh #boylanbridge #bikemonth #happinessis #tourdefat @surlybikes

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Picked up all the kids from the car line yesterday. There were a variety of reasons including 42 degree and rainy weather. My boys were so upset with me. Totally unphased by weather, they just want to ride. #mamasboys #tourdefat #bikelife #bikechurch #freerangekids #soproud #inallkindsofweather

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