Life in the Bike Lane: Little annoyances

Eight out of 10 of you seven loyal readers can agree we all love to ride our bikes. Why else would you be reading this hokum? However, an equal amount (64 percent) can also agree it's not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. Wait, that's Leslie Gore (1963). What I meant to say was, "Sunshine, Tailwinds and Doughnuts." There are a few things that annoy us about cycling. I'm not talking about the obvious like mechanical problems, bonking or saddle sores but more subtle annoyances that are easy to overlook in your favorite pastime. Just leaving home is a major production If your ride is just over yonder to a friend's house, it's pretty simple to get out the door. Put on your helmet and go. But if you are actually cycling, it can be a bit more complicated. Most importantly, you have to chose your kit. It's not easy if you have been cycling for a while because you have sooooo many cool jerseys. Hey, just finding matching socks can take several minutes! Oh, yeah. Breakfast would be a good idea. But you also have to load the route into your GPS thingie and be sure you have money, phone, a snack, water bottles and maybe some special piece of equipment without which you can not do. For me, that's my camera. Once you're to your bike, you have to air up the tires and check out its general condition. Don't forget to confirm all battery-operated gizmos are charged. (If they're not, it's too late.) Did I mention one last pit stop? You might have to take off half your bike costume to go. Of course, to make your morning less hectic, do much of this stuff the night before, except the pit stop thing. Cycling can become too much about numbers While I am not one to worry about my performance numbers (maybe because I have no performance), I can get a LITTLE obsessed with my other statistics. I once took a ride without my Garmin and it was a freeing experience. I hated it. But it really isn't important who beats who up Baxter Grade, but who had fun ascending Baxter Grade. Don't miss the little waterfall, the deer beside the road or the tree that isn't there anymore because your mind's eye is on your metrics. Others seem to be constantly upgrading their bike(s) I hate it when some rider who is already better than I am gets a new bike to make them still more better. But it's not a big deal, really. A well-maintained bike will last a long time (I have one going on 18). Unless you are on the Tour, a bike that is 300 grams (10+ oz.) lighter isn't going to make a difference. It's cheaper to lose a couple pounds. It's the engine that matters. What's that Click, Ting, Skritch, Pluff, ZZZmp? I love the sound of bike tires on smooth pavement. I don't like hearing some new, odd rhythmic "plink." Sound travels through a bike frame in very odd ways. I'm usually a nice guy, but I'm secretly hoping it's coming from someone else's bike. A squeak from your cleats sounds just like a squeak from your saddle and they both stop when you stop pedaling. Such a noise is just annoying. But the same thing coming from your bottom bracket needs your attention. Uphill stop signs I'm going to talk to the authorities about this one. A stop sign on an upward slant is just cruel to a bike rider. Trying to get enough momentum for forward motion is hard enough, but add to that the necessity of getting "clipped in" and you have the recipe for disaster. There will be some wobbling, misdirection and general instability for several feet. If there is a huge white diesel dually pickup with extended mirrors right next to you – yikes! So, there you have just a few petty annoyances for the avid cyclist, but they pale in comparison to the joy of getting on your bike and riding.