[TheForge] weather report yak

[Andy Vida]

H and P Foster wrote:
> 
> Speaking of bicycles, my wife and I rode from Ottawa, Ontario to Mexico in
> 1970 (2500 miles) and were treated real nice by most everyone we met, and
> some inviting us into their homes.  Michigan was another matter, as we got
> yelled at and blasted with horns etc etc for even daring to be on their
> roads.   Were we ever glad to get out of that state.

	Sounds like NYC. :)

	My heavy bicycling days were spent at UC Davis.  We rode over
	700 miles/week... now considered to be gross overtraining, but
	man my legs were like tree trunks attached to this skinny little
	body.  We had fun.

> Now when I need a bike fix, I rent a Harley Low Rider and mostly enjoy going
> along at the speed limit, with the odd burst to enjoy that sound and
> tourque.  I lift my glass to the joy of a bike ride, there is nothing quite
> like it.

	I gave up street riding in 1978 when I was coming home from work
	on one of those horrible 6-cylinder Hondas.  I came off the
	Hillsdale Blvd exit on 101 (San Mateo CA) at high speed and lo
	and behold there's a 63 Chevy, gold paint, coming up the exit ramp
	trying to get on the freeway.  To this day I have the image of
	the driver emblazoned into my memory: either one of the most
	painfully ugly women God ever put breath into or some hippie d00d
	with glasses and long hair.  I could never tell which.  Scared
	the bejeezus out of me as I barely missed a high speed head on
	collision in a turn.  Put the bike up for sale and never looked
	back.  I realized at that moment that I just don't have enough
	control over what other people do to feel sufficiently safe to
	ride on the street.  I never scared easily, but that sure put
	my nerves to the test.