This was one of my most popular posts on Chicago Now, so I am reposting it in its entirety.
Here are my top 10 bicycling resolutions for 2012. Feel free to add yours in the comments section below…
10. I will donate more money to bicycling advocacy groups. These not-for-profit organizations continually fight for my right to be on the road, the least I can do is provide some cash to help them succeed. Plus, I can always use another cool bicycling t-shirt…
9. I will refuse to be held accountable for the actions of any cyclist that isn’t me. This includes pro cyclists accused of doping, city cyclists who treat traffic laws as suggestions, and that annoying guy at your office who claims he rides a 13-pound bike…
8. I will refrain from stopping complete strangers along the bike path and offering to adjust their seat to the proper height. I am not responsible for anyone else’s knee pain and I am entitled to a good laugh while I’m out riding…
7. I will no longer roll my eyes and refrain from saying “gee, I’m sorry to hear that” whenever someone tells me they ride the same brand of bike as Lance Armstrong. That behavior is just plain rude. Besides, I wouldn’t want someone to do that to me whenever I tell them that I drive a Dodge…
6. I will recommend kidney donation to any cyclist who asks me how to shave another 140 grams of weight off his bike. You only need one and it’s cheaper than buying a new carbon fiber handlebar stem…
5. I will continue to flash the “hi” sign to cyclists approaching from the opposite direction, even if they appear to be triathletes who are clueless to cycling etiquette. They can’t be expected to know everything about cycling if it’s only one-third of their focus…
4. I will continue to shout “Bike Left!” as I prepare to pass walkers, runners, dog walkers, and stroller pushers on the bike path. I do this for my safety more than theirs. Plus, I like to see them jump when my voice startles them…
3. I will count to three and refrain from automatically responding with the single-finger salute when I encounter an inconsiderate motorist. If the urge is still strong after three seconds, however…
2. I will exercise the “wildlife response” when I encounter an errant cyclist while driving. I will assume anyone riding without a helmet and in the opposite direction of traffic is about as clueless and unpredictable on the road as a deer, opossum, raccoon, or squirrel…
1. I will ride more. I will take more short trips by bike instead of car. I will substitute gym time for bike time. I will find a way to ride every day that the weather is nice and even on days when it’s questionable.
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Introducing Sixty Second Cycling Stories
In an effort to share some of the more interesting cycling stories populating my Google Reader news bundles, I have decided to provide summaries of each in 250 words or less.
These stories were posted on Thursday, January 5, 2012
These stories were posted on Friday, January 6, 2012