Today was the first good day when I could get my bike off the trainer and out on the road. Unfortunately the parkways around Wauwatosa are so horrendous, that it makes me want to put my bike right back on the trainer. Menomonee River Parkway and Underwood Parkway are worse than last year, with even bigger and deeper potholes. In fact, they're so bad, I don't think they ought to be legally considered part of the Oak Leaf Trail any more. It's dangerous for anyone with a standard road bike to go on those streets. You end up weaving in and out and around potholes so often, that you're out in the middle of traffic constantly. And if you miss one, you could very well end up crashing.
But enough of my little road rant. There were other things that I saw today that bug me, which I'll share here since I have no place better to share them.
Bikers Without Helmets: How stupid can you be? Honestly. I don't think there should be a law, but that doesn't mean you're not a complete and total idiot for not wearing one. They cost $30 and can save your life. Get one, period.
Bikers With iPods: Also not smart. You need to be able to hear traffic and also pedestrians.
Bikers Without Helmets and With iPods: Call this number now.
Pedestrians on Bike Trails with Dogs on Long Leashes: Look... I love dogs. I owned one for many, many years. But those extending leashes are a killer, especially if the person walking the dog is wearing an iPod so they can't hear me calling out "On Your Left". Your dog is running everywhere attached to a clothes line. This won't end well. If you're on a mixed use trail, you need to pay attention and keep your pooch under control.
Bikers Not Speaking Out: When you come up on someone, call out "On Your Left". Don't just blow by. Come on folks, common courtesy.
And if you are a biker, take this moment in the spring to make sure you have an emergency pack with you in case you need help. This should include everything you might reasonably need in the case of a break down. You might not be able to fix your problem, but you should have the supplies with you so that someone else can help you. Every time I've had a breakdown, I've always had at least one person stop and ask if they can help. So what should your carry? At a bare minimum, this is what I keep with me in a micro saddle bag:
- 1 Spare Tube
- Tire Levers (1 if you're good, otherwise 2 or 3)
- 1 Patch Kit (in case your spare gets a flat)
- CO2 Inflator
- Bike Multi-tool
- Cell Phone (the ultimate multi-tool)
Happy biking everyone!
