The Chainlink

Day of the Noobs

It was great to see so many people out on bikes today - kids and Lakefront Lances on the LFT, tourists on Divvys in the Loop, etc.

I saw quite a few who seemed pretty new to cycling both on the LFT and on the streets.  Examples:

1) Middle aged man with helmet on backwards;

2) Young man unsure how to inflate presta valve tube on his bike; and

3) Teen with kickstand sticking into the rear wheel (it sounded like a coffee grinder as each of the spokes hit it in turn - I guess he thought that's how a bike should sound).

Point is, I am encouraged to see so many noobs of all ages.   Maybe some of them will stick with it, and we will have a nicer city.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on April 22, 2014 at 4:05pm

Oh good. I wasn't the only one who read this and said "... wait what's the problem here?" 

I'm probably also a noob apparently. 

Simon Phearson said:

I guess you must be the super-cool dude cruising around standing traffic, into oncoming lanes, in order to pull off a left turn against the light? By "blocking the bike lane," do you mean, "prevent me from shoaling my way into the intersection and then across the street, against the light."

You haven't described me, but given your description, you'd probably read me as a "noob" if you saw me on the street. Sorry, bro, if I don't make way for you.

Mike Zumwalt said:

I saw a guy, God bless him. Riding with traffic, staying in line behind cars if there was a lack of room to pass, brand new bike, new stylish jeans, very new Chucks, a new helmet without one sticker and a clean, clean Chrome bag.

Keep rollin' dude but don't expect any respect from drivers and please don't block the bike lane. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on April 22, 2014 at 4:41pm

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 22, 2014 at 7:03pm

+1

Simon Phearson said:

I guess you must be the super-cool dude cruising around standing traffic, into oncoming lanes, in order to pull off a left turn against the light? By "blocking the bike lane," do you mean, "prevent me from shoaling my way into the intersection and then across the street, against the light."

You haven't described me, but given your description, you'd probably read me as a "noob" if you saw me on the street. Sorry, bro, if I don't make way for you.

Mike Zumwalt said:

I saw a guy, God bless him. Riding with traffic, staying in line behind cars if there was a lack of room to pass, brand new bike, new stylish jeans, very new Chucks, a new helmet without one sticker and a clean, clean Chrome bag.

Keep rollin' dude but don't expect any respect from drivers and please don't block the bike lane. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Not too hip on April 22, 2014 at 9:27pm

He belongs to over the 50% of bad riders I have seen within city limits - and I'm not always an angel.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

+1

Simon Phearson said:

I guess you must be the super-cool dude cruising around standing traffic, into oncoming lanes, in order to pull off a left turn against the light? By "blocking the bike lane," do you mean, "prevent me from shoaling my way into the intersection and then across the street, against the light."

You haven't described me, but given your description, you'd probably read me as a "noob" if you saw me on the street. Sorry, bro, if I don't make way for you.

Mike Zumwalt said:

I saw a guy, God bless him. Riding with traffic, staying in line behind cars if there was a lack of room to pass, brand new bike, new stylish jeans, very new Chucks, a new helmet without one sticker and a clean, clean Chrome bag.

Keep rollin' dude but don't expect any respect from drivers and please don't block the bike lane. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on April 23, 2014 at 3:41pm


I mean he was glaringly new, everything so shiny. I don't salmon but I weave and understand the flow of traffic, staying to the right isn't always what you need to do esp. in the 6 corners area a one lane road that has 3 lanes of traffic at the intersection of people turning left, going straight and turning right and a "soft left" like Damen to Milwaukee vs Damen to North. The point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster than cars and staying behind traffic when you can safely and legally go to the front is a noob rider. 

I'm a too cool for school fixie rider I guess then.


Simon Phearson said:

I guess you must be the super-cool dude cruising around standing traffic, into oncoming lanes, in order to pull off a left turn against the light? By "blocking the bike lane," do you mean, "prevent me from shoaling my way into the intersection and then across the street, against the light."

You haven't described me, but given your description, you'd probably read me as a "noob" if you saw me on the street. Sorry, bro, if I don't make way for you.

Mike Zumwalt said:

I saw a guy, God bless him. Riding with traffic, staying in line behind cars if there was a lack of room to pass, brand new bike, new stylish jeans, very new Chucks, a new helmet without one sticker and a clean, clean Chrome bag.

Keep rollin' dude but don't expect any respect from drivers and please don't block the bike lane. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 23, 2014 at 4:34pm

That might be the point for you.  It is not the point for all.  Since I have only been riding in the city for two years, I will admit to being a noob.  But I know a lot of people with a lot of experience who do not ride the way you suggest. 
 
Mike Zumwalt said:


  The point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster than cars and staying behind traffic when you can safely and legally go to the front is a noob rider. 

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on April 23, 2014 at 4:44pm

OK maybe I missed the point of the "noob" thread or felt like making fun of someone else to make myself feel better? I'm all for safe riding but much like driving you don't like being behind a Semi or a slow driver, someone who is looking for a parking spot without signaling...?

Maybe I'll just make fun of stupidity instead of "noobishness" I remember how it feels to be picked on for being me.

 

Now THIS is funny.


 
Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

That might be the point for you.  It is not the point for all.  Since I have only been riding in the city for two years, I will admit to being a noob.  But I know a lot of people with a lot of experience who do not ride the way you suggest. 
 
Mike Zumwalt said:


  The point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster than cars and staying behind traffic when you can safely and legally go to the front is a noob rider. 

 

Permalink Reply by Andrew on April 23, 2014 at 4:45pm

Must admit, that stuck out to me as well.  I would suggest that perhaps that idea falls under the category of "your mileage may vary."


Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

That might be the point for you.  It is not the point for all.  Since I have only been riding in the city for two years, I will admit to being a noob.  But I know a lot of people with a lot of experience who do not ride the way you suggest. 
 
Mike Zumwalt said:


  The point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster than cars and staying behind traffic when you can safely and legally go to the front is a noob rider. 

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on April 23, 2014 at 5:00pm

And I'm not older than most here, but the average age is mid to late 30's and I'm 40-ish and been riding longer. Don't own a car so I have to ride, walk or transit everywhere, I HAD to learn how to get around by bike and next month will be 10 years without owning a car so I'm not trying to discourage anyone from riding.

Keep calm and ride on.
 
Andrew N said:

Must admit, that stuck out to me as well.  I would suggest that perhaps that idea falls under the category of "your mileage may vary."


Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

That might be the point for you.  It is not the point for all.  Since I have only been riding in the city for two years, I will admit to being a noob.  But I know a lot of people with a lot of experience who do not ride the way you suggest. 
 
Mike Zumwalt said:


  The point of riding a bike in the city is to get places faster than cars and staying behind traffic when you can safely and legally go to the front is a noob rider. 

 

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