What is it about riding that opens one up to a steady drip of stupid comments? Once the snow hits the ground they go from amusing to err…what? Granted, the number of cyclists plummets in the winter, especially once the snow flies. I get that it’s not common.
We’re not however crazy, insane or obsessed (well…maybe obsessed) any more than we are the rest of the year. Perhaps I shouldn’t say we – I am the Lorax, I speak for the winter cyclists - I only know me. I am no more crazy now than I was when the sun was beating down from above, sweat dripping in my eyes. I’m still sweaty, panting and working hard but now it’s all in the dark. And that’s okay (but good heavens, if you’re going to be on the pathways while the sun is down, get a $3 blinkie light so your black bike, black pants, black jacket and black gloves don’t blend into the black path and black bunch of trees I’m staring at).
I was on my way out the door when a normally sane co-worker called out as I passed, “you’re insane man (head shake), make sure you don’t get hit out there”. If I hadn’t been on the verge of over-heating and itching to get outside, I might have stopped to get a little clarity on this novel idea. What do you mean “make sure I don’t get hit”? You mean, when I’m riding my reflective-covered, flashing LED-adorned self down the street-light lit street, I should endeavor to make sure I maintain control of the cars coming up behind me? Or that I should divine which home-bound commuter coming from behind me is fighting with his girlfriend in the passenger seat and not paying attention? Or…or what exactly?
See, the formation of that statement – the choice of words and their position imply that if I were to get hit, I am to blame. If I run the lights or a stop sign, change lanes without looking, turn left across traffic when it’s not clear or at a stretch (a stretch because as much of the lane as I require to ride safely is legally mine) wander about in my own lane then yes, I would be responsible for the ensuing carnage. Being hit by a motorist because they passed me and then turned right across my path, or an on-coming car making a left, an exuberant lane change that side-swipes me, pulling out of the parking lot or side road without looking or simply not paying attention – these are not my fault. I assure you as the one completely exposed, I’m doing my best to get to my destination in the same condition I left. As an alternative, I propose the following: when you’re driving, don’t hit a cyclist*.
What of the constant assertion that we’re insane? We’re nuts! I must respectfully disagree. I’m not the crazy one here. I’m about to take the 600 calories I ingested with that doughnut and cookie I ate earlier and consume it as energy and heat during my ride home. Now, I really ate too much and the 450 calories I’ll burn off will leave me with a calorie abundance so perhaps I’ll shovel the sidewalk and the driveway. You however are, by yourself, going to jump into your SUV that gets an (optimistic) 22 miles per (IMP) gallon and drive the 15 kilometers home (how’s that for mixed units?). In the process you will – at the very least – consume (give or take) 16,300 calories of energy through the 1.95 litres of gasoline you consume. Sixteen thousand. You may arrive 10 minutes earlier than I do so those 16,000 calories aren’t without benefit I suppose. 450 kcals vs. 16,000. I can ride home on your rounding error. Who’s the crazy one? Now, what are you gonna do with that doughnut and cookie you ate?
*or a group of cyclists, pedestrians, joggers, runners, speed-walkers or really, anything or anyone.
the math for anyone that cares:
- One litre of gasoline contains 35 megajoules of energy
- 1 megajoule equals 238.845 kcalories
- 35 megajoules equals 8359.6 kcalories
- 22 IMP mpg equals 7.7 litres per kilometer.
- 15km / 7.7 l/km equals 1.95 litres
- 1.95 litres x 8359.6 kcals equals
- 16,301 kcals