Bike Gang Community

I'm a biker; I'm tough, I'm strong; I'm aggressive; I'm dressed all in black; I'm helmet & sunglasses clad free-spirit; I love the open road, the wind in my face, and I look good in leather chaps - wait...

I'm not that kind of biker; I ride a Cervelo, not a Harley. I'm a cyclist.

But this weekend I was acknowledged on the open road by a biker on a Harley – bikers have a cool way of saluting oncoming bikers (left hand off the handlebar, arm down, palm facing forward – it always makes me think that they’re going to slap hand in some high-speed low-five) – which got me thinking of the similarities between motor-bikers and bicycle-bikers.

We both travel in groups on the highway. We tend to congregate in parking lots and swap stories about our time on the open road. The wise among us always wear helmets. And most interestingly, we generally acknowledge fellow riders whether or not we know them.

I think there’s a sense of fellowship that is generated by seeing someone else travelling the same road you are – it’s a way of saying – “Hey buddy, I don’t know you, but I know how hard you’re working – keep up the fight!”

I am sure I am not the only cyclist to have consumed winged-protein or the only one to try to will a headwind to dissipate or to worry that the hill is indeed too steep to climb. Even in races fellow cyclists have encouraged me to keep going (albeit, I am not a threat, so you can encourage me all you like with little ill-effect). But still I am buoyed up by the camaraderie that my fellow cyclists show.

It goes a long way to counteract the downsides of cycling. The us versus them mentality of most vehicle drivers (why on earth do they think that honking as they come up behind is actually helpful – it’s more likely to startle me and I end up weaving out into the road in front of them – maybe that’s their plan – Evil Vehicle Drivers).

What would possess someone to slow down to 30 kph on a highway to ask a cyclist for directions?? This happened to me, this past weekend, so that’s why I ask. He almost caused an accident – the guy in the truck behind him was less than impressed (as was I as I cursed at the guy to piss off – sorry, I tend to get a bit aggressive when I ride).

I have been dive bombed by Red-winged Blackbirds and I have swerved to avoid gophers running across the road and I have kept a wary eye on a coyote at the side of the road, just in case. I have also ducked from shadows of swooping swallows and other birds.

I’m sure all cyclists have such tales to tell - possibly even wilder tales of wildlife woes.

It is funny how almost empowered I feel from being acknowledged or in acknowledging others – there is a sense of community there, yes, I’m slogging it out on the highway on my own, but I’m not alone out there. There are others that understand my pain.

So when you see me out there and you’re a fellow rider, give me a nod or a wave and I’ll do the same – welcome to my Biker Community. And if you’re a driver, don’t honk, don’t slow down, just give me some room and a little wave in your rear-view mirror and I’ll welcome you into my Community too!