Friendly BMW driver

[BentMikey]

I pulled up next to a chap in a lovely BMW convertible today, and cheekily told him my bike was faster than his car (well, in that traffic it was). He laughed, and we had a friendly chat complimenting each other's rides. That was until we suddenly saw tens of flashbulbs going off. I look to my left and there's about 100 tourists all taking photos of us.

I thought I'd seen the zenith of attention before, but not until today. Well flattered, and the BMW driver was quite taken aback. After buying a convertible, likely for the attention, he gets upstaged by a peasant on a bike. It's the advantage/disadvantage of riding a recumbent (delete as applicable). Most of my mates complain how the bike makes them invisible when riding with me.

 

[gaz]

When i've ridden with you all i see is people staring at you. Either thats good or bad.. them being more aware that your on the road is a good thing, but do they notice the rest of us?

 

[hackbike 666]

. I look to my left and there's about 100 tourists all taking photos of us.

I thought I'd seen the zenith of attention before, but not until today. Well flattered, and the BMW driver was quite taken aback. After buying a convertible, likely for the attention, he gets upstaged by a peasant on a bike. It's the advantage/disadvantage of riding a recumbent (delete as applicable). Most of my mates complain how the bike makes them invisible when riding with me.

I knew it..Why did I think you were riding a recumbent?

 

[Arch]

It's the advantage/disadvantage of riding a recumbent (delete as applicable).

Riding down a cyclepath yesterday on the Catrike, a chap came along in the other direction, on the wrong side, weaving about a bit and shouting excitedly over his shoulder - not English, maybe Turkish by his looks? Anyway, I smiled but shouted "Wrong side!" as I was forced to pass him on the other side. He grinned and shouted sorry (I think), and then round the corner I saw his 8 or 9 mates (also all Middle Eastern looking), all on identical bikes (I assume they must have been a group out on hire bikes) - whatever he shouted must have warned them, as one had his camera ready and snapped me as they passed! Lots of cheers and waves (I grinned and waved for the camera!).

A few yards behind, the last one, wobbling a lot. I don't think he'd ridden a bike for a while...

The great thing was, apart from the last guy, who was getting left behind, they were all grinning like little kids at being on bikes! And I think seeing me might have made their day!

Later, nearly home, I heard a small girl explaining to her mum that my trike was one of those where 'you don't have to use your arms'.

Which is ironic, as many people can ride, and steer, a bike no-handed for some distance, but on a trike it's pretty much impossible...

 

[BentMikey]

That's a cool story Arch!!

 

[BrumJim]

Most of my mates complain how the bike makes them invisible when riding with me.

I know how they feel. Your recumbent makes me invisible on my standard road bike, even though I'm over 100 miles away from you.....

 

[Arch]

That's a cool story Arch!!

It was a happy type of day yesterday. I made friends with two dogs - if I'm not in a hurry, and the owner is there I tend to stop and let dogs come up and investigate me. Then I saw a couple of horseriders up ahead when I was near home, and wondering how to pass them (well, obviously, I'd call out and see what they wanted to do, but it was a fairly narrow lane, and I've just got a new and very flappy flag), and when one turned round and saw me, they moved up to a trot. So I just sat some way behind them at their pace (quite enough for me at that stage!), until we got into Bishopthorpe and they could pull over and turn the horses to face me as I went past - we exchanged greetings, and I went by slowly to let them have a good look. All very congenial.