Make yourself human

[domtyler]

I generally take the opportunity to clear my nasal passages and throat of any debris or build up of mucus.

 

[goo_mason]

Lifting a cheek off the saddle and letting rip really brings me down to the level of many of the drivers around me on the road. Especially if I then wink at them and say, "One more turn on the crank handle and she'd have started, Jeeves !"

 

[dondare]

I make myself human by not looking like a "cyclist". I don't wear a helmet and I don't wear lycra for my 11 mile each way commute. I used to, but these days I am mindful of the axiom "distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes". I want people to see cycling as something that is done by normal people and can therefore be done by them.

 

[magnatom]

Good. We are all being human enough to avoid being flattened.... except dom who, where being flattened may be the most humane.....

 

[beanzontoast]

Recently I've noticed that I do something when waiting at traffic lights. I've found I tend scratch my leg or nose, do a big sigh, pick at my fingers, fiddle with my bike etc. I caught myself doing it recently and I realised that sub-consciously I was doing it to try and humanise myself, i.e. to make sure that the drivers around me saw me as a person and not a cyclist.

Does anyone else do this type of thing? Do you think it makes a difference?

When the warm weather sets in (still waiting) and they have their windows wound down I should start singing songs to them, I wonder if that would work. I was once Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls you know.....


Luck be a lady tonight........

Add taking your glasses off and giving them a wipe, replacing them a fraction of second before the light turns green?

Or letting your arms hang down by your side and flexing your fingers?

Or flicking your brake handles?

Or fiddling with the straps on your gloves?

Never before realised it's because I'm trying to signal to the 'commuter pack' that I'm part of their 'flange'!

 

[yenrod]

Recently I've noticed that I do something when waiting at traffic lights. I've found I tend scratch my leg or nose, do a big sigh, pick at my fingers, fiddle with my bike etc. I caught myself doing it recently and I realised that sub-consciously I was doing it to try and humanise myself, i.e. to make sure that the drivers around me saw me as a person and not a cyclist.

Does anyone else do this type of thing? Do you think it makes a difference?

When the warm weather sets in (still waiting) and they have their windows wound down I should start singing songs to them, I wonder if that would work. I was once Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls you know.....


Luck be a lady tonight........

Mag - your VERY real its the stupid casque dwellers that are false !

 

[Absinthe Minded]

I do this, mostly it's smiling, looking round, and talking to drivers or other cyclists. Makes a huge difference.

Yeah, that's a good thing to do - especially the drivers. Trouble is, it's not always easy deciding what to talk to them about. Traffic's always a good one, but I do wonder if sometimes they think I'm gloating. Cyclists are easy - always lots to talk about with them.

 

[Bodhbh]

I dunno. Clowning around at the lights, I would think looks like your trying to drawn attention to yourself. I try and look as much like I'm as ready to move off as the lights turn green as poss. Think your already got easy eye contact and more human than the other bods in the cars.

 

[Tetedelacourse]

I just watch for the lights changing and try to figure out how to guarantee that I clip in first time.

Maybe the occassional star jump from time to time too, just to let them know I'm human.

 

[summerdays]

I've taken to slowing to a crawl at a stop, standing on the pedals, turning the front wheel gracefully, as I rock gently sideways and forwards, perfectly balanced, waitig for the lights to change to green, my head poised with the grace of a (male) ballet dancer, assured and steady, before, 2 sec later, my feet start pedalling backwards in a fury to maintain my balance, the bike wobbles, I wobble and then just place my foot on the ground. Many feet in front of the stop juction at this point.

Hmm I have been known to try not to put my foot down .. but the words "perfectly balanced" and "poised" wouldn't describe what I probably look like... but I'm good at the bike wobbles, foot on the ground bit of the description ... which usually makes me laugh at myself as I imagine they are too.

 

[Joe24]

I have a drink, might have something to eat, lean dwn on my bike if i have been pushing hard and feel bad, scratch my arse, look around to see whats going on.
I'll have a look around to see if there are any nice women going to be walking past me aswell

 

[snapper_37]

scratch my arse, look around to see whats going on. I'll have a look around to see if there are any nice women going to be walking past me aswell

I hope you don't scratch your arse when there are any fair pieces walking past you

 

[redjedi]

I hope you don't scratch your arse when there are any fair pieces walking past you

Is that not the normal mating ritual? Followed by adjusting the contents of your shorts and letting out a loud belch?

 

[Tetedelacourse]

You're missing the "sniff finger" step out. Or am I wrongly including it?

 

[snapper_37]

Is that not the normal mating ritual? Followed by adjusting the contents of your shorts and letting out a loud belch?

*swooooon*