the nod
from a passing cyclist
dude.
hey.
seen you out here before.
do I maybe know you?
usually
lycra begets lycra
messenger bags peg kits
backpacks hey panniers
early morning riders see other early morning riders
the helmetless
in tennies
look down the trail
~
while
out on an errand run
down the trail on the 'cross ride
library, post office, bank
auto parts store
in plain clothes
tank and baggy capris
backpack-purse
the hairy-faced man
in the jeans on the Schwinn
finally
gave me the nod
- Baggie nodworthy
10 comments:
Interesting how I'm regarded differently when I'm wearing my team kit vs. generic lycra vs. street wear, riding the race bike vs. the 'cross bike vs. the fixie, by other cyclists, pedestrians, motorists. Nice evocative words - been trying to put thoughts together about that lately as a matter of fact. No gift of poetry for me though.
I made some similar observations last year, although not nearly as poetically :)
I've especially noticed it lately -- I'm off in the summers and I ride The Sweetie's commute in the AM, then head back home down the Cedar Lake trail...I don't have the same cred with other commuters, it seems, now that I don't have the bag on my back.
Nonetheless, there's alot of cross-group recognition...
...but yet not.
"nodworthy" --- (nod)
snakebite, +1
thx
ah yes, street cred.
sometimes i go without my kit when i'm feeling anti-social, so that no one will pay attention to me. and it works.
Your words captured it :) Being nodworthy so makes my day. (I still float when I remember the guy who saluted me with a peace sign ;))
Kinda sounds like The (bicycle) People, Yes?
:)
"These are hereos then, among the plain people? Heroes did you say? And why not?"
"They give all they've got and ask no questions and take what comes...."
Post a Comment