the Cycotherapy News Roundup
an encounter, headlines, bombs, reminiscing on 10-speeds
The other day I rode my bike to work. At the office, I had a rough day. On my way back home, a guy driving his car behind me honked his horn as we both approached a red light.
I turned around and we made eye contact before he said something unintelligible, but recognizable by tone and gesture: he was annoyed with my presence in the road. I just shook my head and turned around, waiting for the light to turn green.
He wasn’t done with me. The dude kept yelling stuff at me, but I didn’t really understand the meaning behind the words. One phrase caught my attention, though.
“You dropped your dick.”
Again, not sure the meaning behind the words. So I just kept looking forward, shaking my head.
“HEY MAN, GET OUT OF THE ROAD.”
I understood that. But, given the day I had just had, I snapped. I turned around and said:
“Why don’t you get out of your little stupid car and make me get off the road?!”
The next moments are a blur. What I can remember is the shirtless man wearing a red bandana around his shaved head push his car door open with such force that it nearly hit him on the way back as he stood on the asphalt, turned to me and looked me square in the eyes.
“What’d you say, pretty bike boy?”
“I said wHy DOn’T yoU MAKE mE gEt ofF thE RoaD?” emphasizing each repeated word. I remember being surprised at my hubris in this moment. You’re being kinda stupid, here, Dillon. This guy isn’t huge, but he looks like he rolls with a certain I-don’t-care-about-going-to-jail kinda swagger.
All my logic vanished. It was like my peripherals and care for consequence narrowed into a singular curiosity to see how this unfolded. I dismounted my bike, picked it up over my head and walked toward him. He must have seen something in my eye, because he then began shuffling back into his car. But he was too slow. As I closed the gap between us I swung my bike down toward his head and made contact, knocking his bandana off. Without thinking, I picked it up again and went for a second blow but he had already re-entered the car and began to speed off.
“That’s what I thought!” I yelled as he peeled away. I pumped my bike above my head in victory as he sped away, the engine whinnying like a horse in heat.
Ok. I admit it. None of that happened. At least not the part about hitting him with my bike. The real story is much more boring. He did say something about me dropping my dick, and then he said my shoe was untied, and then he asked if I wanted to race as the light turned green. I just ignored him.
But in my fantasy I knew exactly what to say and do. In my fantasy I showed him who was boss. In my fantasy he retold the encounter to everyone who ever taunted cyclists from their cars.
I should make something clear: I don’t condone nor encourage assault. Violence isn’t (always) the answer. But I think we’ve all been in my shoes with over-confident, raucous drivers. Let us know in the comments if I’m right.
Sincerely,
dillon.
headlines & links
Cool bike tech featured at Taipei Cycle Show
From super light drop bars to 3D printed titanium(??!) bikes to AI-powered cameras mounted to saddles, this 15-minute video from Velo shows all the cool stuff from this year’s show. (March 26-29.)
REI expanding cycling offerings
REI announced an exclusive partnership with French-brand Van Rysel’s gravel bike collection. It means the store will be the only U.S. retailer to carry the brand, starting April 1. Recreational Equipment, Inc. is also expanding its offerings in other cycling categories, partnering for example with the Canadian MTB brand Rocky Mountain. Also: Swift Industries, Stio and Peppermint Cycling.
Legal trouble at No. 22
No. 22 Bicycles, a New York-based titanium bike manufacturer, is going after imitators of their brand. Looks like the lawsuit stems from a disgruntled former employee, Ken Goh, who decided to start his own version of the brand once he left.
A program for 50-plusers
Bicycling Magazine launched a program aimed at people over 50 who want to “gain confidence in the saddle.” It does require a subscription to the mag, but it looks to be pretty comprehensive. Here’s an excerpt about the program: “In How to Ride Strong at 50+, our experts will help you gain confidence in the saddle while providing the tools you need to keep riding for life. We’ll help you find the right bike for your goals (that includes e-bikes!), develop the skills to keep progressing, dive into cross-training essentials, and offer tips for optimal recovery so you can ride consistently with less aches and pains.”
feature of the week
I don’t typically get political here. And my highlighting of this article isn’t aimed at making any sort of political statement. I actually tend to think that all humans, elected or not, are capable of lying, cheating, making mistakes and hurting others. It’s just more consequential when an elected person does it, which is why we should scrutinize all decisions made by elected and public officials.
The reason I’m highlighting this piece is simple: it’s a crazy story. Here’s a journalist who just so happens to find a text inviting him to a secure group chat that just so happens to include some of the most powerful people in the free world talking about strategies behind dropping bombs on Yemen. What?! How does this happen?
Anyway, it’s a good read. The link goes to an archived version of the story. (So all of us who don’t pay for a subscription to The Atlantic can read it for free.)
book excerpt of the week
1.) 10 Terrific Tips for Buying a 10-Speed (with a little bit on one-speeds and three-speeds)
Look, we know how you’re going to read this chapter. You’re going to skip all the stuff about three-speeds and one-speeds and go right to the 10-speed part, right? Well, don’t. We understand how you feel. Somebody mentions “bicycle” and your brain cells start screaming “10-speed! 10-speed!” over and over again until you can’t think about anything else.
We know. Our little brain cells do the same thing. We have 10-speeds. To be honest, lots of 10-speeds. Garages and garages full of 10-speeds. We love 10-speeds. They’re the most interesting kind of bike.
Even so, a 10-speed may not be the bike for you. So let’s make a deal. There’s plenty here about 10-speeds. But read the one-speed and three-speed stuff first. And we’ll make you two promises:
We’ll keep it short.
We’ll include one interesting story. But we won’t tell you where the story is. You’ll have to read all the way through.
-The Bike Book by Doug Colligan and Dick Teresi, excerpt from chapter 1. (1979)
PKR25
Here’s the weekly plug for Peckerhead 2025, a bike ride through the Mohican/Mansfield hills of Ohio:
What: Peckerhead 2025
When: June 14, 2025
Where: 451 Davis Road, Mansfield OH 44907
How much: Free (donations welcome)
Why: Because.
Should I RSVP? Yes you should. Click the button below.
(Stay tuned for routes. Typically there are three. One is around 35 miles. The other is around 60 miles. The other is around 70-80 miles.)
So far, there are 17 brave souls who have signed up for PKR25. Will you be the 18th?
Also, if you’re reading this and you have kids, read this: we’re planning something for the littles, too. Something along the lines of “The Lil Pecker.” Perhaps a lap around the neighborhood to lead us all out. More details to come …
Catch up on what the heck PKR is with links below.
I loved reading that story but was shocked that the world had driven our cycotherapist to psychosis, even if it was understandable. Glad it was a fantasy. Cars/people are why mountain biking is the more reliable therapy!
Impatient drivers and people addicted to their cell phones are the main threats to us road riders. Stay safe out there, everyone. I registered for the PKR. If it was a repeat...sorry bout that.