Obligatory regard for cycling safety

So, on my way home from the TNR last night I passed 5 cyclists on Bauer road west of 48th.  4 were together, and 1 appeared to have been dropped by the group. They were all in similar kit...and, it was kit I've seen at Grattan.  I don't know if it was shop kit, team kit, or just "look at us, we wear matching spandex" kit.  In any case, it was clear that they were together.

So why bring this up?  It's not as if I write something on this blog every time I drive past someone on a bike.

Here is the deal...it was dark outside when I was nearing Jenison.  Thus, it was dark when I passed these fellows pedaling along.  The guy who was by himself was nearly invisible in those light conditions and I damn near pegged him with my car.  So, you can imagine the guilt I'd have felt about that one!

Shortly ahead of him (1/4 mile) were the other four riding together.  There was one guy among these four who came prepared with front and rear blinkies.  Still...I could see that there was A cyclist ahead.  I could not determine that there was a group of cyclists ahead.  So, even though I knew to be looking for them, it was still a bit dicey passing these guys riding two abreast.

So my question is as follows...where does my obligation to their safety begin and end?

My first reaction was...Uh Oh, these guys got caught too far from home after dark and now their going to get killed.  So, I slowed down as I passed the lead group...rolled down my window and waited for them to catch me.  But, then it occurred to me that they didn't need my help...it was the poor guy they had dropped that needed help.  So, I turned around and drove back to the guy who had fallen off the group.

I don't know what I was thinking I would do for this fella...but, it just seemed like I should tell him that I had nearly killed him 2 minutes before that.  I pulled next to him and asked if he had a blinkie...he said no.  I informed him that he was nearly invisible and that I was concerned for his safety.  He then informed me that he'd already made a phone call and had someone coming to pick him up.

I took this to mean that he understand his precarious situation, but that he was dealing with it.  So, I told him to be safe and I made my way home.

Afterward I wondered if I should have done more...did I do too much?  When I'm in my car, I have the standard obligation to keep cyclists on the road safe.  This is no different than any other motorist.  However, since I'm a cyclist (I still had my rack and bike on the back of my car as I was on my way home from my own group ride), should I hold myself to a higher standard in regards to cyclist safety?

Should I have turned around and said something like I did?  I was half expecting him to tell me to buzz off..."I know its dark, leave me alone", or something similar.  But, he didn't...he seemed grateful for my concern and answered it by letting me know that he was dealing with the situation.  He could have just as well told me to mind my own business, though.  So...was I just making an nuisance of myself or was it the right thing to do?

Should I have done more?  I had a space left on my rack and plenty of seats in my car.  I could have given at least him a ride somewhere to wait for whoever was picking him up.  But, I didn't offer that.  And, afterward, I felt like I should have.  I also thought that I could have taken a few minutes and just trailed behind him with my flashers on...it sounded like he wasn't going far.  It would have cost me 10 minutes, but possibly saved his life.  A pretty small trade off in my opinion.  But, I didn't do that either.  After I spoke with him it sort of felt like it would have been a bit presumptuous on my part to do that.  Still...even if he didn't particularly need or want my help, should I feel a moral obligation to keep him safe?

If I picked up the paper this morning and found an article about how that guy had been hit by a car, I don't think I'd have relieved my guilt by reminding myself that it would have been presumptuous to take responsibility for his safety.

So, again, where does my own responsibility for his safety begin and end?  I know the legal answer.  I'm not sure I know the moral answer.

Busy much?

Seems like I've been swamped lately.  However, I was recently told that it was definitely time for an update on my blog.  Thus...an update appears.

So what to discuss?

ODRAM?  It was awesome.  One of the best days I've ever had on the bike.  Good company, great weather, lots of Oreos...what more could I ask for.  I had a blast, I felt good on the bike and I rode pretty strong (for me).  Finished in 8.5 hours or so (ride time) and was chowing down on dinner by about 5:30PM.

Travel?  Yeah, I was out of town for about a week.  I missed the first KissCross of the season, missed a TNR, and generally fell out of the loop.  I spent the week in Minnesota at a company retreat.  We had some meetings and...gasp...played golf.  Yep.  Golf.  I know, I know...you've probably never heard me discuss golf before.  But, there once was a time when it was the central focus of my life, and not just because it was my career.  I was pretty good...not great...but, good enough to set high expectations.  But, in the past years I've not had the time or inclination to work on my game the way I should.  Thus, when I do play, I play pretty poorly.  And, I find that more frustrating than not playing at all...so, I just don't play.  Except, this year I needed to play at the company retreat.  I teed it up for the first time in a year...literally.  I suck.  It's a good thing I got to play with some good people.  My friend Erin entertained me enough to keep me from getting depressed on the first day.  Then, my friend Michael Angelo (no really, that's his name!) picked up the role of keeping me from hitting the Quit-Life button during the second day.  I survived the travel, the meetings, and the golf...thus, I'm posting to tell you about it.  Score.

JDRF?  I'm panicking...I don't have nearly enough money raised yet.  I started off on fire about 6 months ago.  And, I knew I could count on significant donations from my friends around my company.  Sadly, the turmoil within our corporate office made the idea of doing fundraising seem a bit awkward.  So, I avoided it.  Now, I'm left needing to raise a boat load of money and with fairly little time to do it.  My wife has commit to helping me by sending out some letters on my behalf.  But...in truth, I'm probably going to have to start knocking on doors at some local businesses to see if they can do something.  Heather (who is a saint!) is helping me out with a Yoga fundraiser.  So, hopefully I'll be able to get something figured out.

Riding?  Not much.  At least, not nearly where I was in June & July.  Seems like when MC is out of town my miles fall off greatly.  Probably not a coincidence.  ;-)  I've not been commuting lately...I believe the pedals on my Volpe were a contributing factor in the destruction of my left knee.  And, until I can afford better pedals, I'm avoiding riding that bike.  Sadly, I'm going to need to figure something out soon or I won't be doing any 'cross, any crazy bastard rides, or any more commuting (I don't like taking the C-Dale for commuter rides.  I feel like I'm beating the life out of it).

Business?  Yep.  I still have a job.

My brain?  Yep...technically, it's still here too.  Though, to be honest, it seems to be working ever more sporadically.  I get the feeling that I'm slowly evacuating the real world as I slip ever further in to my own strange little universe.  Hm.  Yeah...I ain't right.

More from Fail Blog

see more pwn and owned pictures

This one is for Jasker...I don't know why. It just made me think of him. Maybe it was the conversation we had about the US Open while we were riding on Sunday.

see more pwn and owned pictures

And, this one is a gift for MC and the rest of good JDRF people who had to deal with DHL while in Whitefish last week. MC...would you say this pretty well sums it up?

see more pwn and owned pictures

Google Chrome

So I've been giving Google's new browser a try for the past few days.  And, after a short trial period, I think I can say that I like it.

It's not perfect.  There are still some little tweaks that need to be made...a few bugs to work out.  But, it is still just a beta version...so, it's not going to be perfect.

It does take some getting used to in so far as it operates on a slightly different plan that Firefox or IE8.  Seems like more of the functions are integrated and it just figures out what you want.  To me, I'm used to looking for a different button for every function within a browser.  This one seems to combine a lot of the functions in to a just a few minimal buttons.  It's interesting...and a bit different.  Give it a try.  It's available here.

Tag! I'm it?

I'm not sure what sort of an idiotic game this is...but, my wife "tagged" me in her blog.  So, now I have to answer some silly questions.

So...check Karin's blog if you want to verify that she tagged me.  And, that I did, in fact, "get sensitive" about the fact that she tagged 3 blogs (you are supposed to tag 4), but intentionally left my blog un-tagged.  The nerve!

Anyway...question answering time.

-What four places to I visit over and over?

1. Work

2.  Home

3.  Velo City Cycles

4.  Jimmy Johns

-Four people who email me regularly?

1.  Work

2.  My wife (Yes, the above mentioned Karin)

3.  Mike "MC" Clark.  Cyclist.  Guitarist.  Vocalist.  Husband.  Father.  Mayor of Velo City Cycles.  JDRF Team Captain and Coach.  HUP Member.  Crazy Bastard.  And, all around good guy.

4.  My mother.

-Four places I would rather be right now?

1.  On vacation "up north"...Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinac...I don't care.  Cool nights.  Starlight skies.  Camp fires and s'mores.  Bike rides on expansive roads with very few cars.  ahhh.

2.  On my bike.

3.  On a golf course.

4.  In bed.

-Four TV Shows I watch over and over?

1.  The olympics...in spite of my griping over the coverage, I pretty much watch it non-stop while it is on.  and, now that it is gone...well...I feel so lost.  Help me?!?

2.  The US Open (Tennis) right now...I love watching tennis.

3.  "The Majors" in golf...The Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship (British open to us yanks), and the PGA Championship.

4.  Top Gear (It's a BBC Thing)

-Four things I have for breakfast?

1.  A Banana

2.  "The Balanced Breakfast" from Arnies.  Buy one, get the second one for $.99 if you print the coupon off of their website.  ;-)  Heck of a deal if you've got a friend who wants breakfast too.

3.  The Good Earth - #34, no cream cheese.

4.  Pancakes, Waffles, or French Toast if I can talk Karin in to it...doesn't happen very often, but it's great when it does.

-Four animals I like best?

Ugghh...this feels like a question I'd have to answer for a quiz from my daughter.  Is this a pets type thing?  Or, just sort of a theoretical question where I can pick any animal?  In the interests of being a pain in the butt...here...

1.  Dragons

2.  Unicorns

3.  Griffins

4.  Centaurs

-Name four beaches I've been to?

Ok...four of them...in order from North to South

1.  Grand Haven

2.  Holland

3.  Saugatuck

4.  South Haven

Now...for the fun part.  And, frankly, the only reason that I really wanted to get tagged.  I get to tag other people.  I have 4 in mind...

MC, Club Velo...you know...Mike "I'll sleep when I'm dead" Clark

Ted Bentley

Danielle Musto

Maynard Hershon

Ha...we'll see if any of these respond.  I know Maynard won't.  And, I doubt Dannielle will.  I don't know if Ted even reads my blog any more.  And, MC probably won't have time.

But, nonetheless.  Tag...you're it!