I'm really at a breaking point and I don't know what to do here and I just need to vent. The shortened version of the story: Big Government Agency calls me Friday late at night and says get on the plane now. So I missed Starcrossed to go to Georgia. Not so bad yet, although I'm a little peeved. I throw the Madone into my travel case and take it onto the plane.
In 24 hours, I have gotten a total of twelve miles in and had two near accidents with careless Southern drivers. Now I won't ride anymore here. The bicycle is too expensive, and I'm too nervous with all these fatal accidents in Seattle lately, and frankly, I don't think the drivers here even care if they hit you.
Fast forward to this afternoon. Word from the boss is that we will not only be here through the end of the month, but possibly two weeks more. So now I will not only miss Critical Mass this month (the closest ride is in Atlanta, apparently), but I might miss several more CX races. And meanwhile, the Madone is back in the travel case, my back really hurts since I am not riding, and I'm frustrated and angry. And I broke down this evening and cried because my bike is in pieces and I don't even have my spinners to ride in my hotel room.
I know it sounds petty, but I can't take this moving around all the time anymore. I can't stand that my office has a terrible bike culture, like most of the rest of the government and military. And I really can't stand that I don't even have a Tuesday or Thursday ride to vent this off.
We've been complaining about the Seattle bike culture a lot lately. But take a step back for a bit. It's really not that bad. It needs a lot of work, but it's lightyears ahead of backwater Georgia and almost all of the rest of the nation.
FieryIrie
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:52 pm
Joined: 25 Jun 2007Posts: 554Location: Wallingford
Haven't met you yet, but man, I'm so fucking sorry. Our bike culture is one of addiction and it hits hard in the stomach when you can't get your fix. It's true. We are ever so lucky to have the culture, awareness, bike lanes and pussy drivers that we do. Like many things, we take it for granted until we go somewhere and have our privilege swept out from under us.
Only ever having been a biker in Seattle it's like a far off horror story to hear that you can't bike on the streets in other places.
For your back, I know it will be hard, but stretching every day will help. And go get massage. This can help your back a lot. Do some research. Don't waste your money on someone who sucks. You can probably get good cheap massage down there. Sign up at a gym, go work out to keep those endorphines high, or you'll get depressed. Despondantly so.
Push through it and come back to us.
And then get a new job.
Good luck and much love, my friend.
joby
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:14 pm
goes to elevenJoined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 3899Location: The Cloud
I'd get some bright clothes and a pawn-shop bike, and ride anyway. Maybe it will all seem more resonable once you've done some miles.
J
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:50 pm
Joined: 03 Aug 2007Posts: 179Location: by that one arco am/pm
Oh Matt. It is the greatest sadness to hear you undergoing some strange medieval torture down in those southerly parts. Seconding Irie and joby's advice, esp. tai chi/chi gong for the back, doofy as it sounds. And try and find some fat old cruiser to just tool around on if you think you can be safe, but be safe above all. You are best enjoyed in one functioning piece.
God that is just shitty all around. Keep your head down out there; we are pulling for you.
_________________ god damn problem bees
Foo
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:53 pm
Joined: 27 Jul 2007Posts: 583
Damn man, that blows. If it helps at all, Laura and I are doing our best to represent at the VA and get some other folks there to join in.
I've always been impressed by how you stick with it and make the major effort to come out and ride with us - ferry rides, nights spent in hostels and long, lonely rides on narrow roads with the drunks don't manage to dissuade you.
Joby's got a point but if you're that concerned about the drivers out there (and other people I've know that have ridden out there certainly would agree with your assessment), don't risk your neck, nice bike or cheap bike - we want you back out here for more rides.
The next few weeks will blow but the roads will still be here when you get back and we'll still be a bunch of drunken jerk-offs that look forward to riding with you again.
dennyt
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:47 pm
rocket mechanicJoined: 02 Aug 2005Posts: 2708
joby wrote:
I'd get some bright clothes and a pawn-shop bike, and ride anyway. Maybe it will all seem more resonable once you've done some miles.
Neon-clad vegetarian bicyclist engineers FTW!
jillita
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:11 pm
Joined: 13 Oct 2005Posts: 744Location: the westside
Wrap yourself up in an American flag and you'll have an F150 escorting you the whole way.
But really, if you can get out at dawn for 30 mins before all the kooks are on the road that would do a lot for your head. Just do some intervals and that'll be all you need. Go find some crazy lights and make everyone give you a wide berth and do a double take. Hell, there should be plenty of Halloween crap at WalMart. Put a plastic pumpkin on your head.
I managed to tiptoe through CX season while doing 6 weeks in Louisiana at Katrina. I brought my bike down during my second tour but I wouldn't go near the roads because I was terrified of the drivers. I brought my trainer down and rode in my room or outside in the yard before dawn a few times a week. It did enough for my head to remind me there was a world outside that place. And the break from racing was actually more beneficial. Your body doesn't lose conditioning that quickly, so you can actually come back more rested and fired up and kick some serious ass.
Don't give up. We'll win in the end.
lantius
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:40 am
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
jillita wrote:
Wrap yourself up in an American flag and you'll have an F150 escorting you the whole way.
that's what i thought, but all my american-flag enabled touring bike got me on the fourth of july was "america don't want you!!"
it was a little bit confusing.
Eric_s
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:01 am
Joined: 07 Mar 2007Posts: 1691Location: the dirty south
This does not involve cycling, but does involved freaks of nature:
Good luck on the bikes. I agree Seattle can do better, and I've spent some time in Portland, but compared to the rest of this suburban land, we've got it pretty good.
_________________ That's Lemmy, Not Jesus.
TrikerTrev
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:12 am
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
dewd..hang in there...you can do it!!
you're young and have PLENTY of time to get back to biking in the good 'ole nor-west soon enough.
take the advice offered above and keep your head up and your chin set (as my old man used to tell me when i'd get all pissy).
most of all, dont get squashed (physically or mentally) by the asshats around you.
_________________ Insufferable ass, est. 1969
Shannon
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:43 pm
ze doctorJoined: 26 Sep 2007Posts: 115Location: phinney ridge
Matthew, I just sent you some GA bike information....hope you got it. Definitely not a great state to ride in, but depending on where you are there are some options.
Rogelio
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:33 am
Joined: 31 Jul 2007Posts: 3092Location: Pos, aya, por la Corona-Alta-Madera y que no.
My recommendation is to go least squidly as possible lest you inspire contempt; two suggestions:
1. Trash: Cut off t-shirt, frayed jean shirts, orange trucker cap in back pocket, nike hi-tops in some clips, miller high life can in your water bottle holder, emptied then refilled with water of course. Maybe a faded, local sporting club hoodie if the morning air is a bit too brisk.
2. Constitutional: White linen suit, white shirt open three buttons down, pale leather wingtips in some clips, white hankie tied loosely on the handle bars, silver water bottle (for iced tea) and clear bottle (for water).
The first, they'll kind of just leave you alone, and the latter will get you some stares but conversations will pop up when you stop at local establishments. You might even find yourself a fine southern belle parading yourself about in a proper suit, besides the fact that it is probably a mostly work appropriate ensemble.
So anyhow, the week went quickly, and actually, I didn't even try to ride the rest of the week. FieryIrie gave me the suggestion (and it's probably pretty sound) that I should take the week off and do lots of stretching. So I did. Thanks, FieryIrie.
Today, I started up the Instrumentation drawer that was broken and it passed all of its self checks, which was funny since I'm not aware that I found the problem. Nonetheless, it passed standards and the time response testing, so it's "fixed".
I told my boss I was going home on Friday, which he opposed on account that the rest of the cadre is staying over the weekend to continue to fix stuff that isn't my responsibility, which I reminded him wasn't my responsibility. Plane touches down like 2100 tomorrow. I doubt I'll make Green Lake, but we'll see.
I've been smiling like a Cheshire Cat all night.
roja
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:39 am
Joined: 21 Sep 2007Posts: 10
Matthew wrote:
So anyhow... ...Plane touches down like 2100 tomorrow. I doubt I'll make Green Lake, but we'll see.
Oh.
Awesome!
Way to tell the Man how it is, you... employee of the Man.
piratemolly
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:29 am
Joined: 25 Aug 2006Posts: 533Location: here, there, everywhere
Matthew wrote:
So anyhow, the week went quickly, and actually, I didn't even try to ride the rest of the week. FieryIrie gave me the suggestion (and it's probably pretty sound) that I should take the week off and do lots of stretching. So I did. Thanks, FieryIrie.
Today, I started up the Instrumentation drawer that was broken and it passed all of its self checks, which was funny since I'm not aware that I found the problem. Nonetheless, it passed standards and the time response testing, so it's "fixed".
I told my boss I was going home on Friday, which he opposed on account that the rest of the cadre is staying over the weekend to continue to fix stuff that isn't my responsibility, which I reminded him wasn't my responsibility. Plane touches down like 2100 tomorrow. I doubt I'll make Green Lake, but we'll see.
I've been smiling like a Cheshire Cat all night.
Sweet! Come to my Safety First ride on Saturday! You'll get some decent riding in on that, for sure.
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