I would like to say up front that I don't want to offend anyone here with my judgements...But yesterday I realized I will never truly be a cyclist. Runners are friendlier--at least while out on the road. Simply put. For a somewhat (ok, very) social girl like myself, that's important.
I am relegated to the bike right now while my foot heels up -- it's a great way to keep up my cardio and aerobic capacities so I won't be starting back from scratch when I get the go-ahead to run again later in June. Yesterday I felt my heel was doing well enough that I could take the bike off the trainer I have set up in my sunroom. I'm fortunate enough to live very close to miles and miles of bike/run paths. So I unhooked the bike and headed outside.
My neighborhood is filled with hills, but I no longer fear those--even on a bike. I got going on an uphill climb within my first half mile and passed a group of walkers--probably out on their lunch break. I smiled and said hello--and they kindly returned my greeting.
Kept going. And going. Eventually passed another cyclist. Again, I smiled and said hello. Nothing. Oh, well, I thought, maybe he was in his "zone." A mile later, I passed another cyclist. Again with the hellos. Again--NOTHING. What the heck???
In total, I passed probably 8 to 10 other cyclists and 6 or 7 more runners after that initial group. I nearly got run over by one group of cyclists not adhering to the single-file-stay-to-the-right rule, but he did at least smile and say, "Oh, sorry 'bout that!" as he ran me off the path and thankfully onto a flat grassy area.
At the end of my ride, nice as it was to be outside, I really missed being a runner. Why is it runners seem more friendly to me? Is it because we're going slower than a bike so we have the time to say hello? Is it because we're not constantly looking for curbs, holes, and more at higher speeds? (Ok, as a runner, I DO look for those things as I don't like twisted ankles...) Is it just because I'm really missing being a runner so I'm looking for something negative in everything else?
I do enjoy cycling now--I never thought I would enjoy it this much when I really started incorporating it into my running training 6 months ago. I love the run more. But I wonder what I'd be like as a triathlete? : ) How are those swimmers?
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