randomduck

In this case, the stars are Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Andy Griffith….

…

…

… supporting Barack Obama!

Now Ron and Henry are no surprise, but Andy is a stunner. I would’ve pegged him as a McCain guy - I’m so happy to be wrong.

Enjoy the short walk down memory lane with Opie, Sheriff Taylor, Richie and The Fonz:

Popularity: 31% [?]

Here’s a summary of what’s been going on in my life of late:

Over the long weekend (a.k.a. Columbus Day weekend - or “Insanely Politically Incorrect Federal Holiday Weekend”) sprite and I went to New England for three things: a wedding, visiting family, and a bike ride. We got to see her best friend, Karen, marry her sweetheart, Michael, in a lovely outdoor ceremony in Massachusetts. I got to hang out with Sam and Alexis, which was an all-too-brief treat. And I got to sample both the T and Amtrak, connecting the two in Boston - go, railroads!

That same weekend, I rode the Great River Ride in western Massachusetts. I’ve done this ride twice before, though both previous times the ride was my big ride of the year. Given that the Shasta Summit Super Century filled that role this year, I was past peak form at this ride - and it showed. It didn’t help that I was out late at the wedding the previous night and was a bit short of sleep and proper nutrition as a result, but I wasn’t as fast as I was in 2007. And I didn’t really care, as it was a beautiful day for riding and simply enjoying being outside in the beautiful foliage.

This past weekend, I got the chance to catch up with an old friend: Levi Leipheimer. Most of you may know him as one of the greatest professional cyclists in the United States, who won the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, who placed second in this year’s Vuelta a España and third in last year’s Tour de France. I know him as a former teammate at Rowmark Ski Academy, back when we were both alpine ski racers out west. It was fun to see him and catch up on life - small world.

I also got the chance to try out the new Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 bike drivetrain, which features electronic shifting. It’s very slick, and had this Campagnolo user convinced that this could be a big deal. Campy is working on something similar, but it looks like Shimano will beat ‘em to market.

sprite and I continue to prepare for our upcoming trip to France. This involves a lot of house cleaning (we don’t fancy returning to a messy apartment, though I’m sure the cats will try their damnedest to ensure that some things will be out of place), some half-baked attempts at brushing up on my French (thank you, podcasts and French radio), and narrowing down wish lists of things to see and do.

All the while, I’m hoping that Obama can keep the momentum and win this election. It’s not going to be easy, given that the RNC and McCain campaign are throwing everything on the table to try and discredit Sen. Obama. It’s pathetic, but it’s also effective when aimed at people who don’t take the time to learn the truth about claims laid out in smear campaigns. 12 more days - keep up the good, aggressive, positive fight, Barack and Joe!

Popularity: 37% [?]

Yesterday morning, as I rode my typical route to work, I was almost hit - and then yelled at in language that would make a sailor blush - by a fellow road user.

I was on my usual commuter bike, riding around 20 mph in a 25 mph zone alone R Street, NW, when a man in a metallic slate Land Rover pulled up close behind me, intending to pass me in a double-yellow zone. As this stretch of road is a bit of a breakover hill, I had the motorist’s best needs in mind: two cyclists and a Mini approached going in the opposite direction, and I wasn’t sure that the driver could pass me before crashing into the opposing lane’s traffic. And this is a road where drivers can park on the curb, which makes it a narrow, two-lane stretch where most cyclists need to take the center of the lane to avoid the door zone.

So I used the internationally-recognized hand signal for slowing (left hand out and down, palm facing toward the following traffic) to inform the driver that he’d best wait to pass.

He honked and yelled at me, and pulled to within a few inches of my rear wheel. I was not amused.

He then revved his engine and tried to pass again, even as the oncoming cyclists still hadn’t cleared his way. So I held out my hand forcefully and yelled “slow down, man!” to the driver.

Again, the horn. Again, the yelling and swearing:

“Get off the fucking road! You don’t fucking belong there, in the lane, in my way!”

I stick to my ground, as is my legal right, and proceed to the light at Wisconsin Avenue, which is red.

And I pull to a stop at the intersection, positioning my bike across the single, wide lane, blocking this guy from racing onward.

And he yells at me again, using the same tired arguments as before. I just let him do it.

And I notice his license plate: DC tags, 433.

Yup - a low-number tag, which is a political pay-off for high-roller supporters of the mayor.

It’s one of the ultimate statements of political vanity in DC’s incestuous political system.

And as a motorist, it makes you extremely easy to identify if you get into any tussle with a fellow user of the road.

So I sit there through the entire 56-second cycle of the traffic light.

As this goes on, he’s fuming. I eventually say to him “check the bike laws - and check with your friend, Mayor Fenty - I think he’s a cyclist, too.”

The light on R Street then changed to green, and I rode off, continuing to work. As he rounded the corner, he held his arm out as if to go after me, but was far short of his goal.

This autumn has seen an increase in bad blood between cyclists and motorists, as more cyclists take to the road and motorists are forced to accept their legal right to be on these same streets. Many times, these interactions are simple to diffuse and mutual understanding can be achieved, to the benefit of all parties involved.

And then there are the political asshats who feel an extra entitlement to “their roads.” To them I say: grow up, get real, and coexist. It’s not that hard to do.

And vanity (plates) will get you nowhere good in these situations.

Popularity: 40% [?]

As the daylight hours wane here in DC, people come up with creative ways of multitasking. One of the biggest pickles is how to fit in outdoor sports with a full-time job.

So this week, I tip my hat to the multitasking cyclist: riding laps at Hains Point with the racing crowd, all the while carrying his work materials on his back.

Wanna see more? Hillary, sprite, Sarah, and MsP are all photo-happy and willing to share their unique DC-based views.

Popularity: 40% [?]