Born to Run... Forced to Ride

I really dislike not being able to run. 

And I have mixed feelings about bike riding:  Cycling is fun, fast, and satisfying.  I love the sound of the wind blowing past my helmet-clad head.  I like thinking that I may be able to out-ride even the meanest rabid dog, should one choose to try to take a chunk out of my leg.  I enjoy being able to go relatively far distances on my bike.  Mostly, I love the speed I can get while going down a steep hill.

So, why do I get on my bike somewhat begrudgingly?  Because it's not running.  The thing is, I love to run.  I only like to bike.

I like the solitude I get from running.  I love the control running gives me.  I can control my speed (as long as it's set on slow).  When I run, I can see cars coming toward me because I can run facing on-coming traffic.  I like knowing that I won't get a flat shoe when I run.  I feel secure in knowing that if I fall while running, I probably don't have to worry about getting a brain injury.

Don't get me wrong, I totally "get" why people why people love to cycle!  If I weren't a runner, I'd be a cyclist.  Maybe.  Or a couch potato.

The other day, I received an email from a company that makes cycling jerseys.  They wanted me to check out their website and mention it on my blog  if I liked what I saw.  At first I laughed that they had obviously mistaken me for a cycling enthusiast.  Then I reminded myself that cycling often ends up being an important part of a runner's training.  Especially when that runner is trying to recover from a running related injury, such as myself.  At the very least, cycling can be a great cross-training activity... and we've all read of the importance of  cross-training.

I checked out their website.  And I liked what I saw!  The website is Share the Damn Road.  If you are a runner who cycles because of injury... or a tri-athlete... or a good little cross-trainer... check out this site!  These jerseys make a statement. And they are sort of funny, without taking away from the seriousness of the message.

This one makes me laugh because it's so simple... but it says it all:

I love understated remarks!

Notice that the "Thanks" is backwards so drivers can view it in their mirrors.


Then there's this one:


I could have used this one several times on my last bike ride.
Hmmm... I wonder if they have the arrow going the other direction in Europe.

I'm not so sure about this one:



This one is just asking for some smart a$$ teenager to honk.

I really like this one but I'm not sure if I want to be seen riding up to my church-based preschool in it:



Hmmm... maybe if I still worked in public school...

There are other jerseys available on the site... all of them have the dry humor seen on these examples.  Um, at least I assume the makers of these jerseys mean them to be funny.    Serious, but funny*.

*I apologize to Share the Damn Road if they aren't meant to be funny.   It's possible that I have a warped sense of humor.

In any case, there are times when I am scared of the drivers that share (or don't share) the road with me. There are times when cars whiz by me so close or so fast that I fear for my life for a few seconds.  Maybe these jerseys will make drivers more aware.  I know I would notice these jerseys if I saw one while driving.  I am not a jerk so I would give the cyclist room.  I would slow down.  I wouldn't honk (not that I do now).  I would NOT run the cyclist over (again... not that I do now).

What do you think?

Comments

Michelle said…
Those are hilarious! Love the first one!

I'm not a cyclist at all. Dad Wonder loves to bike - me not so much. Glad you've found a way to still get out there!
robinbb said…
Those shirts are funny. I am not a biker yet, but plan to start this year. We will see how it goes.
I'm a runner, wanna be triathlete, but I'm terrified of being hit on the bike. So scared that I'm afraid these jerseys might be more of a target for some smart ass bike hater (there are a lot of those down here in SC!) Wow I'm a baby!
Anonymous said…
Oh I LOVE the Don't run me over jersey...mostly because I'm so slow on the bike EVERYONE has the chance to run me over :) (and I would of course appreciate if they didn't!)
I love those jerseys. Too funny! Hope you can get back to running soon!
I think the jerseys are super funny and creative..

I would CRY if I had to bike, I am not a fan at all. I don't like being so far from the road.. The whole Tall girl on a bike thing...the bigger we are the harder we HIT PAVEMENT..

Hugs!
Jen Feeny said…
Those are great and I would totally rock the last one for sure! LOL!
Patrick said…
You make me want to get a bike!

I am sorry to hear you are not able to run right now-- Are you ok? Still plan to run the half coming up?


At least you have fun cycling as well-- You're staying fit and having a good time doing it-- that's all that counts. Plus you get to wear those cool shirts!
MCM Mama said…
I don't cycle AT ALL, but those jerseys are funny!
Aka Alice said…
You know my story...ride because I can't run. Although I will say that the road bike definitely made me like riding more!

Love the jerseys!
Kelly said…
I started cycling because of an injury, however i never got totally comfortable cycling on the road. I think I may be a driver before a biker because I still get really annoyed with bikers, especially the ones who want to "share the road" but then go biking right through red lights etc. Haha, maybe some day I'll understand
Unknown said…
i feel the same way - like cycling, love running.

and the jerseys are awesome!
Anne said…
I'm pretty sure they are meant in jest, though here in San Diego, where there's so much animosity toward cyclists, they may not be taken that way. I am a runner who likes, but has yet to love, cycling. It's a control issue, and living in a place with huge hills.
Unknown said…
YOU are too funny! Even though I teach in a public school, I don't think I'd wear the jersey but they are all pretty funny and I'd like to see more cyclists wearing them! Some of them look so serious, don't they? I guess we runners look the same though!
Love the shirts!

I like the don't honk at me shirt. As a runner I really don't like it when cars do that. Half the time I 'jump' because of it. I already hear them (duh!) why to they honk at me? Just to see if they can scare me?!? Grrrr, drivers.
Glenn Jones said…
I'm not much of a cyclist myself. Has something to so with the advanced level of coordination required. I'm relatively lucky - there are a lot of bike trails around here, but it was on a bike trail that I was lucky enough to face plant over the handle bars a couple years ago! Yikes! Just finished getting the teeth fixed a couple months ago.

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