The Cherry Creek bike trail is a magnet for assholes in spandex

Categories: Breeality Bites

BikeDad.png
Your dick and your wallet are huge. I get it.
I hate the Cherry Creek trail. Well, I don't hate it, I just hate other cyclists that use it. If I could, I wouldn't ride my simple little bike on the trail at all. I prefer to ride in the street, free from the wrath of jerks on expensive bicycles who use the pedestrian and commuter trail to show off how expensive their bicycles are by being the biggest jerks possible. Plus, I like the scenery the street provides over that stinky old ravine anyway.

Unfortunately, in these remaining days before I leave my encampment of chastity and solitude in my mother's basement for good, I have to use the Cherry Creek path to get from her house to anything remotely resembling civilization. I would ride on Cherry Creek Drive directly, but that country bumpkin-looking road has never had a shoulder. This means that, during the 5 'o clock let-out, the masses who live in Aurora plow through my neighborhood as shortcut home from downtown -- effectively driving into the non-existent shoulder.

From what I understand, the Cherry Creek path is for everybody -- cyclists, joggers, moms with strollers, people walking dogs, grandmas chatting, kids learning to ride their bikes, etc. It is a route that should be available for safe commuting, socializing and exercise. But what I've experienced over the summer is hardly that. The Cherry Creek trail is actually a route of sheer terror, a path lorded over by assholes in spandex who race along it with no regard for human life.

They zip by on their shiny, pricey bikes, never giving others so much as a warning, and it makes me wonder: Is this how cyclists behave in other cities? Is the face of commuter cycling in Portland or New York? Some lawyer dad on his day off, whipping his dick I mean ego around as he speeds by an innocent person who might be trying to enjoy what is left of his or her lunch break? I'm guessing not. But it seems that immaturity and a lack of courtesy are what define this particular biking and pedestrian area, and that sucks.

I would never ask this type of self-centered jerk-off to slow down -- In a Facebook-is-real-life world, we are only concerned with ourselves. But how hard is it to simply say, "On your left"? At least then, the six-year-old with training wheels on his bike could get out of the way, or maybe keep from flinching in fear.

I have come to my own conclusion that spitting at these fitness terrorists is all I can do to fight back, because screaming "on my left" or "be polite on the bike trail, please" yields nothing but frustration. I've thought about mounting a Super Soaker to my handlebars and shooting offenders with Kool-Aid, but I'd rather not chance getting into it with a bullying cyclist in a Sunflower Market-sponsored skin-tight get-up. There is no dignity in getting sassy with an adult male in spandex. For either party involved.

I know, its Colorado. We're always training for some sort of race or marathon or thing that makes us feel important. If we're not scaring the shit out of the Silver Sneakers Club on the bike path, we're probably rolling tractor tires across a repurposed concrete floor at that gym on Broadway where people pay to get tortured. Most of Colorado's population has probably never suffered through oppression, displacement or war, so we give money to boot camp programs and overpriced gyms that make us cry and puke and hate ourselves. Then we camp out in front of Sports Authority for days, waiting for skis to go on sale.

But all of that is by choice. So, if you're going to be a prick on the bike trail, at least warn others by simply saying on your left. Then maybe we'll all have a chance of catching a glimpse of that huge dick of yours when you speed by.

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21 comments
Na12
Na12

I believe the bigger issue involves the inconsiderate Soccer moms who feel that the bike path is a playground for their kids who are just learning to pedal a bike and should be in the driveway, not on a bike path. The "entitlement" seems to come more from the overweight walkers who should warn cyclists by saying something like "over fed uncoordinated pedestrian on your right". Perhaps then the path could be used for its intended purpose... Cycling! Cheers.

yosh
yosh

I commute this cck trail year round! I cant wait for the cold weather to scare all the big swingin dicks off the trail and into their SUVS.  Oh also cant wait for the B cycles to go away for the winter too.  Those B cycle riders are almost as dangerous as the spandex warriors.  

cromagno
cromagno

There's no question that cycling, like every other pastime, has it's share of wankers but what kind of a person spits at someone else. Sounds like not all the a*holes here are wearing spandex.

 

Lots of times when one rides on that multi-use paths like this one, you can be constantly amazed at the blind oblivion exhibited by other trail users as well. Sometimes, you can yell "on your left" only to see the person jump TO THE LEFT, in a panic. They just don't process it properly and move in the wrong direction. Sometimes it's easier and safer to just yell "passing" or if there's plenty of room just pass without saying anything and be done with it.

 

Being a pedestrian doesn't entitle you to just wander in any random direction without looking where you are going. As you say, it's a shared thoroughfare so you share responsibility for being aware of your surroundings. And please, don't spit on or at others...that's just foul.

Charlie
Charlie

I get the need to yell "on your left", but you're clearly saying that if I do that, I'm still a prick. So what else do I need to do to clear myself of being a prick in your eyes?

If you have a 20 mile commute in Denver, it's pretty easy to feel like no city planner gave much thought to cyclists. Very few roads have marked bike lanes on them. Most routes aren't blessed with a bike path. Boulder is very bike friendly. Denver not so much. The Cherry Creek trail is one of the few places in the entire city where a commuter can cover ground quickly enough to make the commute time reasonable.

On roads, I've had people drive by me several times, no more than a foot or two of clearance, and yell out the window at me. Usually it's to drive on, laughing, when I startle and whip my head around. Often it's also something insulting or threatening like "get the fuck off the road!" One of my neighbors ended up in the hospital when, biking on the edge of a road, somebody's right-side mirror clipped him right on the shoulder.

Guest
Guest

Can I call you a whaaaaaaaaaaaambulance?

I ride this trail daily and have never witnessed an accident or incident caused by speed.  I have, however, seen a lot of nonsense disputes arrive from objections to speed.Now unnecessary and overblown reactions on Cherry Creek have a cheerleader: Bree Davies.

Franciosdillinger
Franciosdillinger

I've ridden the trail for 3 years without incident. This is whining for the sake of whining. 

gratefulmom
gratefulmom

Yep.. This article hit the nail right on the head... One stupid bitch hit my 7 year old head on last Summer going approx 45 mph.. She bent my son's bike frame almost in half.. It left him shaken and afraid of riding on that bike trail ever again... However, he walked away with a sprained wrist and a couple scratches.. She wasn't so lucky, she ended up in ICU for 5 months with a lacerated spleen, other intrernal injuries as well as a pretty bad head injury.. I'm glad she got the worst end of the stick and it wasn't my son who was layer up in the hospital for months.. This kind of biking should be kept in the foothills or competing with cars on the street. I dont and won't feel bad for the next idiot going this fast to end up just as she did.

guest
guest

holy cow. relax "gratefulmom." What kind of an idiot would be happy that someone else ended up in the icu for 5 months. accidents DO happen, and you are to blame as  much as the lady who  hit your son. why aren't you looking after your 7 year old son? why is he riding his bike there if you consider it to be so dangerous? 

Tpine
Tpine

Trust me, no woman is sprinting 45 mph on Cherry Creek trail. 

http://www.powerbar.com/articl...

Q: What are some of the top speeds that elite women can reach in a road race?A: In a big field sprint, they can hit close to 40 miles per hour on flat ground. Time trial speeds are close to 30 miles per hour for 30–40 minutes.

T
T

Moron!  It was probably your 7 year-old's fault, and then you have the audacity to be relieved it wasn't your kid laid up for 5 months.  I hope she sues you! 

Joelsephiryn
Joelsephiryn

This is an awesome article. I seem to consistently have issues with cyclists on the street as well. Hmm... Particularly in the Cherry Creek area and south east Aurora. Weird, huh? Cyclists who use their bikes like cars, but refuse to follow the traffic rules REALLY tend to piss me off. If you're gonna drive like a car, you gotta follow the rules, you pricks! And if one more cyclist yells at me to "SHARE THE ROAD," I'm gonna share whatever's left of my huge Slurpee out my window at your big head! I'll share the road when you do, you freaking road-hogs.

Francoiusdillinger
Francoiusdillinger

You sound like a complete ass hat, YOU DO NOT OWN THE ROAD. It's the fucking law to pass someone safely with at least 3 feet of room. And someone who is just using leg power cannot "stay with the flow" There is no law saying you need to "stay with the flow" There are laws granting everyone free and equal access to public roadways. 

food-dude
food-dude

Don't even get me started on jerks that don't use their blinkers...

1234567890
1234567890

This was a great article!!  There are these types of cyclists out here in the Lakewood/Green Mountain/Bear Creak area as well.  Some ARE in traffic and ignore traffic rules altogether.  I almost hit this guy on an expensive bike wearing spandex as well because he crossed a red light at a major intersection, and it had been red for a while.  I'm cool with sharing the road or whatever but if you're being an idiot and think that we have to be careful around you when it is not reciprocated, than you don't deserve to be on that road or path.

SxPxDxCx
SxPxDxCx

You hit the nail on the head.  There are a bunch of these "I'm training and can't slow my cadence for a second" jerks at Wash Park too.  One of them yelled at my friend and her kids last weekend.  If your such a man to yell and a mom and her kids why don't your go "train" in the street.

Fyrebugge
Fyrebugge

Wow! That's unfortunate! I live in Sacramento, CA and we have an amazing biking-walking-running-communing with nature trail way system. It is crazy with people of all genres daily. I use it to commute and train on my moderately priced bike wearing spandex that was bought on heavy mark down prices and also belong to one of many area cycling clubs. I am now even more proud to say that it is a very friendly and courteous pathway! The local cycling clubs go to great lengths to promote proper and courteous behaviors. "On your left" is a given statement! I can't imagine not using it???? Speeds around blind corners and days such as holidays are given ample consideration to not take out any small children, deer, turkeys, etc. I feel sad that you do not get that same respect! Bicyclists such as u describe give us all a bad reputation! I also work in the area as a paramedic and can honestly say that collisions on the trail r infrequent. But almost always they r caused by individuals such as u have described. I would suggest contacting local cycling clubs to try to "reform" the bad behaviors of the elitest fat wallet spandex wearing offenders. Trails such as ours r amazing gifts to be treasured and shared by the whole community! Good Luck....

Fred
Fred

the first word that the complainers/anti-cyclists expound is usually "spandex." this leads me to believe most of the haters are simply homophobic... and afraid of something outside the norm. the majority of cyclists follow rules. do you think all motorists follow the rules? afraid not. it's unfortunate that a few bad apples spoil your outlook on something that is so fun, and in the end, is going to be necessary when you inevitably are searching for gas to put into your automobile...

Guest
Guest

The Cherry Creek trail is no different.  Here you're just reading stereotype laden exaggerations.

tim davids
tim davids

This article is quite funny and enjoyable and I appreciate that.

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