Friday, August 01, 2008

Outlaw bikers

I have always had an affinity for all things counter-culture and rebellious.

I would watch James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” with awe. The way he could put on his red jacket and scare the “squares” with his lawlessness has always been intriguing to me.

I bought an old and loud car, tried to race around, but instead of scaring elderly women I was waved to and given the thumbs up by people on the street.

I like motorcycles, too. I liked to read and watch shows about gangs like the Hell’s Angels, seeing parents hide their kids’ eyes from the outlaws in odd clothes as they turn the towns upside down speeding through the streets on their evil machines. I even bought a motorcycle, a real loud Harley-Davidson with a crazy paint job and load exhaust.

Once again I failed in my rebellious ways. I was waved to even more, no matter how loud my bike was. I couldn’t even get any attention from the law. I never received a single traffic ticket for loud pipes or otherwise on that motorcycle. It’s locked up in my shed.

I thought my dreams of being a real, scary rebel were over until I really crossed the line: I started riding a bicycle.
Read the full guest editorial at the Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa. Via Warren T.


Some bizarre comparison between Colnago bicycles and Angelina Jolie.

Oversized hula hoop dance performances and handlebar tape.

Michael Green (of the Bike Blog) got quoted in an article about bike security. Michael's bike was stolen when he let a total stranger try the bike out.

Chicago: Share the road


Chicago requires city car registration for residents. Car owners purchase a windshield sticker to prove registration. The 2008/2009 design features a "Share the Road" message. Cool, huh?

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this blog, it was very funny and entertaining. I'm glad your dreams of being a "scary rebel" are finally coming true *snicker*

Have you ever been to Sturgis?

It sounds like a kick ass experience. I'm new to the motorcycle culture (Just started working with Progressive motorcycle insurance) and find it fascinating.

If you can make it out to the event, make sure to stop by our booth which is going to be at Thunder Road.

We will be giving away free exclusive Sucker Punch Sallys custom-designed t-shirts! All you have to do is go to our site @ http://motorcycle.progressive.com/ print out the coupon and present it at our booth at Thunder Road. There’s also going to be a chance to win a custom Sucker Punch Sallys motorcycle and many other giveaways!

Hope to see you there and that I didn't overstep my bounds by posting on your blog. If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

Hope to see you there! Ride Safe.

Gia Anderson
Brand Ambassador
Gia.progressive@gmail.com

Yokota Fritz said...

Umm, yeah I've been to Sturgis. My in-laws all live in and near Rapid City and I have a couple of Harley riders in my family.

THanks for dropping by my bicycling blog.

SiouxGeonz said...

I sort of liked that one on first read and then decided it was actually pretty crappy for several reasons.
He's *exactly* - so much that I wonder if he invented the attitude - what some of my least favorite online commenters accuse all cyclists of being - arrogant, holier-than-thou, preaching "I'm saving the world so I don't have to worry about rules" - and that includes using lights and staying off the sidewalks, so I figure it's a global arrogance towards regulation (because, after all, he's doing everybody such a favor).
And the Harley guy? "Earlier this summer, I was riding my evil machine with my gang through the streets and stopped at a red light, looked both ways and went ahead through that red light when I saw no cars were coming. A man sitting at the light on a Harley and full leather regalia cursed us “damned bikers” for our unlawfulness. If you don’t see the irony in that, you have missed my point. "
Um, what's ironic about somebody *sitting at a light* in (omg) leather... who has issues about somebody going through a red light, even after a stop? Had Harley Guy broken any laws? How difficult is it to wait for a light to turn green? (Mr. Rebel didn't say that the light didn't recognize him; he just was too rebellious to wait.)
and mostly I felt like that theme could have been written up and actually have been funny... *without* adding to the bad name cyclists have.

SiouxGeonz said...

Oh, yea. I also feel like people who get published in newspapers should know basic grammar. "Think about the countless people whose health has been positively impacted by cycling."
The people has been, eh?