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Rolling it back
I'd often described riding a bike backwards downhill as the most useless skill I'd ever developed. I played around with it while waiting for a ride to start or continue, because, well, it was a way to challenge my ability beyond a simple track stand, and, of course, because I'm silly in exactly that way. I did manage to train myself to the point of sometimes rolling back twenty feet, maybe more.
Then, in a race in Wallingford, CT, I was closing on another rider right before a tricky technical section of a climb with a little step up, or on an alternate line, a bigger step up. I could make either work for me, but little is easier, quicker, and thereby racer, so judging that the rider in front seemed to carry good speed and gusto, I stayed behind him for the little option.
Nope, I misjudged, he fumbled, but without much processing, after a quick stop, I rolled backward two pedal strokes, corrected onto the bigger step up, and continued on my way, shaking my head that I'd actually just made practical use of what I'd been certain was a skill without function.
I'll refrain from saying that was the most divergent, off topic introduction I'll ever use because I've learned and now know better, but it was a rather astray way of beginning a entry rolling back to more than two posts ago, but hey, I like getting sick tracked, or back tracked, or--wait--where was I?
Right, or possibly wrong, a week or so ago, I was running errands, and my first stop was to return deposit cans at a market. Another thing I used to say was, "I'm an aspiring hobo," but after a friend gave me a New Yorker article, I learned a nuance in the definition. True hobos pride themselves on working as they travel, and those who simply wander without employment are "tramps". Given the other connotation of that word, and that "aspiring tramp" just doesn't have the same ring, I need to find a new phrase, or just keep up long winded explanations like this. Yup, shocker, I am more inclined toward lengthy digressions than working. Win, win!
But hobo or tramp, either way, I don't mind looking the part. It's a good start, so when, while I was locking my bike, a kind soul came up to me with a few bills in hand and the line, "I hope I don't offend you, but can I offer you this?"
"Oh, no, I'm not offended, but I have no need of that. Please give it to someone who can use it more."
It was a pleasant interaction. I felt no harsh judgement, but I was more that a wee bit pleased the person had judged me destitute. I could go on and on and on and on and on and yeah, lots of reasons I'm happy to look the look even if I don't live the walk, but it was the highlight of my day, even better than the slightly rusty, full Reynolds 531 Austro-Daimler frame I collected from Hampshire Bike Exchange on my way home!
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