Cobb targets cyclists (Cobb County, Georgia)

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 1/23/07 | CRAIG SCHNEIDER

[GeorgiaDawg32]

With its flat surface, wide shoulders and lack of parked cars, Columns Drive near Marietta draws dozens of cyclists on a nice day, including many who use the somewhat remote road as their training track, riding lap after lap up and down the 2 1/2 mile street.

But angry residents who live along the road in upwards of million-dollar homes say the cyclists whip along the street three or more abreast, cutting off cars, robbing the roadway and scaring people even as they step out to check their mailbox.

[Gorzaloon]

It’s functional people. Those people aren’t wearing tight stretchy shorts to look cool or irritate you. They provide padding, moisture control and coolness.

Yup, it's a world of difference, especially in Summer- Better than naked. But there are those who act like it is not only a law that someone wears it, but what BRAND it is, and if it is "correct" enough. So I meet them all halfway...Generic black shorts and Specialized jerseys to match the bike. Which of course, does not impress the Trek riders, etc.

My wife and riding buddy (Trek fan) teased me for getting branded anything..."You are such a GIRL about it!", etc.

It depends. Sometimes after Work, I WANT to spend that five extra minutes riding, and if it is not too hot, I'll just jump on and go for a quick ride. For a longer trail ride, though, it's comfort first. Including the cutsie Specialized shoes...

[Kimmers]

That's it !!! It is the southern hospitality!!!!

Be safe on the roads !!!!!

[Silicon Cowboy]

Prolly a downhill run... I can go about 30...tops on a flat road but not for long.

[Silicon Cowboy]

That is still wrong. You stop no matter what the traffic is.

Do you run the signs when you are driving as well?

[Gorzaloon]

Prolly a downhill run... I can go about 30...tops on a flat road but not for long

Yeah, same here.

*shrug* I'm old.

What shuts me up is some old coot fifteen years my senior, blazing by me uphill, than asking at the water stop, "Hey! Gonna do the Wellesley to Provincetown 163 mile Pan Mass Challenge with us this year?".

I haven't figured out an excuse yet, but I'll work on it! :-)

[Silicon Cowboy]

Heh, You'd still get the muscle-memory reflexive finger telling you that you are #1. I usually can see the oncoming traffic in my rear-view.

[Silicon Cowboy]

and earn the RR spike I fling.

[landorepub]

then please forgive me if i somewhow slip into reverse and run your ass over, knucklehead!!

[Investment Biker]

So will you take AirTran out of town, or are you boycotting them, too?

My AirTran would have been I75. But I don't see what Air Tran has to do with the price of beans in China

[Be Free]

When I used to live in Marietta, I was an avid runner. Someone mentioned the park at the end of Columns Drive (Johnson's Ferry Rd. marks the other end); my run would start at the southern entrance of the park and, on some days, I'd go all the way to Johnson's Ferry Rd., then turn around and head back to the parking lot (about 8 miles round-trip).

If I recall correctly, there were no stop signs along Columns Drive. Also, there are no crossing streets: Columns Drive nearly dead-straight, and about east-west; to the south-side of the road are some polo fields and the Chattahoochee River; to the north side are 2 "back" entrances into Atlanta Country Club.

Unless things have changed dramatically since I moved away in 1994, the only traffic that would be on this road would be traffic headed for ACC, or traffic headed to the east entrance of the park. So, opportunities for encounters with bikers should be limited at best (perhaps leading to its popularity with bikers?), and if they're pacing along at 30+ mph, should not be impeding traffic at all (excepting those that wish to blow down the road well in excess of the posted limit.

My guess is there's arrogance on both parts (bikers and drivers); the former due to the aggressive/dangerous drivers , and the latter due to their being inconvenienced as they might have their journey delayed 30 seconds or so.

[HIDEK6]

AirTran recently escorted a disruptive family of three off of one of its flights.

The self-centered husband declared that he would no longer fly AirTran.

I was just wondering if you were the same guy.

[Dark Skies]

I'd be stopping ever 20 seconds. Take your commuting cyclist crusade to someone who gives a sh!t. You're not a cyclist, you're a cycling mother-in-law.

[Dark Skies]

BTW, I have friends who are local cops and I put the question to them and their response..."what kind of exercise is that."

Their suggestion, "slow down until you can determine its clear, then go. If it isn't clear, stop."

[ExtremeUnction]

I don't appreciate the "See how close I can get to the cyclist without actually hitting him" game... or the "Lets honk and see if he falls off his bike" game.

Too bad, Cowgirl. I've been able to get within 2 inches of a bicyclist and never hit him. One trick I love to do is turn my window washer sprayer to the side. I can then pull up to next to a bicyclist and zap them with a long stream of cold water. Then I take off!!

[Dark Skies]

...then please forgive me if i somewhow slip into reverse and run your ass over, knucklehead!!

I hear Bubba in cell block 9 is looking for a new beatch. Go for it!

[Dark Skies]

One trick I love to do is turn my window washer sprayer to the side.

You can do that from behind the wheel...or is this just bar room chatter.

[AnAmericanMother]

It may be functional (in fact I know it is, I have spandex bike shorts myself, and they are extremely comfortable, but they are Plain Basic Black. Just like my equestrian stuff. Even my horse is Plain Basic Black.)

There is a clear correlation between the really bright colored full-body coordinated spandex cycling outfits with the manufacturer and team logos all over them and the behavior of the cyclist in question.

Perhaps the exhibitionism inherent in looking like a rolling billboard bleeds over into riding like one owns the road.

[Investment Biker]

What a jerk.

So you can be clear. I saw Atlanta and the Silver Comet -Chief Lidiga Trail as a perfect place to go during early spring for a snowbird bicyclist. But given the reception of folks like you, a county that considers anti-cyclist ordinances, I will take my riding and money to places that are actually receptive to cyclists. In fact some even recruit them to come. I could name a dozen such places. So I don't get my early spring ride on the trail I will just save the vacation time for more pleasant and receptive places. It is not that my money is limited, just my time and I chose wisely how to use it, usually not with jerks.

[AnAmericanMother]

Fine.

Silver Comet's too crowded anyway.

If you decide not to cut your nose off to spite your face, ride in a group. There have been two women raped and one murdered on the Silver Comet. They were riding alone. They were on the more remote part of the trail, west towards Alabama.

(it goes through Cobb, Paulding, and on to the Alabama border, so how are you spiting Atlanta by not spending your vacation money in Cobb and Paulding?)

[Silicon Cowboy]

Their suggestion, "slow down until you can determine its clear, then go. If it isn't clear, stop."

yea, and then get run down by the innatentive driver yakking on her cellphone that blows the light.