Shut Your Stupid Piehole!

Cyclists face many dangers every day that are irrelevant to motorists. For example, it is possible, in theory to be killed by a bug hitting you in the throat and crushing your windpipe. In fact, one of my favorite shows, Mythbusters, tested that myth using a motorcycle.

What they didn't consider is that people on bicycles can also attain very high speeds on level ground. According to Wikipedia, unpaced speeds of over 80MPH have been obtained, with motor-paced speeds of nearly 170MPH achieved. What's more, should any female reader feel safe, the female records are within 10MPH of what men achieve.

Still, my loyal reader might feel that such speeds are unlikely on the next commute to or from work, if only because motorists would get in the way. And I'll treat the subject of SLOW MOTORISTS KEEPING ME FROM GOING in a future post. Still, I know I felt that way. But some lessons are learned over and over even by cyclists that OUGHT to know better.

It is winter now. Even in North Texas. Among other things, winter is a relatively bug-free time. Last year, in early February, ice sliding off Cowboy Stadium injured people before the Superbowl. Today, it got up to 73F. And I was reminded of a cycling danger - the danger of riding with one's mouth slightly open. Read the title again and you WILL reach the proper conclusion. Yuck! I can't really endorse everything that is "Dr Atkins approved."

Even in January, a HIGH Temperature of 73F WILL Attract a Few Bugs!