Conference noted::bicycle

    Substitute gypsy moth caterpillars and do the oak trees a favor.

>     Tent caterpillar squish game: 5 pts for a caterpillar to the right of
>     the white line, 2 pts for one on the line, 1 to the left of the line
>     (emphasizes good riding habits...).  First to 25 pts wins.
    
    Hmmm...  I don't know where you live, but here in Massachusetts there
    generally isn't any *road* on the right of the white line (unless you
    look at the limited access roads, but we're not allowed on them anyway.
    
    Your "good riding habits" are not the general consensus of the
    cycling community... John Forrester encourages riding as far to the
    left in the roadway in order to avoid all obstacles and hazards and maintain
    a straight course.  This makes the cyclist predictable-- something not
    possible if he is regularly weaving back and forth over the white line
    to avoid hazards.  The land beyond the white line (if any) is usually
    rampant with hazards, particularly sticks, sand, and still some glass
    (although much less with the bottle bill, thank goodness).
    
    In fact, it has been shown that the road improvement that provides the
    most additional safety to the cyclist is a wide lane (wide curb lane
    on multi-lane roads)-- not adding more surface to the right of the
    white line!  If all our roads had wide curb lanes, riding to the right
    of the white line would become a thing of the past...
                    --tom

    Talked about in another note, but... I've put 30k miles on a bike in
    Massachusetts, incident free with the worst drivers in the nation (but
    not dogs), staying to the right of the line on most of my riding
    (commute, Wachusetts resevoir).   Thanks, but I'll keep right.
    
    I do know of a road in Stow where this John Forrestor can demonstrate
    his riding technique, however.  -k 

    
    I like this note, forget about the textbook stuff -.1,-.2 and
    have some fun!
    
    "In Your Face"
    
    My favorite is nailing your riding partner behind you with
    some water in the face. 
    To do this wait til they're not expecting anything weird (they never
    expect this) when they're about 2-4 feet behind you, simply hold
    your water bottle at eye level (right in front of your face) with
    the spout pointing up, give it a good healthy squeeze (works best with
    a full water bottle) and with the blessing of gravity and wind current
    you partner gets in right "In The Face"!
    
    "Scitching"
    
    Hold on to the back of a moving vehicle. (not reccomended for anybody
    with a brain)
    
    "Nicksies"
    
    Everybody ride in sparratic directions, come as close as you can to 
    your opponents' bike without hitting them (best on mountain bikes).
    
    "Dog Polo"
    
    Hit the domestic beast in the head with your bike pump. (only
    if he is trying to bite you or is scaring you). Alot of dog
    owners get a big laugh out of seeing they're dog chase the 
    cyclist, this straightens them out.
    
    Remember this is all in fun, so dont lay into me with textbook
    "do's" and "dont's", because I do believe in responsible cycling.
    
    Have fun!
    
    Al

    
    "Dog Polo"!!!! That sounds almost as much fun as "Mow Down the
    Stupid Jay-Walking Pedestrian" (-:D
    
    			Gumby

    Oops... forgot the "Butterfly Spoke Chop".