I made it home on the bike yesterday. It only took 10 minutes longer to go uphill than down. My heart almost exploded two or possibly three times, but I made it. I took a wee shortcut through a mini golf course, but that was mostly to avoid having to turn left at a busy intersection. Are there any experienced bikers out there who can give me tips for turning left? I’ve got two on my trip home, and they’re both intersections that come to a T and have a left turn arrow. I’m thinking that maybe I have to get in line with the cars and wait for the arrow, but I’m not certain. Either way, neither has a crosswalk, or was designed in any way that suggests someone might have considered anything other than a car would want to get across.
When I got home, I took The World’s Fastest Shower so I could carpool to kickball with The Dutchess. BTW, I haven’t mentioned it here before, but I decided to take the season off from playing kickball and I’ve designated myself as the team’s scorekeeper. I can’t say I’ve ever been happier. I get to watch everyone play, and if an error occurs, it’s never, ever my fault. Then we all go out to the bar.
I actually have a history of scorekeeping, at least it runs in my family. Dad has kept score at every game he’s ever been to, and lets me or Mom take over when he goes out for an ice cream in the 6th or 7th inning. Mom grew up nearby both Yankee Stadium and Shea, and I think she came into the marriage already knowing how to keep score, and put that into practice when my sister & I played softball.
I was in fourth grade when I first played softball. And by “played softball” I mean I stood in the outfield hoping, hoping, hoping that the ball would not come anywhere near me. And if it did, I ducked for cover. As for hitting, I was sort of alright, but that’s because we were usually pitched to by a dad from our team, and they consistently threw us nice juicy over-the-plate pitches.
I probably hit a single or two in my day, but I usually got out at first due to my tragically slow running. And there to record every play was my mom with her trusty scorebook. She actually came in pretty handy when the high school kids who reffed the games forgot what inning it was, or how many outs there were, or who was the home team.
Even with my lack of skill, we won the championship that year. Our coach threw us a celebration party at her pool, and held a little ceremony to hand out the trophies (possibly the only sport-related trophy I ever won in my whole life.) As each of us came up to accept the award, she said something nice about all of us.
“Who could forget Lauren’s home run in the third game? You’re a great hitter, Lauren!”
“Allison, it’s like you had wheels when you ran!”
“Lindsay, we could always count on you to catch any pop fly that came your way!”
and as for me…
“Noelle, we were so happy that your mom kept score at every game.”
Twenty years and a broken ankle later, I’ve come to realize that participation in team sports is not for me. But management of them, I that’s where I belong. And if I go slow when I run, swim or bike, I’m not letting anyone down. I’m just enjoying the scenery. But damn, it would be nice to get a trophy of my own for once.
UPDATE: Just found this on the NY State website under “bicycles:”
- Generally, bicyclists should use the same through or turning lanes as motorists. However, a bicyclist may choose to dismount and use the pedestrian crosswalk, especially in heavy traffic. After crossing at an intersection, a bicyclist should move to a usable right-hand shoulder or to the right side of the right-hand lane.
- The position a bicyclist takes in preparing for a turn is governed by the general bicycle position rule (Sec. 1234(a)) and the turning rules that apply to other traffic (Sec. 1160). Since turning positions for other vehicles may be dangerous for bicyclists, Sec. 1234(a) allows for safer positioning. A bicyclist should move to the center of the lane when preparing for either a right or left turn, to prevent a following motorist from sharing the lane. It can be very dangerous if a bicyclist turns while sharing a lane with a motorist.
- If there is more than one left turn lane, use the one furthest to the right. After any left turn, move to the right as soon as it is safe to do so.
Evidently, you’re also supposed to wear a helmet with that thing! (JK)
Posted by xsquared on May 30, 2008 at 9:49 am
“I was in fourth grade when I first played softball. And by “played softball” I mean I stood in the outfield hoping, hoping, hoping that the ball would not come anywhere near me.”
That’s my softball experience EXACTLY.
Posted by 3carnations on May 30, 2008 at 9:49 am
You cut through the mini golf course? Was it hard to get through the windmill and around that spiral thing?
Posted by Gretch-a-sketch on May 30, 2008 at 10:03 am
I agree–I much prefer sports that I can take at my own pace. Also, you reminded me of that Demetri Martin line about how he used to think you had to earn trophies, but really you can just buy them at thrift stores and now he’s good at everything.
Posted by Dingo on May 30, 2008 at 10:19 am
I have the same issues with softball. A tremendous and irrational fear of the ball. When I played on my law firm’s softball team (they had to have a woman on the team and being a law firm, there weren’t many women to go around) I would spend half my time offering up whatever prayers I could think of that the ball wouldn’t come my way and the other half of the time trying not to throw up from fear.
@Gretch-a-sketch – That’s hilarious! Why didn’t I think of that before!
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on May 30, 2008 at 10:22 am
But you got to swim in the giant Harvard pool! That’s kind of like getting a trophy, right? You’re probably the most athletic person I know, besides my work friend who is a triathlete, but you’re working your way there already with the biking, swimming, and running.
Posted by lizgwiz on May 30, 2008 at 10:47 am
Yay, you ! Biking up that hill!
I haven’t used my bike in years, since I moved away from where I lived across the street from a great bike trail. I just can’t bring myself to bike on busy city streets–it scares me.
Posted by -R- on May 30, 2008 at 10:58 am
I would guess the safest thing would be to get in line with the cars. I have seen cyclists do that in downtown Minneapolis.
I am not a good athelete, but I am great at yelling supportive comments.
Posted by Jennifer M. on May 30, 2008 at 11:17 am
Noelle, you have hit on one of my city-life pet peeves with your bike question. Bikes can’t seem to decide if they are pedestrians or vehicles and therefore cross with the traffic light or the pedestrian light whichever suits them thus makeing them obstacles to the pedestrians and the cars. Where I live they are vehicles (and can technically get tickets!) and should obey traffic laws – ie obey stop lights (but they don’t per my comments above). However, during certain hours of the day in my city, bikes are allowed to traverse the sidewalks as well as the streets.
So I guess my suggestion is that if you are traversing the pavement and going in the direction of traffic, you are a moving vehicle that should follow the left-turn arrow.
Posted by The Modern Gal on May 30, 2008 at 11:18 am
I too hail from a scorekeeping family. I always think in terms of scorekeeping while watching baseball — “whoa! that was a crazy play. how the hell would you score that?”
Way to go on making it back home. It never occured to me how difficult it would be to execute a left-hand turn on a bike.
Posted by Aaron on May 30, 2008 at 11:35 am
Who is to say that your kickball team won’t give you a Best Scorekeeper trophy at the end of the season? A miniature Christmas Christmas Tree, frozen in time, hunched over a scorecard.
Posted by jason on May 30, 2008 at 12:14 pm
get in line with the cars when making a left. it’s scary, but fun at the same time! @jenn m above, bikes are vehicles, not pedestrians. if you’re riding on the sidewalk you should be a kid.
Posted by courtney on May 30, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Awww, that’s sad! Poor little Noelle’s only notable achievement on her softball team was her MOM keeping score? It kills me how adults say the most insulting things to kids sometimes.
Posted by apollocreed on May 30, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hey, at least your contributing, right? You scorekeep like you’ve never scorekeeped before lady!!
Posted by erikka on May 30, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Yup, right on with lining up with the cars to turn left. From the right hand side you start making the gesture to get in that lane (or wait until there are no cars) and just act as if you are a car. Sometimes this really pisses off people in real cars, but it’s actually the Law.
Posted by stefanie on May 30, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Your softball experience sounds a lot like mine. I never tried to be on an actual team, though. My experience is limited to the softball I was forced to play in phy ed.
Sounds like you’ve got the right idea with kickball this year, though. I’d be all for sitting out the game and having nothing be my fault, but still getting to have drinks with the team later!
Posted by mickey on May 30, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I tend to mix it up between following traffic laws and just taking over the sidewalk. I’ll ride with traffic until it gets too hairy, and then I bail.
And yes, a helmet is a good idea.
Posted by Mike golch on May 30, 2008 at 8:00 pm
it is always easier going down hill that up.I once had a summer job that was don in a valley and to get there you took a long hill down comming back up it was a lotta work on my leg muscles.
Posted by Ben on May 31, 2008 at 7:12 am
Organized sports give me hives. I got blamed for too many losses in my childhood.
Posted by Ann on May 31, 2008 at 11:48 am
Peter made me take a bicycle safety class after a bike accident in which I broke my arm. So I think I know the answer to your question – when you’re on a bike, you should act like a car – go with the flow of traffic, including moving into the left-hand lane when you need to make left-hand turns. Just be sure to use your hand signals and look over your shoulder before changing lanes. Although you get to act like a car, you don’t have all that steel protecting you so you have to be much more careful. (And even though they look dorky, a bicycle helmet is a must.)
Posted by kir on May 31, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I’m all about safety, and all things safe… but yeah – having to wear a helmet while biking ended my riding career. So dorky.
And I was the girl in soccer that would run away from the ball. Yeaaaaah.
Posted by sadieandleo on June 1, 2008 at 9:46 am
When it comes to sports, my place is as a spectator only. At least you have found your niche and that’s great. I fear all things flying at my face, balls, people’s arms, weaponry, etc.
Posted by Ajemi on June 1, 2008 at 11:23 am
Aww I love team sports. Softball was my favorite followed by basketball. I’m actually coaching softball right now!
Posted by Allie on June 1, 2008 at 11:53 am
Yeah, add picking dandelions and making a necklace out of them in right field while the game was going on, and that’s pretty much my softball experience too.
I’m the same way about sports — I like the solitary stuff where I can go at my own pace. I always thought I wasn’t athletic, but it’s really just that I’m not a team sports kind of gal.
Posted by Vanessa on June 1, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for the tips, I just got a new bike this week and am familiar with that explody-heart feeling! Have fun with the bike!
Posted by Kristabella on June 3, 2008 at 9:39 am
I worked in the sports information office in college, so I can score baseball, softball, volleyball and wrestling matches. I’m MUCH better behind the scenes than participating.
Posted by Laurel on June 3, 2008 at 11:38 am
So biking doesn’t aggravate your ankle/foot at all? That’s great!
Posted by jennifer on June 3, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Honestly, this is the first that I have heard of adult organized kick ball games. Do they know you do this in California? OH WAIT. That’s dodge ball.
And I am a ‘Noelle-type personality’ who is mother to a ‘Lauren-type personality’. When people tell me how well Diva Daughter played, I feel like they clued me in. Cause I have NO idea what being good at sports is.
Jen