Riv Chica Warrior!
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Liesl
Jul 19, 2011, 10:10:48 PM7/19/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Despite this record-breaking heat and humidity here in the Twin
Cities, my partner Erin on her Quickbeam and I on my single-speed
Proto-Bleriot elected to do our 20-mile round trip commute to work.
The ride home was 98 degrees with a dew point at about 80 degrees…this
put the heat index up somewhere like 100-115 degrees. Right balmy.
Two blocks from home, as I’m looking forward to air conditioning and a
cold one, all hell broke loose.
Up in front of me is a maroon Mercury Cougar, and I’m thinking, “When
did I last see a Cougar?” As I’m gazing, the car slows down and a
young man hops out to go to the convenience store. I wait to see if
the Cougar is going to park, but no, it just keeps going. As we
proceed down the road, a bicycle passes me, and then I hear yelling
behind me. I turn back to see another young man running like the
blazes shouting, “That guy stole my bike! Stop him! That guy stole
my bike!” It’s the dude from the Cougar who had passed me on the
bike!
So I stood up and bore down hard on my peddles in hot pursuit. He was
riding on the sidewalk next to a big park and I was just behind him in
the street. After about 3-4 blocks he started to fade—remember it was
literally close to 100 degrees—and I caught up to him.
“You stole that bike!” I yelled fiercely. It was clear that he wasn’t
aware that I had been on his heels. “You stole that bike! Just drop
it and walk away,” I commanded. His grin faded ever so slightly.
“I see you,” I continued sternly (albeit between gulps of air). “I
see your face, I see your clothes, I see the number on your jersey.”
His grin dimmed. I looked at his bare arm. “I see your tattoo,” I
said and looked him in the eye. “I see you. Drop the bike and walk
away.” He knew the tattoo meant I could ID him. He looked away,
dropped the bike, and wobbled off, his legs spent.
A dude in the park had watched the whole thing and called out, “Whoa!
You just caught that guy and made him give up the bike, man! You
chased him down in this heat, and you made him drop the bike. You
beat him and you’re twice his age, man!”
Erin rode up, having stopped to call 911, and the young man who owned
the bike came up huffing and puffing and was ever thankful to have the
bike back.
Most of the time, I count myself as one of the slower people out there
on a commute filled with lycra-clad boys riding carbon racers. At 52,
I’m all for bike lingering. But today, I busted it out at the end of
a scalding hot ride and beat a kid who in all likelihood was not two
but three times younger than me, and I caught up to him when it
counted and got a stolen bike back.
Feels damn good.
Yours,
Liesl
a.k.a. RivChicaWarrior, Superhero!
Cities, my partner Erin on her Quickbeam and I on my single-speed
Proto-Bleriot elected to do our 20-mile round trip commute to work.
The ride home was 98 degrees with a dew point at about 80 degrees…this
put the heat index up somewhere like 100-115 degrees. Right balmy.
Two blocks from home, as I’m looking forward to air conditioning and a
cold one, all hell broke loose.
Up in front of me is a maroon Mercury Cougar, and I’m thinking, “When
did I last see a Cougar?” As I’m gazing, the car slows down and a
young man hops out to go to the convenience store. I wait to see if
the Cougar is going to park, but no, it just keeps going. As we
proceed down the road, a bicycle passes me, and then I hear yelling
behind me. I turn back to see another young man running like the
blazes shouting, “That guy stole my bike! Stop him! That guy stole
my bike!” It’s the dude from the Cougar who had passed me on the
bike!
So I stood up and bore down hard on my peddles in hot pursuit. He was
riding on the sidewalk next to a big park and I was just behind him in
the street. After about 3-4 blocks he started to fade—remember it was
literally close to 100 degrees—and I caught up to him.
“You stole that bike!” I yelled fiercely. It was clear that he wasn’t
aware that I had been on his heels. “You stole that bike! Just drop
it and walk away,” I commanded. His grin faded ever so slightly.
“I see you,” I continued sternly (albeit between gulps of air). “I
see your face, I see your clothes, I see the number on your jersey.”
His grin dimmed. I looked at his bare arm. “I see your tattoo,” I
said and looked him in the eye. “I see you. Drop the bike and walk
away.” He knew the tattoo meant I could ID him. He looked away,
dropped the bike, and wobbled off, his legs spent.
A dude in the park had watched the whole thing and called out, “Whoa!
You just caught that guy and made him give up the bike, man! You
chased him down in this heat, and you made him drop the bike. You
beat him and you’re twice his age, man!”
Erin rode up, having stopped to call 911, and the young man who owned
the bike came up huffing and puffing and was ever thankful to have the
bike back.
Most of the time, I count myself as one of the slower people out there
on a commute filled with lycra-clad boys riding carbon racers. At 52,
I’m all for bike lingering. But today, I busted it out at the end of
a scalding hot ride and beat a kid who in all likelihood was not two
but three times younger than me, and I caught up to him when it
counted and got a stolen bike back.
Feels damn good.
Yours,
Liesl
a.k.a. RivChicaWarrior, Superhero!
David Blessing
Jul 19, 2011, 10:18:48 PM7/19/11
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Man! What a story. It makes my almost 59 year old bones feel young again. You are my hero for the whole week! Congrats. david
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dougP
Jul 19, 2011, 10:26:09 PM7/19/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Great story! And it shows the power that simply riding has to keep
you in shape. Pretty gutsy move, to challenge a young bike thief.
RivChicaWarrior, rock on!
Here on the Left Coast, this could be developed into at least a pilot.
dougP
> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
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> - Show quoted text -
you in shape. Pretty gutsy move, to challenge a young bike thief.
RivChicaWarrior, rock on!
Here on the Left Coast, this could be developed into at least a pilot.
dougP
>
> - Show quoted text -
Leslie
Jul 19, 2011, 10:26:54 PM7/19/11
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Wow! Awesome job!
Congrats!
Congrats!
Anne Paulson
Jul 19, 2011, 10:29:23 PM7/19/11
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You go girl! Riv Chicas rock!
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-- Anne Paulson
My hovercraft is full of eels
John Blish
Jul 19, 2011, 10:32:36 PM7/19/11
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Hi Liesl,
This is the best story (meaning true story) I have heard in years. Really. Also I can visualize things as you come up (I imagine) on the SE corner of Powderhorn Park, heading west. Protovelo in the lead. Erin's green 58 Quickbeam following behind to provide support and phone service.
Gotta love a purple Cougar. People required to drive them gotta be bad to complete the package. Just the way it is.
May I fill our kind readers in on the fact that you are not a hulk?
Seriously folks, a person of huge kindness, generosity and wit but of smaller stature. She knew what to do to get the job done but it was not her menacing size that convinced the Cougar-Based Bandit to give it up. It was the cleverness of letting him know she was serious about nailing him plus her ability to ride fast in these horrible conditions. We set a record today for the highest dew point, 82, since 1966.
Nice work, Liesl.
I will search my workshop for a modest reward for your excellent achievement. Leave it on the doorstep, probably in a Target bag. I'll find something in the next day or two.
Best,
John
--
John Blish
Minneapolis MN USA
This is the best story (meaning true story) I have heard in years. Really. Also I can visualize things as you come up (I imagine) on the SE corner of Powderhorn Park, heading west. Protovelo in the lead. Erin's green 58 Quickbeam following behind to provide support and phone service.
Gotta love a purple Cougar. People required to drive them gotta be bad to complete the package. Just the way it is.
May I fill our kind readers in on the fact that you are not a hulk?
Seriously folks, a person of huge kindness, generosity and wit but of smaller stature. She knew what to do to get the job done but it was not her menacing size that convinced the Cougar-Based Bandit to give it up. It was the cleverness of letting him know she was serious about nailing him plus her ability to ride fast in these horrible conditions. We set a record today for the highest dew point, 82, since 1966.
Nice work, Liesl.
I will search my workshop for a modest reward for your excellent achievement. Leave it on the doorstep, probably in a Target bag. I'll find something in the next day or two.
Best,
John
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John Blish
Minneapolis MN USA
charlie
Jul 19, 2011, 10:38:26 PM7/19/11
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I have daughters,
three cheers for girls.........awesome story....
three cheers for girls.........awesome story....
Lisa
Jul 19, 2011, 10:43:10 PM7/19/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Wonderful story, thank you for sharing it, Liesl! That just makes my
day!
Lisa (same age as you)
day!
Lisa (same age as you)
Tim McNamara
Jul 19, 2011, 11:11:52 PM7/19/11
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Way to go! Not only for catching that dude but for getting out in this muck. I stayed home in St.Paul instead of going for a ride...
cyclot...@gmail.com
Jul 19, 2011, 11:51:22 PM7/19/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Fantastic indeed! Cool that you saw the whole thing go down and were
able to react.
able to react.
PATRICK MOORE
Jul 19, 2011, 11:56:20 PM7/19/11
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Good for you! This is the most interesting cycling story I've read for a while.
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Patrick Moore
Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact
Patrick Moore, ACRW
patric...@resumespecialties.com
A billion stars go spinning through the night
Blazing high above your head;
But in you is the Presence that will be
When all the stars are dead.
(Rilke, Buddha in Glory)
Linkbeak
Jul 20, 2011, 12:17:50 AM7/20/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
From one 52-year old singlespeeding Riv Chica to another, I say
awesome job. You have done something good for cycling and I hope the
cycling gods smile on you for it!
Joyce
awesome job. You have done something good for cycling and I hope the
cycling gods smile on you for it!
Joyce
Rene Sterental
Jul 20, 2011, 12:49:48 AM7/20/11
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
This should go on the next Reader!!! Also on EcoVelo!!!
Submit it to them with a photo of your bike!
Great story and great presence of mind... Hats off to you!
René
Philip Williamson
Jul 20, 2011, 3:21:59 AM7/20/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Good for you! Great presence of mind to call out his identifiers, and
great reactions to chase him down in the first place.
Philip
great reactions to chase him down in the first place.
Philip
EricP
Jul 20, 2011, 6:18:28 AM7/20/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Totally agree with Philip here. Great thinking ahead while on the
bike. Especially in this weather. It was bad enough to keep me from
riding yesterday. Oh, the dew point was actually between 82 and 84
depending on when you two were headed home. Heat index I believe was
over 120.
In total awe and respect for what you accomplished yesterday.
Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN
On Jul 20, 2:21 am, Philip Williamson <philip.william...@gmail.com>
wrote:
bike. Especially in this weather. It was bad enough to keep me from
riding yesterday. Oh, the dew point was actually between 82 and 84
depending on when you two were headed home. Heat index I believe was
over 120.
In total awe and respect for what you accomplished yesterday.
Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN
On Jul 20, 2:21 am, Philip Williamson <philip.william...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Mojo
Jul 20, 2011, 9:33:24 AM7/20/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
I will tell my 4year old grandaughter, who has mastered both her skuut
and a tagalong and is ready to ride her very own pink bike, about
Liesl RivChicaWarrior Superhero!
Thanks for sharing with us
And thanks for doing the right thing
and a tagalong and is ready to ride her very own pink bike, about
Liesl RivChicaWarrior Superhero!
Thanks for sharing with us
And thanks for doing the right thing
Bill Gibson (III)
Jul 20, 2011, 10:44:17 AM7/20/11
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Wow! Smart, strong, non-violent, effective, courageous. Well done, Chica Warrior. I tip my helmet and ride with a little more pride this morning! Carry On! Good story.
--
Bill Gibson
Tempe, Arizona, USA
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Bill Gibson
Tempe, Arizona, USA
Doug
Jul 20, 2011, 11:47:02 AM7/20/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
Awesome, Liesl! By the end of my 10 mile commute home from work
yesterday in St Paul, I was about wrung out from the heat and dew
point combo. You showed extraordinary courage and set a fine example
for others to follow.
Doug
yesterday in St Paul, I was about wrung out from the heat and dew
point combo. You showed extraordinary courage and set a fine example
for others to follow.
Doug
Joe Bernard
Jul 21, 2011, 1:40:31 PM7/21/11
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"I see you, I see your tattoo, walk away." Who talks like that? That was bad. Ass.
Joe "well, do you feel lucky..punk?" Bernard
Fairfield, CA.
Shaun Meehan
Jul 21, 2011, 1:44:28 PM7/21/11
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Good on you Liesl! I'm in the Twin Cities area, and I too opted out of my normal (~30 mile round trip) bike commute yesterday on account of the miserable conditions. Not only did you ride, you chased down and foiled the bad guy. You rock!
Shaun Meehan
Shaun Meehan
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Geoff
Jul 22, 2011, 2:13:00 AM7/22/11
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Way to go, Liesl! You rock!
Liesl
Jul 22, 2011, 9:00:47 PM7/22/11
to RBW Owners Bunch
> I will search my workshop for a modest reward for your excellent
> achievement. Leave it on the doorstep, probably in a Target bag. I'll find
> something in the next day or two.
>
> Best,
>
> John
> John Blish
> Minneapolis MN USA
Whoa! A Rivendell Elf must've stopped by my abode! I found a lovely
> Minneapolis MN USA
pair of Paselas on my doorstep today! Why, thank you!
And thanks to everyone for your great comments, especially from the,
ahem, mature Riv Chicas. I've had quite a good time telling the story.
cyclotourist
Jul 23, 2011, 7:59:03 PM7/23/11
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Extra awesomeness!
--
Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA
...in terms of recreational cycling there are many riders who would probably benefit more from
improving their taste than from improving their performance. - RTMS
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Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA
...in terms of recreational cycling there are many riders who would probably benefit more from
improving their taste than from improving their performance. - RTMS
kps
Jul 30, 2011, 3:41:25 PM7/30/11
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awesome...totally awesome story. gave me chills. way to go Liesl!!
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