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Nice!

You know you're a cyclist when....

Your helmet doubles as a hairstyling device.

You can give instantaneous directions to any corner in the city, which are only useful if you happen to be getting there by bicycle.


All of your pants have frayed cuffs and chain-grease marks.

You keep deodorant and baby wipes at the office.

You are unfailingly polite,  but swear like a drunken sailor when a grandma in an SUV cuts you off.

Although you speak only English, you're Italian accent is flawless and your day to day conversation includes over 500 Italian verbs and nouns.

The friend who was so happy to see you on his morning drive wonders why you gave him the finger when he honked.

You think nothing of walking into public places dressed like a super hero.

When someone asks for bike-buying advice, you launch into a series of highly personal anecdotes all of which end up with someone in a hideously uncomfortable situation involving bicycles, bicyclists, or motorists.  You then wonder why they eventually take up tennisIt's LycraMan!.

When that same person says, "It's only a bicycle," your jaw drops and your eyes bug out, and you're not kidding.

When you encounter rough pavement, you say to yourself, "Ah, pave," and daydream about leaving the peloton in your dust as you speed through Arenberg Forest.

You can't remember your niece's name, but you know every detail regarding the bicycles of everyone you have ever met.

You sometimes wish you had a longer commute to work, so you could ride more.

You have N (some positive integer) bikes and you absolutely need N+1.

Tappity tap!You've been asked if you're a tap dancer.

You ride 50 miles, one way, with a twenty in your pocket and if you actually buy something, you consider leaving the change because of the weight.

You select a restaurant because of its charming, outdoor dining. Your bike is 23 inches away. You lock it anyway. But you don't enjoy your meal because you can't take your eyes off your bike.

You consider the color of the bikes hanging from your ceiling when selecting home decor.

You missed more than two family events this summer due to scheduling conflicts with rides.

Another cyclist asks you for the location of the nearest bike shop; you fix their bike while giving them directions.

You and your friends can recreate the Jaws scene where Quint, Brody, and Hooper compare scars, each with an even better story, except yours go something like "This is from a 1990 Buick station wagon that turned left in front of me and put me over the hood."

Multi-ton cars and trucks tear along in front, We are pretty sure that THEY are cyclists.alongside and behind you... your pulse rate: 66.

You shop for your spring wardrobe at Lakeside, rather than malls and clothing stores.

Your idea of surfing consists of drafting buses, mini-vans, and SUVs to keep up with the green wave.

You practice track stands and bunny hops in your spare time.

When actually driving, you stop at a red light and since no pedestrians are in the crosswalk you start to drive right through before you realize you are NOT on a bike, and slam on the brakes.

Similarly, when driving on the highway at 60 mph, you freak out at a 1-inch-wide groove in the pavement.

You know the location of every pothole and storm grate in a 10 mile radius around your home.

You can't think of the last time you saw any of your friends who don't bike.


This article used with thanks to Charlie McCorkell and John Chiarella!