Questions arising during riding... what's yours?

[Tom]

Last evening I was riding along the river, the herons are back and clearly eating well. One had to move about to avoid the evidence. Then I went under a tree where there was a lot of moisture on the road and it occurred to me.

Do birds pee?

[christian]

Yes. Yes. (The extra "Yes." was to get over the character minimum for the post.)

[christian]

The Straight Dope: Do birds pee?

[Tom]

Well, I'll be damned. I knew they used one hole for everything but it didn't occur to me that I didn't know what pee looked like.

[dgaddis]

On a summer BMX road trip to the skate park on Hilton Head the driver of our car had to dodge a heron's duece. We all saw it flying across the road, and then a 4ft long stream of sh!t dropped. REALLY glad we saw it, the moonroof was open. Could have been horrible.

[jitahs]

Sunday was a record high day, 88. Riding along the Bay the question was, "Why is the air suddenly much hotter?"

Answer: the cool prevailing wind was eddying around a spit a few hundred yards offshore, swirling over the land mass past me, and convecting into a little 100 yard pocket.

That was fun to figure out.

Also: why does that white pelican, so close to shore where they never are, have a very large guitar pick protuberance on his bill?

[zetroc]

What possesses a person to finish their coffee, candy bar, bag of chips, Big Mac, or Monster Thickburger and drop the fucking wrapper on the sidewalk? I was at the Fillmore for a show on Monday and as I was getting on a bus to go home, the drunk girl in front of me finished her Coors Light, smashed the bottle on the ground and clambered aboard. I said "Really?" and she looked at me like I was the asshole.

Really? Come on, people.

[zetroc]

Also: why does that white pelican, so close to shore where they never are, have a very large guitar pick protuberance on his bill?

Fish tail sticking out of his mouth?

[kpomtb]

Why aren't I going faster?

[Saab2000]

How much better would the DC area be with 50% fewer people?

[Britishbane]

How much better would the DC area be with 50% fewer people?

Probably in the region of 100% better.

Speaking of which, I had an after work ride planned today. I'm not getting out of here anytime soon (now 5:20) and I'm thinking a may just punt and not ride. Not worth dealing with the hordes on the bike path to get where I want to go.

[jitahs]

Fish tail sticking out of his mouth?

Fascinating:

"The white pelican has a white body, black wingtips, and yellow breast, bill, pouch, and feet. In the breeding season adults develop a horny growth on the upper side of the bill. The growth drops off about the time the young hatch."


https://www.google.com/search?q=peli...iw=601&bih=906

[j44ke]

Redundant pelican trivia. Need to read to the end of the thread.

[ElvisMerckx]

Who has time for questions? To keep tempo, my mind is fully engaged playing medleys of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Sister Christian" in my head.

[Saab2000]

Who has time for questions? To keep tempo, my mind is fully engaged playing medleys of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Sister Christian" in my head.

80's Man! Where's your mullet? You need to see Rock of Ages.

[ElvisMerckx]

80's Man! Where's your mullet? You need to see Rock of Ages.

I'm a Clash-type guy, actually. But stupid '80s songs *do* find their way into my head when I ride though.

"Private Eyes (clap clap) they're watching you..."

[Jake Rosenfeld]

I'm a Clash-type guy, actually. But stupid '80s songs *do* find their way into my head when I ride though.

"Private Eyes (clap clap) they're watching you..."

Her hair is Harlow gold
Her lips sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She's got Bette Davis eyes.........

Couldn't resist man.

seriously though, local coast range vernacular for the blue heron is 'shitaquart'

[Mabouya]

Why is gravity so much stronger when I'm going UP the hill than when I'm going DOWN ???

[false_aesthetic]

Even on the best, most wonderful rides, I end up wondering if there's something better I could be doing with my time.
Lately, as I've seen my parents begin to age, I wonder if I should be spending more time with them.

Then I start asking Duane Michals questions. "How far is up?"


Sorry for the downer.

[j44ke]

When I am riding into a headwind, I sing a song. I made up the words myself, but the tune is Jingle Bells. It goes like this:

"F*ck f*ck f*ck
f*ck f*ck f*ck
f*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck"

etc.