Here's to you Sit Down Bike Guy

Sit down bike guy

Sit down bike guy, where do I begin? With your sit down bike? Your tenacious spirit? You’re a legend, we have never spoken and I doubt we ever will. I wrote this tribute to you while at school today, and as I pulled onto my street on the way home you were waiting on the corner, your orange goggles glistening in the sombre afternoon light, your detachable mini rear view mirror angled just enough for you to protect your rear end from  rear ending.

No this isn’t a love note to my hero. More a tribute to someone with the eye of the tiger, a wolf pack of one. A true visionary for the future of seated bicycle transportation.  

You may well be wondering who SDBG is and well, that’s a valid question. I’m sure in your travels you’ve seen at least one sit down bike. They are those more efficient and ergonomic, super stylish bikes where you sit back and cruise like Bobby did in “Bobby’s World” on his tricycle. You may be saying “so what, he rides a sit down bike, I learned to ride a bike with 2 wheels when I was 5” and I would respond to you “you best watch your goddam mouth when you talk about SDBG”

It’s the conditions that SDBG rides his vehicle of choice in that makes him a true living Hamilton icon and legend. The many nights I sit at the dinner table mowing down watching the real life soap opera that is “The streets of Hamilton”. I would guestimate the highest per capita ratio of Rascal scooter users in Ontario if not the world, the inexplicably high amount of ambulances and other emergency response vehicles being called to almost every building but my own, the young mothers in their Fubu apparel pushing their babies strollers lost in thought as to who their baby daddy might be. Sure enough, come rain, shine, snowstorm or santa clause parade SDBG will come zooming down the street making his token crossing of the busy 3 lane street. To be honest I don’t even think he looks left AND right for cars, it has nothing to do with it being a one way street either..he’s just that badass.

What sparked the necessity for me to share the exploits of SDBG happened yesterday. The day after the biggest snowfall Hamilton has seen yet this year, sure enough out of the hazardous conditions emerged none other than SIT DOWN BIKE GUY! Not fazed by the adverse conditions that many drivers feared and shied away from, SDBG came barrelling through the snow with ease not with tank treads or some other traction aid no. Just with cahonies the size of beach balls and quadriceps the diameter of the average mans waist.

Let’s all take a moment to admire sit down bike guy for the inspiration he is. Sending the message that any Hamilton resident no matter how insane, homeless or steel worker can be a true success.

Cheers to you sit down bike guy

Your fan

Lloyd.