Don't be shitty, and 3 other life lessons bikes have taught me

1. Riding a bike should be fun. For all the talk about "pain caves" and "sufferfests" sometimes people forget that riding bikes should be fun. There will be no podium girls when you win the group ride, there is no trophy for most miserable asshole. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't push yourself, or that riding shouldn't be hard sometimes but, if you aren't having fun: just get off your bike, set it on fire and never look back.

2. You can't fix everything. No matter how hard you try, some things can't be fixed. Some bikes are beyond repair no matter how hard you try, no matter how much money you spend. Some people won't change, no matter how much time and effort you put in. Whether it's bikes, people, or situations, sometimes you have to wipe away the dirt, blood and tears and start over; decide what is the best course of action tomorrow and move on.

3. Being a cyclist is a lifestyle, not a Rock' n' Roll lifestyle. Spandex pants aren't hip, you will not be recruited onto Van Halen, shredding downhill doesn't doesn't make you a rock star, no matter how hard you "pinned it brah". You may seem to cool to other cyclists but, that is like being the hottest girl in Minnesota, outside of your little pond no one cares.  If you are trying to live fast and die young, I suggest you get working on the dieing part because, your "fast livin'" is getting in the way of my day to day operations.