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Of Head Covers and Jerseys

03.11.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 11 Comments

I’m over that illness, finally. I was over it Friday, but wasn’t able to get out and ride, because we were being deluged with much-needed rainfall. The rain was even heavier on Saturday. Maybe there’s a chance my grass will come back after all.

Sunday, we awoke to more rain, but by 10 a.m. it was gone. The day turned into the most perfect spring day I can remember. I got in some yard work, but by 2 p.m. my wife wanted to ride. We went out for a Mopac loop, and extended it by cruising through a new upscale neighborhood to look at houses we will never be able to afford. Our 15.7 miles was an ideal way for me to get back on the bike without overtaxing my respiratory system. Since this is Spring Break week, I’ve got a lot of riding ahead over the next seven days, so there’s no reason for me to try racking up miles right now, this instant.

But as we were in the last mile of our ride, passing the Starbucks where the club rides begin, a large group of cyclists pulled out of the parking lot and crossed right in front of me to the bike lane. It was the club B ride. They were leaving at 3 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. because the morning downpour kept everyone inside. I chatted with some of my friends briefly, then broke off to head home. I wanted to tag along with them, but as I said — no reason to push it.

I would have been a little out of place, anyway, because I wasn’t in club kit. I was wearing a new jersey my wife and son got me for my recent birthday. And there’s a story behind that.

Back when I used to play a lot of golf, I treated myself to a Penn State head cover for my driver on the day I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation at said university (I’m a proud Nittany Lion). When my son saw it, he was inspired, and for Christmas that year, he rounded out my collection by giving me head covers for Southern Illinois University, where I got my bachelor’s degree (I’m a proud Saluki), and the University of Minnesota, where I got my master’s (I’m a proud Golden Gopher). Out on the course, they were always good for conversation starters, because few golfers sport head covers from three different schools (“Uh…are you confused?”). I’ve been carrying them around for almost ten years now.

So when I opened the package my son sent for my birthday, what do I find? A Penn State bicycle jersey! I had thought about getting one myself, and now he — and Mrs. Noob — have saved me the trouble. There are hints that I might have the bicycle equivalent of golf club head covers! Let’s see — Father’s Day is only a few months off, and then there’s Christmas again… Only time will tell.

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Comments

  1. Tim says

    March 12, 2012 at 2:23 am

    “hats for bats”

    Reply
  2. archergal says

    March 12, 2012 at 8:51 am

    People who regularly go on club rides usually wear club kit? Huh. Would never have occurred to me to do something like that. I wear what I wear.

    But I’m usually kinda clueless and have ZERO fashion sense/awareness.

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 12, 2012 at 8:57 am

      Probably 3/4 or more of the riders on a typical Sunday club ride wear club jerseys. They might not be the current edition, but will have the club logo.

      Reply
  3. Steve says

    March 12, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    Very dapper. We are Penn State!

    (not really, but I wanted to sound off with your alma mater’s theme in honor of the occassion!)

    Reply
  4. amidnightrider says

    March 14, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    I’m good friends with a Penn State icon Walter Barr.

    Reply
  5. schraden says

    March 19, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    That’s quite a Big 10 collection you have going! I can see why some golfers might be a little confused

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      March 19, 2012 at 2:21 pm

      Yeah, I’m originally from the Midwest, so the Big Ten is more or less my home conference…

      Reply
      • schraden says

        March 20, 2012 at 6:48 am

        Cool. I’m more of a Purdue fan myself, but I was pulling for Minnesota to make the NCAA tournament this year! The Gophers had some tough breaks but I know they’ll beat Purdue next year.

        Reply
  6. Chuck says

    August 30, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    I have been going through reading the old post, and boy was I surprised to see a SIU head cover. I went to SIU and still live in So IL. I am just getting into cycling.

    Reply
    • Chuck says

      August 30, 2012 at 1:47 pm

      put in the wrong web address for my new blog.

      Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      August 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm

      Class of ’73. We were there for a reunion of sorts in 2010 — good to see how the place has grown.

      Reply

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