The Slice: The Slice: Joys of riding can be cyclical

Jeremiah DuPey has been riding his bicycle to the office this week.

The Hollister-Stier technician has enjoyed it. Well, mostly.

“This morning, as I was unlocking my bike to ride to work, I set my lunch down on my porch swing,” he wrote. “It wasn’t until after I arrived at work that I realized my lunch is still sitting on the swing.”

“Speaking of Bike to Work Week: It occurs to me that my practice of avoiding times and routes that would involve riding in heavy car traffic might limit my ability to get a true feel for commuting by bicycle.

So be it.

I know there are serious cyclists who want to make the “We have a right to be here” point with their presence on busy streets. I salute them.

But I’m still hyper-aware of my vulnerability as I pedal along. Perhaps, as I gain confidence, my attitude will evolve.

One thing I can tell you about cycling already, though: It’s really important to wear the right underwear.

“Continuity: “My wife and I are both originally from Indiana,” wrote Jim Maurer of Spokane Valley. “When looking for a new home, the fact that one was on Indiana sealed the deal.”

“Slice answer: Sandpoint’s Bob Witte said that a movie about his last days of high school in 1974 would be called “Teenage Wasteland.”

“We even wanted to use it as the theme for our senior dance,” he wrote.

Administrators at his Catholic high school in Santa Monica, Calif., nixed that idea.

“Symbolic gesture: After last year’s Lilac Parade, I had several discussions with readers about flag etiquette. You know, are you supposed to stand up every time another U.S. flag goes by, et cetera. I subsequently got some input from a few folks who know about these things. As I recall, the formal rules hewed pretty closely to common sense.

I told several readers that I would address all that before this year’s parade. But I’ve decided not to, and I thought I should at least acknowledge that.

I’ll spare you my harangue about what is or isn’t a measure of true patriotism. Instead, I’ll just suggest that you do whatever you feel is appropriate.

“Answered and asked: A reader named Nancy said her family owns zero items of GU apparel and followed up with her own question.

“Do people who pursue outdoor activities like kayaking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, running, bicycling, et cetera, have less interest in following team sports?”

“Today’s Slice question: Who is to blame for the birthday party arms race?