Dear Life Sherpa — I love sarcasm — and those quick enough to enjoy the give-and-take of it. The Sherpa gets it; but why don't so many other people?

— Hello Mary Lou



Dear Hello — Thanks for giving me the opening for this week's column.

Every so often, I manage to ruffles the feathers of some group of readers. The latest: bicyclists.

So we will deal with this one more time, then give it a rest for a while.

To bring everyone up to speed, I recently poked fun — and for those too busy watching Tour of Missouri, note that this is intended to be a humor column — at the snobby nature of some pedalers. My original statement was that it was illegal to hit cyclists, "no matter how badly you may want to."

Obviously, Mary Lou (and others) got the joke. But some got their cycling shorts in a bunch:


Dear Life Sherpa — Your statement is very offensive. The thought that one would actually "like" to hit a bicyclist borderlines on advocating violence. Nobody is so important that their delay of a few minutes due to a slow-moving vehicle is worth endangering another human being's life.

— Tempe Tom



Dear Tempe — Really? Are you serious? I suggest you retrace your cycling route and find where you lost your sense of humor.

My original comment also prompted "Bicycling Babe" to say it was obvious from my photo that I was out of shape and needed to bike.

Can it get more stereotypical than that? It doesn't matter if you lift weights, punch a speed bag, hike, whatever. If you don't join in their activity or fit into their physical shape, you must be a Big Mac-eating oaf driving a planet-killing auto. These are some online responses to my column:

— "... and I notice that Joe tactfully evades any denial of how much fast food he consumes. (I don't, thank you.)

— "What type of gas-guzzling SUV would Buddha drive? (Can't speak for Buddha. I drive a Ford Focus.)

And here is my favorite:

— "Wow, this columnist is sure defensive — not to mention combative and misogynistic. You'd think a newspaper columnist would have thicker skin, and more interesting stuff to put in his column than back-and-forth sniping over reader comments."

Where do I start? Because "Bicycling Babe" is a woman and I challenged her, that means I hate women? Change it to "Bicycling Hunk" and my response is the same. I'm an equal opportunity offender.

Second, the subject would have died a month ago had it not been for readers' responses, and that is what this column has always been about.

Combative? Hey, "Bicycling Babe" took her shot, I took mine. If you don't want to spar, stay out of the ring.

But I'm grateful that some readers fell on the Sherpa's side:


Dear Life Sherpa — I used to work in a bicycle shop, and there isn't a more annoying person than a cyclist. They have the same thing in common as a runner: They can't play any other sport. It takes no coordination, and once there, they find companionship with others of their ilk.

— SUV Pete


Dear Life Sherpa — I have always enjoyed your column, but now you are my hero! Your rant against the cyclist will be laminated, framed and bask in the glow of a perpetual candle in your shrine.

— Fearless Flyboy


Dear Life Sherpa — "Bicycling Babe" might be my ex-wife. She was into spandex and cheating. I gave her the bicycle as payback.

— Best Response EVER