Cycling Fun Friday: ID My Road ID

For this edition of "Cycling Fun Friday," we take a serious topic and make it FUN!

You've probably heard of RoadID, either from an ad on the back of an event number, cruising cycling-related websites, or because you happened to see Levi out riding (it's who he is).  In any event, you probably already know how important it is to have some basic medical information on you in case of a serious accident.

Since I started riding, I've included a laminated photocopy of my driver's license in my seatbag.  But Mrs. Suitcase has (finally) convinced Yours Truly to get himself a Road ID.  She wants me to "Be Seen Wearing It" - along with my helmet.

So, I (we) got on the RoadID website and started the ordering process.  You get 7 lines of 24 characters each to convey your basic medical information to first responders in case of an emergency.  It's a really great idea, but presents one small problem. . .

Have you read one of my posts lately?  168 characters is little more than a Tweet on Twitter!  Ok, so the RoadID folks suggest some helpful lines: Name, City/State, 3 lines worth of contact phone numbers, a line of medical info, and then one last line where they suggest something personal to you - a saying or something like "Never Give Up," "Ride Lots" etc.

But I can't for the life of me decide what my saying should be!!  I mean - sheesh! - this is what I want most to say, the wisdom I want most to convey, at precisely the time I am unable to speak for myself.

I came up with a few suggestions (Mrs. Suitcase approved none of them):

GOTO WWW.SUITCASEOFCOURG

SUITCASEOFCOURAGE.TYPEPA

(it was about here I gave up on including my web address - then I got more descriptive...)

TURNED A PEDAL IN ANGER

MUST BE IN THE PAIN CAVE

I'M IN THE HURTBAG NOW!

%$^#!! OUCH!

PLEASE REVIVE ME- PLZ :(

As you can see, I'm not really good at this.

So this is where YOU come in.  We're gonna have ourselves a little contest . . .

HELP ME WITH MY ROAD ID SAYING

You have 24 characters to be as creative, inspiring and fun as you can be.  Of course, you must capture the essential essence of my personality and this blog - but hey, I'm sure you're up to the task.

What's in it for you?

In ADDITION to the chance to have your words immortalized forever in a piece of etched metal that I wear on a chain around my neck every single time I ride?

While I KNOW that would normally be enough, how about a brand-new Pedro's Bottle Wrench too!

It's not only tailor-made for opening the beverage of your choice, but I  understand it's also useful for, um, coaxing certain components back into place (don't ask me how I know).

So get out your creative quill pens and lucky inkwells and leave your suggestions in the comments below (or email) by Midnight July 6.  Each suggestion gives you a chance to win the prize and I'll do the drawing and announce the winner within 48 hours.

As for receiving your prize, I will either present it to you in person at one of the up-coming races (if possible - may even do a little podium ceremony), or I'll ship it right to your doorstep.

Have a Great (and safe) Weekend!

(Despite the attempt at humor, medical identification is a serious matter - but that doesn't mean it can't be fun too. If nothing else, hopefully this post will encourage you to carry this info with you, either with a RoadID or some other way.)

Comments

[hobgoblin]

The elastic has snapped!
That's gotta hurt!
It IS about the bike.
Don't call me Lance.
Save my bike!
God hates a coward. (My favorite Stephen King quote.)
Live deliberately. (from Thoreau)
HTFU
Wheelsucker.
I crush the souls of the weak. (http://www.myspace.com/kaiserjan)
Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. (Iris Murdoch)

[ChrisB.]

How about . .

"Put Me Back on My Bike"?

. . . which were Tommy Simpson's last words.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Simpson

[ChrisB.]

Also there's this . . .

"Killing the Buddha"

which isn't as good as "If you meet the Buddha, kill him," but it fits. And in my opinion it directly relates to all that cycling is.

[Velosopher]

I'm only going to take one shot, because there's only one thing to say at a moment like that:

"No regrets; I was riding"

[Giles]

at the risk of being pedantically functional:

Chron's disease

although I suppose you covered that in the medical info line.

I'm not married but I would imagine making sure your wife didn't have a major freakout would be the next most important thing:

Play it down 4 the Mrs.

As in, when you call my wife, play down how severe it is, you know "Oh, he's just in the *ahem*(mumbling)ICU*ahem* no big thing, just a routine cranial re-assembly procedure, happens all the time."

I don't imagine you consider the RoadID dorky, but just for irony you could put:

My wife makes me wear it

If you're a huge LOST fan like me, there's always:

4 8 15 16 23 42

[Suitcase of Courage]

What an impressive collection - you guys really outdid yourselves and I appreciate your taking the time to weigh in. There's a LOT of creativity here.

Just calculating the number of entries per contestant and will be doing the prize drawing soon.

Stay Tuned!