Bernie Miklasz Catches Heat From Haughty St. Louis Cyclists

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist and local ESPN 1380 AM sports talk radio host Bernie Miklasz received this comment on his STLtoday.com online forum:

“Bernie, I heard you say this morning that no one on your show said the best place for a cyclist is under a car. This statement was in response to an email regarding the comment that was made on your show, on Friday. I know the comment was made because I heard it.

If you really believe that no one made this comment, on your show, and you do not advocate the obvious violence which the comment endorses; then I think a review of the transcript from Fridays show is appropriate.”

Bernie could be aware that radio hosts have gotten in trouble in the past for encouraging violence towards cyclists. Here is his response:

”Please be more accurate in your representation of what I just said.

I said that I didn't make that comment ... which I didn't. I also said I was wondering who did. Because I honestly don't know.

I don't remember the comment being made. Which doesn't mean it wasn't made -- but there's five people in the studio, and it's noisy and hectic, and I'm trying to run the show. Not all comments register with me. Oherwise, thanks for listening.

--B”

Followed by this:

“Vernetti (producer/co-host) is going to go back and listen to the show and see what was said. Thanks.

--B”

Followed by this:

”For my part, all I said was I don't understand why cyclists feel compelled to dress up like Lance Armstrong -- full uniform.

This would be like a couple of guys playing catch and wearing a full Cardinals uniform.

Safety gear, yes. I'm talking about the clothing.

But I was just being silly. People need to understand the context of the show.

What I don't like is this: the guy (not Bruce Wayne) who complained in an e-mail to the show acknowledges he didn't hear the show, doesn't listen to the show, and heard about it 2nd or 3rd hand.

People ought to pay attention and listen to a show before they rush in and make accusation against the show.

--B”

Followed by this:

"I think that's the problem with cyclists -- as we're seeing now. They just take themselves way too seriously. There's a haughtiness in the cycling culture that's quite irritating.

I've logged plenty of miles in Forest Park, and there are a lot of people getting exercise on the paths, but some (not all) of the cyclists really think they're competing in the Giro d'Italia. It's almost as if they're offended that others are out in the sun, getting in a workout.

Just relax. You aren't Ivan Basso. You aren't even George Hincapie.

--B”

My takes:

I know Bernie doesn’t advocate running over cyclists.

He never clarified what actually was said. So there was no denial that the comment that "the best place for a cyclist is under a car" was made by somebody appearing on his radio show. Updated: Bernie has noted on his message board that the original comment was made by Max Leinwand an employee of Fox Sports Net. Bernie has asked Leinwand to issue a formal apology when he goes on the air Friday. Fair enough.

I agree with Bernie that “serious” cyclists shouldn’t be hammering through the Forest Park bike path. Too crowded and dangerous.

His analogy to a cyclist “dressing up like Lance Armstrong” being akin to two guys wearing full Cardinals uniforms to play catch is absurd, but I don’t worry about what non-cyclists think about the gear or expect them to understand. We may even agree that it looks silly, but we know why it works. I have no interest in explaining the answer to someone who asks why we don’t wear baggy shorts and loose shirts. OK, I will — in two words: Aero Dynamics.

Why does Bernie feel the need to belittle Big George Hincapie? He won one of the toughest stages of last year's Tour! (Note the oversensitive haughtiness.)

Finally, I can’t understand why anyone would be offended by the clothes:



Yeah: If you do decide to take up cycling, Bernie, then you probably wanna stick with the black lycra.