This is a guest blog post by Eric Mamroth - cyclist, benefit auctioneer and wonderful husband to Arden Clise.

If you are following the Tour de France this year, you probably have an opinion on whether Alberto Contador should have waited for Andy Schleck when he had a mechanical problem.  Schleck dropped his chain while launching an attack on the final climb of Stage 15, and had to stop to repair the problem. Later, Schleck expressed anger by what he saw as a lack of “fair play”, and according to cycling etiquette, he says Contador and the other riders should have waited for him. He finished 39 seconds behind Contador, who now holds the overall lead by 8 seconds. 

There is bicycle etiquette in the world of mortal bicycle commuters too. The flow of motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic is based on some simple and basic rules of the road. Honor the right-of-way and the flow proceeds more or less smoothly; assuming and/or preempting that right-of-way creates confusion, contempt or worse.

When you pass a fellow cyclist stopped on the side of the road, slow to see if they need any assistance. Whether it is a novice commuter dealing with their first flat tire, or a veteran commuter who inadvertently left the tool bag at home on the workbench, it only takes a few minutes to help out. 

There will always be someone faster, and slower than you. Ride right, pass left, call it out if you can and with a smile if possible. Some of us measure ourselves in the “Commuter 500” everyday; others are content to roll along taking in the sights, sounds and smells. Like it or not, this is the world we bike in.

Eric Mamroth is a regular bicycle commuter, enjoys tandem touring with his wife, and can’t stop smiling during the cyclocross season.

As I do every year, I watched the Academy Awards with a few friends. We meet at one friend’s house, enjoy a potluck dinner and gab about the dresses, the emcee(s), the Academy winners and losers. This year had its usual fill of beautiful and not so beautiful moments. We can learn many etiquette lessons by watching the Academy Awards.  Here are my notes on the good, the bad and the ugly moments of this year’s show.

Let’s start with the “Bad”

[...]

It would be easy to assume civility is dead given the antics of a few people who should know better. Over the last week we’ve had a Congressman be disrespectful to the President, a tennis star show poor sportsmanship and a musician take away from another’s moment in the spotlight. What these three did was wrong and rude and lacked respect for others. It was enough to give anyone pause about where our country is headed. However, I think we are letting a few color the many and I argue there are so many gracious, kind and respectful people in this country, they just don’t get the coverage that the bad boys/girls do. [...]

Hello and welcome to the Clise Etiquette blog, a place to discuss savvy and not so savvy decorum. Etiquette may sound like a stuffy or old fashioned topic, but it’s really just about making yourself and others more comfortable by being respectful, kind and professional.

The blog will be a place for people to share thoughts and questions on the situations in life that confuse you, anger you, give you pause or make you proud. I’ll share etiquette and protocol tips and techniques that you can use to feel more confident, comfortable and successful in the workplace and socially.

I look forward to sharing ideas and dialogue with you. Please feel free to let me know if there are topics you’d like to discuss or hear more about.