Dear Diver,

Sprocket jockeys are EXTREME ATHLETES, risking getting hit by a car/truck when they ride. Tell me, what is the story with the road bike community in Durango; they don’t understand the “Share the Road” sign? Riding two to three deep in traffic on a two-lane road with no shoulder? Dirty looks as vehicles pass? That isn’t sharing!! What happened to drafting? When did Chatty Cathy and Tough Ted start to spin? “Share the Road.” Doesn’t that apply to the road cyclist too?

– Derrick Plunger

Dear Mr. Plunger,

Yes, once one dons the Spandex and declares that fossil fuels are the bane of existence, you do develop an attitude – but does one really deserve to act that way? The Colorado bikers I know are smart and quick. More than likely the people who ride the $5,000 LeMonds and also drive their Mercedes stop-and-go down Main and have a home address in Rhode Island are the ones acting in this manner. I say look out for the real people who live here and ride bikes pretty much as well as anyone in the world. You’ll see them riding right past everyone on $200 Treks.

– Diver

Dear Diver,

Why are home prices still astronomical in Durango? Turn on the television and all you hear about is the nationwide housing slump. People are off-loading homes, condos and land at cut-rate prices seemingly everywhere but La Plata County. What gives? When will the rest of us get a chance at the American dream?

– Donald in Durango

Dear Donald,

The American Dream is pretty much here in La Plata County already, as far as I can tell. The people who hide their booze near the restaurant and use our public bathrooms early in the morning tell me the same thing, so at least everyone’s on the same page.

– Diver

Dear Diver,

My husband and I recently took off for a weekend away. Before we left, we went online and tried to book something. Everything, I mean everything, was sold out – Moab (full), Bluff (booked), Sedona (packed), Santa Fe (no vacancy). Long story short, we ended up spending two challenging days at a dive in Cortez. Is it my imagination or is the West beginning to get crowded?

– Sara via e-mail

Dear Sara,

Buy a tent and camp somewhere around here would be my first piece of advice. Cortez is cool, but why would you want to spend two nights in a sleazy motel there? I guess that you’re from Durango, but it’s hard to tell because your choice was so weird, considering the options. Ever heard of Ouray or Silverton or Telluride? It sounds like watching New Mexico news and eating in the diner was more enjoyable than a night under the Southwestern stars. Please come again soon.

– Diver