Monday, May 28, 2018

NO ROOM IN THE INN!

     A few days ago my friend, Dani, posted on FB about a conversation (she used the word "interaction" which connotes a slightly different encounter) with someone from the cycling community.  It was at The Driveway while watching a criterium race, so I'm also assuming it was someone who raced.  Now Dani has only been involved in cycling for three years, but it has been an impressive three years.  That's her story and not the topic for this entry.  But this person informed her that they would not encourage or help anyone to start cycling, especially women, because there were already too many cyclists.  Boy, did her post get lots of comments. 
     But my post is taking the devil's advocate position.  Too many times, when I was trying to make a point that sounded great in my head, what came out of my mouth was totally asinine.  For the sake of argument, maybe the brain was thinking "racing" but the mouth mis-interpreted.  Of course,  even that is a stupid thing to say, but it is a segue.
     Some of the races at The Driveway have upwards of seventy competitors.  Probably only a half-dozen have a real chance to win, so why are the other sixty-plus folks racing?  Well duh, it's because they like to race!  Maybe they're racing to make top-twenty, which gets them recognition (the rest get nothing).  Maybe this race is just a hard work-out for other cycling activities and placement doesn't matter.  Maybe it's practice riding fast in a group.  So, if this person is desirous of making top twenty, but is only a fifty percentile racer, then they would benefit if only forty people raced.
     Or, perhaps they were a good actor and was really just jerking Dani's leg.  I've met a person like that, and it wasn't until a mutual acquaintance clued me in that he "spun tales" did I stop believing anything he said.  Then again, maybe the person is just a jerk.
     Actually, just recently I had a similar thought.  Not about discouraging anyone from cycling, but too many cyclists.  It was at a Shoal Roll several weeks back.  There were about twenty-five riders, which is great for a parade but causes even laid-back motorists some agitation.  Fortunately we broke into several manageable groups and came back together at the finish (sort of, the faster folks having a longish wait).
     If you do charity rides, maybe you have had unkind thoughts run through your mind about unskilled cyclists who are really dangerous to be around.  I still remember one lady who stopped and  fell over in front of a vehicle while going up a slight incline.  Even worse is the strong, fast rider who changes lines and darts in and out without regard to those around him.  We must remember that charity rides bring out charitable people who want to challenge themselves while contributing something to the cause.  Judge not lest you be judged.  I dislike a snob of any sort, but especially a cycling snob.
     Of course, if you really want to see "too many cyclists" take a trip to Amsterdam.  Everybody is a cyclist.  On a recent trip to London I was surprised at the large number of cycling commuters.  In either city it is a grave mistake to walk in a bike lane.  Sadly, Austin is a long way from that worry.  Meanwhile, I'll do what I can to encourage folks to get into their exercise of choice, and if it's cycling, so much the better.

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