About Last Night's Ride

An email I received from the ride leader.

"Fellow riders,

I am appalled at the dangerous, unsportsmanlike and just plain
stupid riding I witnessed last night. I really have a difficult time
justifying the time and energy I put into promoting these rides if this
crap goes on week after week, and this is two weeks in a row now.

We try to provide a variety of routes, but starting in a very urban
area it is necessary to ride through congested or otherwise
undesirable routes on our way to open road. As I re-emphasize
every available opportunity, written and verbal, there are some
places where we need to ride with caution. This would include,
among others: heavy traffic, construction zones, traffic signals,
multi-use paths and especially the I-5 Boones Bridge shoulder.
Is it really too much to ask that we ride neutral in these areas?
DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT NEUTRAL MEANS??? It does
NOT mean you have a golden opportunity to hammer away in
front and drop your "competition". Do we need to have course
monitors waving yellow flags and disqualifying people? Aren't
you smart enough and/or good enough sportsmen to understand
that riding safe and watching out for your fellow riders is a tad
more important than average speed or who can open a gap?

Oh, you're all innocent and have no idea what I'm talking about?
I will remind you. Last week I was quite pleased with the group
riding on the Canby bike path -- courteous to other users, riders
communicating, aware of obstacles, etc. I was very displeased
with front riders sprinting off the ferry as if it were a time trial
starting ramp. There were dozens more trying to exit in an
orderly manner, which cannot be done at high speed or with
one's head down. Last night we had riders sprinting through yellow
lights, seemingly unconcerned about those delayed by red. Or
even worse, sprinting through the red light so as not to be dropped.
What really disgusted and enraged me though was the group ethic
on the freeway bridge. That bridge is a vital but unfortunate link in
many of our rides south of town. The shoulder is wide and safe, but
usually contains a lot of debris, and last night was worse than usual.
I have suggested, begged, cajoled, pleaded with anybody that will
listen that it would be safer, smarter and more sporting to SLOW
DOWN, SPREAD OUT and TAKE IT EASY on this short stretch.
But NO, everybody just loves the tailwind so the pack jambs through
the mine field at 30+ mph. Fine if you are in front, but think about
the poor bastards trying their best not to be dropped. I guess at 60
years old my reflexes are deteriorating, but NOBODY should have to
be dodging all those big unmoveable objects at high speed with huge
trucks speeding by in the next lane. Its just plain Dangerous. Slow
down and reduce the risk. We had two flat tires on the bridge last
night. Dozens of riders slowed abruptly, putting those behind them
in mortal danger. But instead of slowing down to see that everybody
was OK, the opportunistic accelerations just increased the risk for
everybody. Sprint so hard you can't see straight or get dropped and
ride by yourself the rest of the evening. THAT JUST PLAIN SUCKS!
Don't you give a damn whether everybody behind you is still able to
continue? Would you even notice if somebody crashed out? Even
if it was your stupid, careless riding that caused the mishap? Sure
looked doubtful to me. I didn't even stop, but just slowing for a few
seconds to ask if riders were ok was enough to get me shelled and
ruin my evening. WOULD IT BE ASKING TOO MUCH TO REGROUP?
I came away feeling that most of the riders cared about nobody except
themselves and that really pisses me off. I regret that my fostering of
fast rides and friendly competition has deteriorated to this. I do not
want to be associated in any way with this cutthroat attitude.

This is not a laughing matter. If you're unaware that this crap is going
on, that is even more scary. Pull your head out of your butt and know
what's going on behind you as well as in front. Do Tour de France riders
attack through the feed zones or when the yellow jersey stops for a pee?
Just today we saw Simoni attack AFTER Landis regained the peloton.
Sportsmanship. Heads up awareness. There are 150 riders in their
peloton, but they know what's happening. Can't we figure it out with
just a few dozen?

-- Del"

Posted 11:00 PM by John Henry