There has been a lot of interesting/infuriating discussions on the Bike Pittsburgh Message Board lately, mostly around cyclist/driver interactions. Most troubling to me is the attitude that it is perfectly fine to get into a shouting match with a driver, and whatever comes of that is the driver’s fault. Many moons ago, I used to get worked up when a driver slighted me (perceived or otherwise). At some point, I decided get upset really wasn’t worth the effort–it simply spoiled a good ride. Little will come of a shouting match–you aren’t going to suddenly change a motorist’s habits or attitudes by hurling invectives at them. (I’m not trying to defend a motorist who might run over a bicycle as a result of an argument–clearly, that’s very wrong–but as a cyclist (and a person), I’d rather avoid the confrontation completely. If I can just ride along and let the slight roll like water off a duck’s back, I’m better off for it.) I’m hesitant to say this, but there is certainly a sense of victim-ism by some cyclist–that everyone is out to get us. My experience paints a bit of a different picture–yes, there are few motorists who genuinely hate cyclists, but more often than not, a motorist who drives poorly around a cyclist (or yells at them) will also exhibit the same behavior around other motorists. Nearly every day, I see a motorist a) right hook another car b) speed around a car doing the speed limit, honking their horn all the way c) drive aggressively toward another vehicle. To believe that motorists just generally have it out for cyclists is silly.
I am not racing tonight. We have other plans. I may race next week. The following two weeks we will be in Colorado (where I hope to try to kill myself on this ride). I will probably race when I get back, only to test the effects of riding at altitude for two weeks. I’m slowly realizing that racing is fun, but shouldn’t be my focus. Why? Well, I can’t get motivated to “train” properly. I’d rather just ride. And, of course, there are other things to do with myself. If I have a future as a life-long, mid-pack category 4 racer, so be it. I am formulating some bigger plans, though, for the rest of the year and next:
1. The Dirty Dozen (I am not skipping this year!)
2. The September brevet held by the Pittsburgh Randonneurs
3. D2R2 next year
4. Maybe, maybe, maybe Crush the Commonwealth
5. A 300k and possibly 400k brevet
Of course, midweek training races would go a long way in achieving some of these goals, but I think racing will no longer be a goal in and of itself. If there are local ‘cross races, and I’m still in possession of the Cannondale, I’ll certainly do those.
More pro cycling musings…I really hope that Contador and Armstrong don’t spend the next 11 months sniping at one another in the press and ether. It will be interesting, however, to see where Contador lands, assuming that he won’t stay with Astana. Going to Garmin could clear up the doping rumors, but that requires Vande Velde and Wiggins to give up GC hopes in the Tour. One the other hand, they would have a Tour team that could potentially rival that of Radio Shack. The Pavé blog wonders what Lance should do will constructing the Radio Shack team. Most interesting idea? Cavendish. Yes, he would need to snag Renshaw, too, and probably at least one good rouler for reeling in breaks, but such a signing would guarantee wins for the sponsor. At the same time, Cavendish will likely make the green jersey a priority next July, and it’s pretty clear what the top priority for Lance’s team will be.
* Special prize** to the first person who knows this reference.
** A whole lotta nothing
Posted on 29 July 2009