Following my rant the other day, I think it's important to keep things in perspective. There's a reason why the stupid acts of a stupid few get such prominent coverage in the media: because such incidents are relatively rare, and therefore newsworthy.
Sure, every cyclist has been abused by people in cars but that doesn't alter the fact that riding regularly is an overwhelmingly positive thing to do. If it were not, why would people do it?
Let me give a couple of examples from the same day that illustrate my point.
Example 1
I received this message from tom [with my comments interjected]:
I know you don't like the Around the Bay in a Day mass craziness
Gee, have I been that obvious?
but I did the 100k from Sorrento to Melbourne and enjoyed myself thoroughly . The weather was perfect and it wasn't even that busy.
That's great. I've no doubt that the vast majority of people who rode on the day had an enjoyable day out.
I did notice a few 'semi-professionals' getting crapped off by the 'tourers', but my guess is that they are just there to show us lowly folk how good they are, whereas the really fast guys don't even enter. Anyway that's my $0.02
Well, once a group gets to a particular size, it's inevitable that a few nongs will turn up.
It's possible that tom ran into some Beach Road regular hard-nuts who were shirty about 'their' route being overrun by trundlers. Well, that's tough—it's one day of the year, and it's not like anyone who rides a bike wouldn't know it's on. Or they might have been, as tom suspects, a bunch of poseurs who'd entered the event to show off (although it's not really the right time or place).
Either way, he clearly didn't let the minor minor irritation of a few bozos like them spoil a good day out.
Example 2
When asked if they were doing Around the Bay, almost all of the regular cyclists at the salt mine looked a bit shifty and mumbled things about going off to find some hills. But later in the week I noticed a new face at the bike rack—one of the technical guys who until recently had been on our project. It turns out that my colleague was squeezing in some last-minute preparation for ATB.
He reported back this week that he'd increased the longest distance he'd ridden by more than 50%, found his two crossings of the Westgate Bridge not too hard, and wasn't at all sore the next day. It was obvious that he'd had fun. What a great result!
But the best bit was the line he put at the end of his message which said, "Now I'm looking for my next challenge. Maybe the 1-in-20 to Sassafras." Sounds like we've got a new regular cyclist on our hands there. How cool is that?
Well I did it - 210 anticlockwise. First time, and my biggest ever daily distance by 17km. My biggest ever distance on an upright by a long way.
Had a great day out. Lots of good chats, helped out a lass riding on her own with a puncture, had a blast picking my way from group to group. And I'm going to do some more riding at distance, and go visit some of the famous routes in and around Melbourne. Might even get a drop-bar road bike to join the stable - haven't ridden drops for about 6 years.
Anyway, it reinvigorated my love of cycling. :)
heheh... yep, amongst the negatives that come from masses of unpredictable people mixing it with some hardened velopushers there is an element of the unable striving to do the impossible for many at ATB, it does bring out many hopefulls who see it as a chance to do a milestone in their life when hopefully someone can still support them. This year I took a different tack . I usually ride as a gatekeeper with a ladies team, keeping the unpredictables out of the bunch to ensure the ladies have a better than even chance of getting around safely, at a reasonable pace and in good spirits along the way and at the end, but this year I was a volunteer, on-road ride marshall (a WARBY-We Are Right Behind You). The main role is to accompany the Sorrento to Alex Gardens riders and keep an eye out for unsafe practices, to guide and encourage and help out if a rider is in need of a Sag wagon or a repair... I was generally encouraged by the co-operation from most riders, there were a few instances of dilly-dallying by riders pootling along, but in the main I didnt see any instance of downright stupidity, on the contrary, an orderly approach by most and good calling, good spirits and good riding. Sure there were lots of under-prepared riders with bikes and bodies not suited to the ride, some who had no idea of what their bike could do on a hill ( you mean it has gears so I can actually pedal up hills geeee thanks)... and a few who stuck to me ( That's MY WARBY)... The Olly's Hill prang I didnt see, it apparently happened after I went through on my patrol, but it was well posted for cautions and slow descent advised.. I guess someone misjudged a few things and came to grief... hope they recover quickly ... I have a mind to be a WARBY again next year... it was satisfying, encouraging and a great ride along one of the best most scenic routes for cycling anywhere.... my regular group ride mates headed out to the 1-20 instead this year... apparently that wasnt such a great choice, but they will be back on BR next weekend and doing their bit... no matter , for the ATB, its outcome is a postive...the big winner is cycling, utility, recreational, commuting, training... it's all good Cheers and ride safe, ride well, but ride Rob
Comments
Can I count Charlie B as example 3? That certainly echoes my point—thousands of people had a great day, many would have reinvigorated or discovered a love of cycling. On numbers alone, that's the big story.