The Lime Rock A riders, also known as “Lycanthropes” are a group of bicycle sportsmen and sportswomen who meet on Cyclocross, or Mountain Bikes, or frankenbikes specifically designed for riding the hardpack and sandy roads that surround Gainesville.  These rides occur during the day, at night, during cold spells, hot spells, rain, or shine.

Proper etiquette is essential on these rides.  Lime Rock speeds generally range between 14 and 34.6 mph. Average speeds are not recorded, as it is a well-known fact that no one ever gets dropped because of the average speed. Riding outside the typical range is tolerated under special circumstances, but may subject the perpetrator to a berating, ridicule, or general verbal abuse from other riders.

We have a ride captain… really.  It is s/he who knows where we are going.  This is very important.  Lime Rock riders should generally follow someone who knows where they are going, particularly at critical times, like a turn.  Failure to know where one is going will often result in a new course for the group, or the perpetrator becoming lost, and generally riding home alone.  As with other breaches of etiquette, this behavior may subject the perpetrator to a berating, ridicule, or general verbal abuse from other riders.

Lime Rock A rides abide by all of the laws of physics, though a number of individuals have attempted to defy these rules of etiquette. Consistent with the laws of physics, Lycanthropes will go more slowly uphill, except during those times when they don’t.  Similarly, descents tend to be faster than ascents, or riding on the flats, except when they aren’t.  Failure to follow the laws of physics may subject the perpetrator to a berating, ridicule, or general verbal abuse from the other riders.

Lime Rock A rides are often characterized by seemingly random accelerations that break the general civility of tooling along at the lower end of the Lycanthrope steady state pace.  This behavior is often quite logical and probably represents a deep-seated, seething desire for revenge from a previous, seemingly random acceleration designed to evoke a “bollocks, you bastard” or similar invective.  These “surges” are tolerated under certain circumstances, but may subject the perpetrator to a berating, ridicule, or general verbal abuse from other riders.

To ride with the group, simply contact the ride captain for permission, show up on time, and obey the simple rules of etiquette outlined above.  As indicated previously, failure to do so may subject you to occasional berating, ridicule, or general verbal abuse from other riders, which is all in good fun.

 Anonymous