I obviously agree with the riders about safety being our first concern when we are out on the road - I do not think this is a debatable issue. On another matter, I am offended by what Kerry said about new riders that shoot for "glory" they have not earned. On one level, I understand that when you are of sufficient fitness to participate in pulling you should do your fair share. Everyone knows some that do not and some that do more. It is also a fact that someone of lesser endurance, who cannot expend the energy to rotate without getting dropped, can, because a sprint is anaerobic, give what he has left in a sprint. This does not mean that he was sandbagging or saving up - he may well have been barely hanging on to the group the whole time. When the new riders feel up to taking a turn at pulling I am sure they will. I often feel obligated to do so - even when it is obvious not wise to - and end up getting dropped later on an acceleration. I always think that if I had not pulled so long or less that I would have stayed with the group. I think we can safely say these riders will not win the sprint in any case, but I am sure they are trying to give their all and have just as much right to sprint safely as the next guy. Even the riders rotating in front should check out the situation before "making a move" - so to the riders in back should as well. If you are not sprinting then stay to the right, if there is no room then you cannot go and missed your shot, or wait and you will have to made up the distance to win. That is the way it goes. Something tells me though that its not just the new riders who are responsible for all this mess. Be safe - see you'all on the road. -- Scott D. Erker (aka New Rider with pathetic fitness) PhD Candidate, University of Florida Department of Anthropology Turlington Hall, Room 1112 P.O. Box 117305 Gainesville, FL 32611 Phone: 352-335-4484 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from GCCMail, please go to http://gccfla.org/. Point to Members Area, and click on GCCMail. Use the form on the page.</pre><address>Title: <strong>FW: GCCMail: Now I Understand</strong></address> <FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'><BR> ------ Forwarded Message<BR> <B>From: </B>xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<BR> <B>Date: </B>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:14:08 +0000<BR> <B>To: </B>"Kevin Anderson" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx><BR> <B>Subject: </B>Re: GCCMail: Now I Understand<BR> <BR> Kevin,<BR> <BR> could you please forward my letter to you to the Team Florida list serve? It keeps rejecting my e-mail for some reason. I think they need to hear my message.<BR> <BR> Thanks,<BR> <BR> Kerry Duggan<BR> <BR> >>>>>>>>>>>><BR> Hello Kevin,<BR> <BR> Thank you so much for your concerns. Perhaps your comments will affect change on the Hipp ride. I have been trying lately to get people to ride safer along that streach of Williston road and to actually eliminate the final sprint near I-75. So far it has fallen on deaf ears.<BR> <BR> Part of the problem is we have several new riders who sit on much of the ride doing little work in the rotation. They save up their energy and expend it (unfairly and dangerously) in one final burst for glory they have not earned. This causes the group to bunch up dangerously and this pushes other riders further and further out into traffic. NOBODY ever looks back because they are consumed completly in the heat of the moment. <BR> <BR> So, new riders, please THINK about the domino effect of your actions BEHIND you as well as what is in front of you. If you want to sprint then either rotate most of the ride or at least start rotating 1-2 miles BEFORE the sprint zone. That way the rotators aren't suprised by a bunch of new guys bumbling their way through the field hell bent for "THE WIN." Experienced riders, please keep your emotions under control and let the Freds go if it will make things safer.<BR> <BR> Kevin, I heard you honk. I was the one shaking his head in disgust about 6 riders back- safely in the bike lane. I hope nobody gave you the finger. There are several riders who do deserve it however.<BR> <BR> How 'bout it guys? Let's all grow up a little. After all it's only a bike ride.<BR> <BR> Kerry<BR> <BR> <BR> >>>>>>>>><BR> </SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>-------------- Original message from "Kevin Anderson" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>: -------------- <BR> <BR> <BR> > Someone on the Hipp ride today almost became a statistic. And I would have <BR> > become a statistic too. First off, I know the Hipp ride is not Team Florida and <BR> > it is not GCC so I am not casting stones at either group as a whole. But right <BR> > now, as an avid cyclist and cycling advocate, I am beyond angry, scared and <BR> > frustrated. Now I have a better understanding why some motorists hate us, honk <BR> > at us, buzz us and write letters to the Gainesville Sun. Like a lot of you, I <BR> > rode my bike today. First into work and then home on Williston Rd via Wacahoota, <BR> > a nice 23 mile semi-daily loop. I decided to take my truck, parked for 6 days <BR> > out of the week, to the Publix on 34th and Williston for the weekly grocery run <BR> > about 7 pm. Turning on to Williston, I notice that I'm behind the Thursday Hipp <BR> > ride. Those of you who ride Williston Rd a lot know the area- the crest of the <BR> > hill about 2 miles west of I-75. As I pass the peleton towards the crest of the <BR> > hill, I have two riders in the bike lanes to my right and approaching westbound <BR> > cars in front. No worries, lots of room, eh? After all, I ride this particular <BR> > bike lane every day. Now, I understand that this point of the Hipp ride is a <BR> > sprint to the finish, but the leading 2 or so riders swing out IN THE MIDDLE OF <BR> > THE EASTBOUND LANE- and I do mean THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKING LANE to do who <BR> > knows what, maybe pass some unfortunate soul. OK, riders on the right, cars on <BR> > the left, cars behind, WTF do I do! I had to slam on the brakes and do something <BR> > I have never done before to a cyclist- lay on the friggin horn. <BR> > <BR> > There may be many of you who say that a s cyclists we have as much right to the <BR> > road as motorists and for the most part I am one with you in that regard. But <BR> > this incident was not only wrong from a legal point of view (and yes, I have <BR> > read the Florida statutes), but just plain stupid, ignorant and yes suicidal. I <BR> > will remain a cycling advocate, but my level of understanding of motorists who <BR> > are pissed at us has increased by an order of magnitude. <BR> > <BR> > Riding again tomorrow, but in the bike lane <BR> > <BR> > Kevin Anderson <BR> > <BR> > Team VetMed Faculty Advisor <BR> > GCC Member <BR> > Occasional Team Florida Rider <BR> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR> > <BR> > To unsubscribe from GCCMail, please go to http://gccfla.org/. <BR> > Point to Members Area, and click on GCCMail. Use the form on the page. <BR> </SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'><BR> <BR> ------ End of Forwarded Message<BR> </SPAN></FONT>
