Conference noted::bicycle

Hi John,

The ex-60's troublemaker (our high school had one demostration) I
would like to lampoon your proposal with surgical precision:

1. Why give $15 when there isn't any sags etc? I could have as 
easily said come to Eldersburg, give me $800 and pedal 100 miles.

2. (this one really gets me) Of course helmets are required, but
who's going to catch the offender? The non-existant sag? Maybe 
they'll have the police track us down. (this is my juvenile reaction
to being told to do something, kind of like saying says who. A
couple years ago I was reading about a century that was really
popular in NewEngland and all the noters were rebelling and thinking
of ways to make the sponsors crazy.)

3. Finally, who the heck is in charge of it? A particular bike
club?

Fred M

>The ex-60's troublemaker (our high school had one demostration) I
>would like to lampoon your proposal with surgical precision:

    The least I could expect from you, Fred. :-) :-)
    
>1. Why give $15 when there isn't any sags etc? I could have as 
>easily said come to Eldersburg, give me $800 and pedal 100 miles.

    I wondered that myself.  But $5 per 100 miles isn't much -
    probably offsets copying costs for the route sheets, plus
    incidental expenses.  Also, could be a valid low-key fundraiser
    for the organization (see below).
    
    They do perform a service by (1) giving you a presumably nice,
    safe route, that an out-of-state(s) person wouldn't know, and
    (2) bringing together like-minded crazies for you to ride with.
    
>2. (this one really gets me) Of course helmets are required, but
>who's going to catch the offender? The non-existant sag? Maybe 
>they'll have the police track us down. 

    I don't know, but I suspect that (1) it helps their position
    vis-�-vis liability and (2) encourages people to think more
    about wearing helmets.
    
>3. Finally, who the heck is in charge of it? A particular bike
>club?

    I don't know who CycleWorld is.  Sounds like a bike shop
    (in Albany, Georgia).
    
    PS: I like this ride - on paper at least - because it sounds
    laid back yet you get some good miles in.  A big contrast to
    "ride 35-40 miles per day and get pampered with sags every
    15 miles, a gourmet dinner, and pricey lodgings."  Each to his
    own, but this ride would be an accomplishment for those who like
    to just get out and bike, while falling (mercifully?) short of the 
    ultra-randonneur test-of-will type of endurance feat.  Besides
    (he confesses) that's how I run *my* centuries: stores marked on
    route-sheets, unsagged, just get out and do it. :-)
    
    -john
    
    PPS: Dare I surmise, Fred, that since this note has brought you out
    of hiding, you are secretly keen to do this ride? :-)

    
    
    	You were born to TT in the 60s, John...  :*)
    
    Graham.

    You even get to carry your own clothes for the next day and "off the
    bike wear".  Shoot, might as well camp.  :-)
    
    ed

    But it's only 300 miles John, what will you do in the afternoon ?

    
    > What will you do in the afternoon?
    
    I'd seriously think of doing at least two of the legs the first
    day.  At that time of year, on an unfamiliar route, that should just
    about exhaust daylight.  The 300-in-one-go is tempting, though - 
    non of that bothersome motel check-in en route!  :-)
    
    -john

    	Without trying to be too rebelious...
    
    	What if thirty people show up, assign one individual to pay the
    	$15 entry fee, and pedal on over to a library and make copies of
    	the map packet?
    
    	Then each person would only pay 50 cents + copying fees?
    
    	It does seem that only experienced cyclists, with reliable equipment
    	should consider doing something of this magnitude, without even
    	so much as a safety net (Dodge van with trailer).
    
    	Liability? What Liability? If the organizers were worried about
    	somebody raking them in the legal system, wouldn't they provide
    	some sort of support? What about a disclaimer? Such as if somebody
    	gets killed while on the ride, the family members can't sue the
    	pants off of "Cycleworld"?
    
    	Inexperienced trekkers should probably stay away from this?
    
    	Just a few questions....			Face

    	I spelled "rebellious" wrong, I think...

    That's alrite.  Yu shud rebel aginst being required to spel things
    write ennyway.  :-)
    
    I would want a little more for my $15 than a set of cue sheets.  On
    the other hand I've often paid more for less -- and then complained
    about it.
    
    ed

    
    The answer from my side is, I frankly don't know.  I don't charge
    anything for riding my centuries.  Participants pay enough in sweat
    just getting through them! :-)
    
    Face C. is right that only experienced people should be attempting
    this one ... or those whose crania have been suitably iced down. :-)
    
    -john