This past Saturday was your classic Hammerfest. We were scheduled to do the group fave Lillian Loop but decided on the Perdido Key Killer route instead. We started out under sunny although somewhat breezy skies which made for a wond-erroneous tailwind. (The kind that only a seasoned cyclist knows means Sufferfest on the way back.) The pace was quite frisky as the peloton seemed determined to drop any would be imposters along the way. At one point on Jackson, the group was cruising along at a "moderate" (the pace that was advertised on the Rides Calendar) pace in the high 20s mph. Ah yes, the boys love a good Hammerfest.
This is a far cry from last season's peloton which cried and complained anytime the speed would exceed 1/2 an mph above the announced pace for the route. Not one word of discontent this year. Hammer down! I will say one thing though; there needs to be more of a regard for safety within the peloton this year. I may be over sensitive to this as I just passed the one year Crashaverssary of the worse accident I have ever had the misfortune of participation. Perhaps some of you will remember that awful evening?! I know Crusher and I can still pull up the memories as if it were last evening. We both have lingering physical and psychological issues, although thankfully very much diminished. I can say this for an absolute certainty though; "I have no desire to ever go through that again!" Nor do I wish for any other cyclist to endure such a hardship. Therefore, I encourage everyone, please let's be careful out there!
Now, I love a good Hammerfest as much as anyone...perhaps more than most, but not at all costs. I used to think differently about this, not any more. So, when we are heads down, eyes blurred stomping away in an effort to stay in the draft of the guy who is inches in front of you...and he is doing the same thing, this becomes a very dangerous situation that only lacks opportunity to turn into disaster. Look, there's no Gold Medal at the finish line at the end of the ride. No million dollar prize awaiting first place and be assured, no picture on the front page of USA Today for anyone who crosses the line ahead of the rest. However, if we go down, you will have at least one medal...perhaps several in the form of scars, stitches, surgeries, casts for your broken bones, IVs and the like. And there will be an exchange of money...I guarantee it! And I hope you aren't listed in the papers...
"Ah come on man, don't be ridiculous, you just had freak accident!" Yep, I sure did and don't want to be a part of anything even resembling that again. Therefore, I have said all this for your consideration...Please let's be careful out there! We all need to go back to work the next day, we all have bills to pay and families to support as well as rides we would like to do in the future. Yes, let's go fast! But above that, let's be safe!!! And if that means backing it down an mph or two, Do It! If that means, letting the squirelly one ride off ahead of the group, Do It! If it means, speaking up or calling another rider out when he's doing something stupid or dangerous, then Do It! Do it now, don't wait until after the crash!!! You never know, you may be the one on the floor...
See you out on the road,
Bob
PS. Several of you have mentioned to me the above referenced issue. However, none wanted to say anything to anyone else. So, on behalf of those quiet ones among us, I have attempted to do the concern justice. If you don't like my handling of the matter, then speak up! Say something! It is every cyclist's responsibility to assure a safe ride by his own actions and admonishing the actions of his fellow riders. We haven't had a bad crash in quite a long time. Some have said we're due. I say, let's pay closer attention to riding safely. What do you say?
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