Thursday Thoughts: Two Voices

The Bicycle Curmudgeon:

Most cyclists don’t deserve the privilege. 

Why is it that folks somehow feel safer in a group of untrained, unskilled, and discourteous riders?  “Group Rides” seem to be tantamount to rolling “flash mobs.”  The group does things that no sane or thoughtful individual would do.  They charge through traffic signals with determination, and then hold the lane three to five abreast.  These are the same folks who constantly wonder aloud, why motorist hate them.  This is done in the name of speed.

Since when is speed a virtue?  What will you do when your speed leaves you.  Know this, and know it well.  All things in life are temporary.  Speed and strength will fade.  What, oh what will you do then?  What is your fall-back position?  We have seen it a lot.  The young come into the sport in early middle age.  At first it hurts.  Then they gain some modicum of proficiency.  Then some fitness is achieved.  Suddenly everything is a race, and stupidity is enshrined as a tactic.

Oh man (and woman) thou art mortal, and all things shall perish and pass away.  Your vaunted speed is not so great, and it will not save you.

Bah!

The Wise Cyclist:

This is the beginning of the best time of the year!  The weather turns, the trees are just beginning to shed.  It is time to rest, to savor, to ride in joy, to play!  Cool mornings invite us to ride with a bit of frisk.  Life is good, and it is good to ride in it.

Soon it will be time to attend to the training that will take us to the next year.  It is right and proper that we open ourselves to the delights of this time.  We have earned this moment, and should not waste it.  Carpe Diem!

The Bicycle Curmudgeon:

We’ve had some feedback lately, indicating that the tone of some of our posts lately has been a bit grim.  Screw that!  I’m going for a ride.

The Wise Cyclist:

We’ve had some feedback lately, indicating that the tone of some of our posts lately has been a bit grim.  Likely there’s something to this.  We’ll try to maintain a bit more upbeat tone in the future.  In aid of that, I’m going for a ride.