Hi ya-all, I didn't notice any peloton riding on the short route. I rode with a group of 5 other riders, met up with 2 more, and our group of 8 was considerate of automobile drivers and safety, stop signs, etc.
I have noticed on other Wednesday nights a gaggle of racing wannabes who take up entire lanes, ride disrespectfully, and generally have far too much testosterone in their bloodstreams. I don't know how we get the word to them that they are destroying the sport by riding unsafely and disrespectfully. I will forward this thread to the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin which has members who have been working on the exurban bicycle/auto conflict issue for several years. You all probably are aware of the militant township reactions in western Dane County. With increased population and higher automobile traffic density comes more conflict. Never mind that a slow-moving farm tractor around that blind corner is just as much of a part of rural roads as is a peloton of bicycles. Road-enraged automobile drivers, on their speeding frenzy home to their rural McMansion from downtown Madison are oblivious. Did anyone reply to Margaret Straub and thank her for her thoughtful e-mail? That would be a nice gesture. The mirror is an excellent accessory and I wish more bicyclists used them. Tell all your friends that don't have them, to get them. Unfortunately, the adhesive panels that come with the glue-on style don't work well on most helmets and it takes some ingenuity (and rubber cement) to make them stick. George Perkins --- Mike Sproul <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > While the faster groups have the same obvious issues each year > and need to be a more respectful of the laws and other highway > users, I been noticing a new phenomenon this year. Slower riders > taking up the entire lane. Typically it's groups of 2 to 3. One > will be near the edge of pavement and the other 1 or 2 will be > spread out all the way to the centerline. They'll be cruising > along having a great conversation and be oblivious to the rest of > us. > > Last week I rode solo and I had to cross over the centerline > several times to get around these folks. I really don't think I > should have to cross the centerline to pass a slower cyclist. > > Anyone else been noticing this? > > P a T <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I know they are geeky but I suggest a group-buy of > some cycling mirrors, I prefer: > > the "Take A Look" Manufactured by Bicycle Peddler of > Greeley Colorado > > I think packs of riders would operate more safely if > they knew what was behind them [I know they would]. > Once you get used to a mirror you'll feel [EMAIL PROTECTED] > without it. Even the racer guys would benefit 'cuz > they'll know when someone is trying to get the jump on > them. > > Just a thought, it's not just about manners; enraged > drivers do dumb unsafe things as a result of our > antics. Experienced mirror-users could help newbies > learn to adjust their mirrors at one of the pot-lucks. > > Pat > > --- "Fahey, David" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Forwarding an email that came into this weeks ride > > leader. > > > > > > Good Afternoon Jeff, > > > > I just wanted to give you a little feedback about > > the Wednesday Night Bike > > Ride around the Oregon-Brooklyn Area. I found the > > website of the group and > > that you were this particular rides leader. I would > > have referred this > > email to "the organization", but could not find an > > email or other address. > > So you will be the recipient of my impressions and > > hope you pass this > > information to others. > > > > On Wednesday night I drove into and out of Oregon > > twice. Each journey I > > encountered large groups of bicyclists with their > > bright beautiful jersey's > > and nice slick bikes. Now as a bicyclist, yes, I > > was a little jealous that > > I could not be riding on such a beautiful evening - > > but there was farm work > > to be done. But what I also observed made me > > realize why so many motorists > > despise bicyclists on the road. > > > > Generally speaking, the rules of the road were not > > followed - at all. > > Bicyclists rode 2-4 across with a vehicle > > approaching them (front or rear) > > and didn't even try to move into a single file, ran > > stop signs, didn't use > > hand signals and were just overall rude when it came > > to road etiquette. I > > know wearing toe clips it is difficult to completely > > stop at a stop sign and > > don't believe bicyclists need to totally stop but to > > completely blow through > > a stop sign is very inappropriate and dangerous. In > > fact we saw a bicyclist > > just about get hit as he rode through a pack of > > bicyclists stopped at a stop > > sign on Bellbrook, turned left onto Glenway and just > > missed being hit by an > > Explorer. I think he didn't see the vehicle as > > there were so many bikes in > > the area and his view was obscured. > > > > Jeff, as I said I too am a bicyclist - love it, wish > > more people would bike, > > wish I could even bike more.....but what I observed > > last night made me sad. > > I think bicyclists don't get the respect they > > deserve but they also need to > > earn it. I don't know if it was the "mass" > > mentality that prevented folks > > from following the rules of the road but when there > > are sooooo many > > bicyclists together it is even more imperative they > > promote bicycling in a > > positive and fun light. > > > > Thanks for allowing me to pass this observation on > > and I wish you have a > > great Wednesday Night Bike Ride season. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Margaret Straub > > Brooklyn > > > > > > _____ > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > > Visit your group "mad_bikers" on the web. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of > Service. > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! 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