If you are a bike racer, the last few days have been weird. Today I just wanted to be held. Twitter has been real helpful.
Adam Myerson decided to tell a story tonight. I compiled it here so it’s easier to read. In “regular reading direction” below, not “Twitter reading direction”.
Here are some things that I am currently (as of this week) digging. Perhaps you will like them, too? Or you won’t. I don’t care.
These are the things that I am currently digging.
HI THERE INTERNET. Considering my last post was May 26, I’m sure that most people have removed this from their blog reader or, if they are living in 2004 and don’t know what RSS is, have stopped checking it on a frequent basis.
Or, it still lives in their reader, like a hibernating, literate rodent, ready to fill their RSS feed with swears and references to poop.
Rye, NH has passed a law requiring cyclists, runners and walkers to travel on the road single-file – similar to laws in Newcastle and Newington. The law was passed at a Board of Selectmen meeting on April 9, and states:
Bicycle Regulations
Any person propelling a bicycle on any public highway shall ride single file and shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as safely practicable.
Foot-based travel regulations were dealt with separately, and that law states:
Walking, Jogging, Running Regulations
Any person running, jogging, or walking on any public highway, shall run, jog, or walk single file and shall do so as near to the left side of the roadway as safely practicable.
This law was proposed at a Board of Selectman meeting on March 26 (see Section VII. NEW BUSINESS). It is modeled after the current ordinance (unsearchable .PDF – relevant info is in Article 4 at bottom of the first page) in Newington, NH, which simply states “NO PERSON operating a bicycle in the Town of Newington shall ride two or more abreast.”
To inform cyclists and visitors to Rye of the new law, the board of selectmen put up a sign at the police station that reads “Cyclists single file. Road are for riding not chatting”.
This law is certainly disappointing – especially considering how friendly the Seacoast is to Bike To Work Week, and other active endeavors. Even worse than the fact that the law exists is the way that the Board of Selectmen chose to inform cyclists of the law. Saying that the “road is for riding, not chatting” is insulting and condescending.
It seems that the town of Rye considers roads to be used for driving, and nothing else.
Also, this law seemingly came out of nowhere – nothing was cited in the March 26 meeting minutes when Selectman Joseph Mills supported a single-file ordinance for Rye.
This is a very bad step for those of us who enjoy an active lifestyle – joggers, walkers, cyclists, anyone who may be using a road not in a car – and makes the town of Rye and Board of Selectmen look ignorant.
I encourage everyone reading this who is a Rye resident to contact the board of selectmen and let them know who you feel about this new ordinance (phone 603-964-5523 xt. 10, email nweiand@town.rye.nh.us).
UPDATE:
I called the selectmen’s office at the number above. The assistant I spoke to said that they’ve been getting a lot of negative comments for the law and the sign – she is compiling all input from emails and phone calls, so please let them know!
UPDATE:
Article on Seacoast Online.
Also, this great photo from Gus’ Bike Shop Facebook page:
UPDATE:
Thomson has some thoughts.
QUICK POINT: Register for the UNH 1/2/3 crit, so they have it. Currently only 26 people pre-registered.
LONGER POINT:
As a dude who has worked on bike races in the past, I know how absurdly annoying it is when people don’t pre-register. You spend your nights awake, staring at the BikeReg confirmed riders screen, hoping the numbers creep up so you don’t lose money on your event.
I’ve been hammering away at this point on the Twitter, but I thought I’d hammer away on it some more, because I feel like it. And I have an Internet Weblog, which I honestly forgot about, as I have trained myself to only think in 140 character quips.
Anyway, I find that it is generally foolish to not pre-register for a bike race. If you actually do not know what your plans for that day might be (if, for example, you are closing on a house on Friday, moving in, but there is a race on Saturday) sure, don’t pre-reg.
From a purely personal view, filling out paper work at the venue is annoying. I’d much rather have an Internet Robot do my bidding for me from the comfort of my cube/couch/toilet (YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. MULTITASKING). It’s one less thing to have to worry about.
There have been times when I’ve pre-registered for a race, but the day of the weather was terrible (see: Ice World). After learning to hate Ice World, I’ve made peace with just not going. I do not want to waste a day driving to be miserable, and I’m sure that the cycling club appreciates my “donation” of $30. Yes, I am lucky enough to be able to write off $30 maybe twice a year when I bail on a race because of shit weather (or a sudden change of plans), but this is my Internet Website, and this is where I put things that I think.
I think a lot of people believe it is “cool” to not pre-reg, so you can “surprise” everyone by showing up. Um…not really a thing. People know where you live, and people know that you race. So, if there’s a race 90 minutes from where I live, I’m very likely going to show up. If it’s five hours, I probably won’t. There isn’t much of an element of surprise there – other races can PROBABLY predict where you are going to be.
It is truly a jerk thing to not pre-reg, because it puts races in danger of being cancelled, and it makes promoters lives difficult. And if you’re a fancypants person who “doesn’t pre-reg” and you show up and expect to just get added to the race due to the fanciness of your pants, you are a jerk.
Let’s not be jerks, everyone.
These are some thoughts I have.
Went to do Wells Ave with the rest of the MetLife – NorEast Team. Wells Ave was cancelled, so we rounded up other disappointed people and we did two laps(ish) of “Tuesday Night Worlds”.
Observations of riding in Boston suburbs vs. New Hampshire:
Drivers are way nicer in New Hampshire. Boston can keep the nightlife, things to do and total asshole drivers. I like open, friendly roads and having nothing to do!
I know the blog has been quiet, because life has gotten BUSY. But this is AWESOME.
My commute was interesting for the first time in a whole. Thus, a commute communique.
It was only for four miles, and it was on pavement.
But I totally bunny-hopped some snow and rode over some sticks. That is “shredding the gnar”…right?
Thanks to Exeter Cycles for the loan while you make my wheel happy again!