"Cyclists"

Q.) What do you call two people on bicycles?
A.) A race
In the natural evolution of most activities sooner or later they become competitions. And the "highest" level of the activity becomes the competition. Then there is a whole family of clothing, equipment and accessories one needs to participate at the "highest" level. Heaven forbid the enthusiast who doesn't use the latest, greatest gear. That person is a poseur!

In the shop, we have copies of the Boise Road Cycling Guide for sale. This is a great resource for people who might be wondering about local bicycling friendly routes, put together by local guy Steve Stuebner.  On the cover is a photo of Kristin Armstrong riding her high end race bike.

I have met Steve Stuebner and Kristin Armstrong. They have both been in the shop. They are both nice people. Steve is a great bicycling advocate and has published books about outdoor activities in the area. What can I say about Kristin Armstrong? She has  accomplished great things on the bicycle. I love watching her dice with the best  men in the local road races and making them suffer.

  I have a concern with the photo of Kristin Armstrong on the cover of the Boise Road Cycling Guide. There is a supraliminal message here that, in order to be a "road cyclist" one must wear a racing strip and ride a superlightweight bicycle that is too small. Methinks this does not encourage the average person to want to become a "road cyclist" It seems elitist, expensive, and intimidating.

My concern is not limited to this instance. It is pervasive in bicycle publications and websites and advertising. You almost never see a person "just riding along". If they are on a "road bicycle" they are hammering out of the saddle, and if they are on a mountain bike they are standing on the pedals, hurtling down some gnarly singletrack. When did riding a bicycle become an extreme sport?

I don't even like the word "cyclist" because that conjures up an image of the roadie who is a legend in his own mind, trying to school other riders on Hill Road. Also because it increases the disaffection between "cyclists" and "motorists". Sometimes "cyclists" might be "motorists" and vice versa, and I think those words make it more difficult for the two to
co-exist.

So, whats The Point! ? The point is this. Try riding slow. Try a micro-tour. Look around. Stop once in a while. Don't always be on a training ride. Rediscover The Joy.