Foo - Good Cop

So yesterday morning I went out on a 17 mile ride (longest of the year for me). It was pretty damn humid out, not so much sunny, and as i started out down the road that leads out of my neighborhood (a traffic light) i noticed two cops directing traffic. I thought to myself, this can't be good - some one must have wrecked while running the red light. As i approached, i noticed no such wreck, and a few cyclists rode by. I had a green, so they were clearly running the light, if not for the fact that the cops waved them through. Checking to my left, i saw a spread out line of cyclists. So i had to stop for several minutes, and chatted with the cop. Compared to his partner, he didn't seem bothered at all by being there directing traffic for what he said was an Ironman event. Not sure if it was (there had been that Danskin triathlon last weekend) but he had been out there since 6am (it was 10:30 when i went out) and seemed to know enough about cycling to be enjoying himself. His partner didn't say a word.

You do realize that they get paid, right?

Yeah, but the other guy looked absolutely miserable having to stand out there waiting for all the cyclists to go by. He didnt say a word to me, remember, while i talked to the other for several minutes. The ones at the other traffic light completely ignored me too.

Yeah, but the other guy looked absolutely miserable having to stand out there waiting for all the cyclists to go by. He didnt say a word to me, remember, while i talked to the other for several minutes. The ones at the other traffic light completely ignored me too.

Do you enjoy every day at work?

I don't think you have the whole story. You have no idea what just transpired before you got to the intersection. Perhaps the chatty cop just had a donut and coffee while the others had none. That would get you a bit grumpy as well.

Well i know a lot of my neighbors were angry. The Cop told me they were getting real pissed off earlier when the larger groups of riders came through, trying to cut out in between the groups. (Which is why I dont think it was an Ironman...unless drafting is illegal in Tri's too?). Would be pretty hard for him to get a coffee recently, having been there since 6AM.

You do realize that they get paid, right?

Probably around the rate of 45-60 dollars an hour too. But, none the less, sometimes the day sucks no matter what they pay you....:bike2:

Which is why I dont think it was an Ironman...unless drafting is illegal in Tri's too?

In the Subaru series of triathlons/duathlons, at least in Ontario, drafting is not allowed. Not sure about any other tris though.

In the Subaru series of triathlons/duathlons, at least in Ontario, drafting is not allowed. Not sure about any other tris though.

No drafting in any tri's unless they've changed the rules since my last one in the mid 90s.

Time-and-a-half pay is little consolation if you are ordered to work something on your regular day off, and having to miss a family event. Perhaps Officer No-Joy had worked a twelve-hour shift before the extra duty started. That being said, I usually sign up to work a major marathon and a major fun run in my area every year, and usually enjoy it, though being posted off the route, as has happened, deflates the fun part. It is not all pay, though; I have worked a charity walk event for free, donating my time.