Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Chris L
09-18-04, 03:21 AM
Just after lunchtime today I took a phone call from someone I'd never met or heard of before. "I'm just ringing to enquire about the ride that was in the paper today." Well, of course, it was understandable that if they read about a ride in the Courier Mail (assuming that was the paper in question), and see my phone number listed as the ride leader, that they might phone me about it. There was just one problem: nobody remembered to tell me.
A little bit of background here. I regularly lead rides for Bicycle Gold Coast, and a few of them have received a mention in the Courier Mail newspaper's Outdooor section, probably due to the nature of the places that I like to ride. I normally don't have a problem with this. However, it's a little annoying when they 1) Get the date wrong (it's actually tomorrow night, hence I'm here typing this now); and 2) Don't tell me to expect any phone calls. I've actually been in and out today on various errands, and it's not inconceivable that I missed a call or two simply through not being aware that this had been published.
Coming on top of the other f--- up with the ride calendar (i.e. putting me down to lead rides that I hadn't actually said I was available for, then failing to delete them when I made this clear -- I don't know who's going to take them in my place, and nor do I care any longer), I have to say that I'm very close to just washing my hands of the whole situation.
On the other hand, perhaps I should be glad that this monumental cock-up occurred after all. I have to ask just how stupid some people in the general public really are. Now the ride has been advertised as a 6pm start, with sections on dirt roads, and expected to take a couple of hours. It's fairly obvious it's going to be dark (and if it wasn't, the word "glow worm" in the title should be a dead giveaway), yet of the two calls that I took today, neither of them had lights, in fact, both seemed surprised when I mentioned lights.
Now even if someone's eyesight is good enough to find their way along narrow winding dirt roads in the moonlight (which will be non-existent given the current phase of the moon in anycase), there is no way the moonlight is going to effectively penetrate the rainforest of Urliup Road. It's just not going to happen.
On the forum this week I participated in a discussion asking whether we'd really like it if cycling were more popular. I have to say, after all this, I'm leaning toward agreeing with those who said "No".
Regardless of any of that, tomorrow night (the proper scheduled time), I'm going anyway, and I'm going to damn well enjoy it now that I've got that off my chest. Riding this road at night is just awesome!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/the_chris_man_50/100_0034.jpg
A little bit of background here. I regularly lead rides for Bicycle Gold Coast, and a few of them have received a mention in the Courier Mail newspaper's Outdooor section, probably due to the nature of the places that I like to ride. I normally don't have a problem with this. However, it's a little annoying when they 1) Get the date wrong (it's actually tomorrow night, hence I'm here typing this now); and 2) Don't tell me to expect any phone calls. I've actually been in and out today on various errands, and it's not inconceivable that I missed a call or two simply through not being aware that this had been published.
Coming on top of the other f--- up with the ride calendar (i.e. putting me down to lead rides that I hadn't actually said I was available for, then failing to delete them when I made this clear -- I don't know who's going to take them in my place, and nor do I care any longer), I have to say that I'm very close to just washing my hands of the whole situation.
On the other hand, perhaps I should be glad that this monumental cock-up occurred after all. I have to ask just how stupid some people in the general public really are. Now the ride has been advertised as a 6pm start, with sections on dirt roads, and expected to take a couple of hours. It's fairly obvious it's going to be dark (and if it wasn't, the word "glow worm" in the title should be a dead giveaway), yet of the two calls that I took today, neither of them had lights, in fact, both seemed surprised when I mentioned lights.
Now even if someone's eyesight is good enough to find their way along narrow winding dirt roads in the moonlight (which will be non-existent given the current phase of the moon in anycase), there is no way the moonlight is going to effectively penetrate the rainforest of Urliup Road. It's just not going to happen.
On the forum this week I participated in a discussion asking whether we'd really like it if cycling were more popular. I have to say, after all this, I'm leaning toward agreeing with those who said "No".
Regardless of any of that, tomorrow night (the proper scheduled time), I'm going anyway, and I'm going to damn well enjoy it now that I've got that off my chest. Riding this road at night is just awesome!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/the_chris_man_50/100_0034.jpg