Originally Posted by
Keith99
I find one thing a bit off regarding the go slow smell the roses idea.
Unless you are very lucky you can't do that nearly as well as a go quick stop when there is something worthwhile. A simple example. Start on the Beach Bike Path South of Santa Monica and be a slow rider. You will never see more.
Be a somewhat quick rider and you will continue onto the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You will see great views that a 'walk any hill' rider will only see if they drive there or spend an hour walking the hill. You just might continue on to the Buddhist Temple and the old WW II gun emplacement near it. Or climb to the top of the hills and have lunch overlooking the golf course.
I'm all sor smelling the roses, but first you have to get to the roses.
The stop and smell the rose or enjoy the moment, which are really what the slow bicycle movement is about have absolutely nothing to do with actual speed. To use your example, if someone 'pushes' themselves to get to Palos Verdes Peninsula, then they are not really paying attention to and enjoying the surroundings on the way. The SBM is all about enjoying the ride and not worrying about the destination, speed, or any of that. And as with anything else, it needs to be approached in moderation. If part of what someone enjoys is 'pushing themselves' then by all means do it. For them the SBM would be about once in awhile just riding for the sheer joy of riding, with no goals of any kind in mind.
The slow part is emphasized so much because it seems that so many cyclists approach cycling as if they are training for the TDF. Their riding is all about getting faster, beating the prior times, etc... Those cyclists are the very ones who benefit most from just occasionally tabling all that and just riding for the fun of it.