Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Am I Sick? Thoughts On An Awful Image

Many of you will have already seen this picture of a horrific crash in which a car ploughs into the peloton of a bike race in Mexico almost a year ago. Miraculously, only one cyclist was killed. I am not posting it as news, but rather to collect popular opinion (yes, I've gone temporarily poll-crazy) on my internal reaction to it.

When I first saw the picture below, I immediately cringed, and my first thought was "Oh My God, that's awful...". That thought, however, was followed very quickly by this one: "What A Great Photograph!" Please look at the picture, and answer the question below it if you're so inclined.








Depending on the results, I may or may or not see you next time, since I may be in extended therapy. Wish me luck,


R A N T W I C K

Monday, May 25, 2009

Wind




I am feeling very conflicted about wind. I used to windsurf quite a lot, and in those days I loved every and any kind of wind, because I knew I could use it one way or another. These days, however, I find myself both blessing and cursing the wind as it helps me or hurts me while riding my bike. Here in London Ontario (where windsurfing won't be happening, by the way) the prevailing winds are West or Northwest, it seems to me, with some nice variations in Spring and Fall. As such, as I ride eastward to work in the morning I most often enjoy a tailwind, and on my way home I can usually count on lower speeds and more work as I battle a headwind. Wind is the primary reason that I have drop bars on my bike... I spend most of my time with my hands on the brake hoods, but it is good to be able to really hunker down when riding into the wind.


In thinking about wind I have come up with a hypothetical that I would like to conduct a poll on. Here it is:


In Cycling Heaven, The Wind is...

After creating the first poll, I realized that there was a "that depends" element needing to be addressed. So, keeping in mind your first answer...



In Cycling Heaven, the Wind is...


I am hoping that the results will be nicely varied, just as people are. If you answered c) and e), respectively, please get treatment. You are a certifiable masochist, in my professional opinion as a velopseudopsychiologist. Please come in to my office, and we will use the over-worked vent holes near the front of your bicycle helmet to access your skull, drill some nice holes and let those demons out, just like I have to do twice a year for my most regular patient...







I'm winded. See you next time...


R A N T W I C K
P.S. I now realize the second poll is flawed, since the first offers "dead calm". Those of you who answered a) on the first poll are kind of stuck on the second; sorry about that.