updated below

The Racing Union deems it necessary to respond to certain recent
baseless allegations of stupidity in the use of speed bars during the
Tuesday night Reston ride.  Let us be absolutely clear: The People's
two-wheeled representatives categorically deny the stupidity of speed
bars and are deeply offended by this accusation against all
aerodynamically-minded cyclists everywhere.  We reject and denounce
the use of the public MABRA list to further the egregious claims made
by a "member" of the cycling community and can only hope that
aggressive and remedial re-education for all such misguided
individuals can lead to a more enlightened understanding of physics.
To this end, all confused individuals are hereby required to attend
"training" this Thursday at 12:05 p.m. at Hains Point for a hands-on
appreciation of the forces of fluid dynamics on moving objects.

The People

update (by scott): i offer my profound thanks to the people for their contributions to two-wheeled civility.  i would like to further point out that, a scant three days before the incident being referenced, I made it all the way through the cold toes a race, predominantly on my speedbars, without anyone getting upset or even saying anything.  I rode straight, I cornered; all seemed ducky in speedbarracingland.  until that fateful day.  i am now officially very annoyed.  i will endeavor to emulate the people and act with civility, even when pointedly snubbed.

Riding a bicycle on the streets in and around DC can be a dangerous task any time of year because, frankly, we're not visible to a lot of motorists.  Know what I'm talking about?  I think you do.  I think anybody who rides a bike has experienced this.

So why make it easy for them?  We're well into the second month of commuting in the dark.  A headlight is a good idea; and a blinky light is even better.

In an effort to educate and distribute blinky lights to those who may not have the recources to do so, some of us at Racing Union have picked up an idea with some of our friends at Evolution Cycling to distribute blinky lights to those who need them.  In Racing Union's case, we've been working with the Immigrant Advocacy Program, a program of the Legal Aid Justice Center (http://www.justice4all.org/programs/vjc/) to get blinky lights in the hands of day laborers in Northern Virginia.  These are some of the hardest-working people among us, and a good deal of them are fellow bike commuters who could use our help.  We stand in solidarity with them.  Virginia Justice Center began distributing the first 60 blinkies just prior to Thanksgiving.

If you're interested in contributing to this effort, let us know.  The first time around we got a sweet deal, with the blinky lights costing only around $2.50 a piece.  Send an email, post a message, or talk to one of us next time you see us - we'll make sure your contribution goes to finance the next set of blinkies.

-- posted by Chris

I don't know why VeloNews is so late in covering an event from back in September, but my latest copy (October 29, 2007) has a quote from Rock Racing owner Michael Ball at the USA Crit Finals as saying:

"We don't want to just own this event, we want to own the domestic cycling series.  We want to dominate it.  We want to go out every weekend and squash everybody...."

Pardon the interruption, but so far, so good, right?  I mean, you'd want your team to achieve world domination, right?  Nothing wrong with that, right?  But wait, Michael Ball can't keep it shut at just that.  The quotation ends with this kicker:

"...and come Monday morning people go out and buy a lot of Rock Racing crap."

Tells you all you need to know, doesn't it?  I don't know what the Rock Racing crap is, but I'm sure it's crap.  But that's not the point.  In one sense, you gotta admire how direct the guy is.  It isn't about glory, it isn't about keeping the sport exciting through good, honest competition.  It's about people buying crap.  IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!  Remember that when the next doping scandal comes along.

--posted by Chris

Postscript:  Oh, and did Rock Racing "own" the event in Las Vegas?  Unless he was talking about Rock Racing being the sponsor, which is appropriate for an event in Las Vegas, um, no.  But, hey, they did get fourth, seventh, and thirty-fifth place (results), so maybe people will buy some crap after all.

In the rush of ideas and railings against the four wheeled hegemony, the people are being forgotten. The "revolution" is being washed away by this idealistic bull spouting from the mouth of this overly glorified pond scum that calls himself Dear Leader. He and his governance no longer care to lend an ear or a hand to the people and their desires. Instead they spend their time wasting words and readers’ time with nonsensical rants of poor grammar all while attempting to steal more power from the people for themselves. There is no room in the so called "revolution" for this sort of aloof self indulgence; sipping fine brandies and imposing his will while the people toil day in and day out, chilled by the wind and rain with only the sewage water in their aid relief delivered bottles to sustain them. A stand must be made; the PEOPLE MUST be served!

The American counsel for the advancement and procurement of goods for the people™ (aka… capitalism) will make that stand and return the people to the ideals that are so rightly theirs. These rants and ideas regarding the auto are unrealistic and the people simply do not wish to ride a bicycle through the cold dark weather as Dear Leader proposes. A bicycle is a performance machine and as such should be transported to and from sanctioned riding affairs in an automobile. The idea of a four-wheeled hegemony was created and revealed by Dear Leader himself in order to gain a footing in the peoples' minds and begin his ultimate goal of an overruling dictatorship. As we can see from his latest actions, this plan is swiftly coming to fruition.

The American counsel for the advancement and procurement of goods for the people™ (aka… capitalism) will also and more importantly bring the people what they truly need and deserve. Dear Leader has for too long barricaded the people from the help they deserve by creating these false ideas. The absence of a return to the people for their tremendous efforts he says will be offset by our efforts against the so called hegemony of the auto. Hogwash, this simply is not the case and so far has left us with nothing but old, battered equipment and high prices. We should embrace these sponsorships as a means to a better ends and for the recognition and power which they will bring us, the people. The people must no longer be hindered by the wayward mind and irrational demands of Dear Leader.

The American counsel for the advancement and procurement of goods for the people™ (aka… capitalism) cannot be stopped and will destroy those standing in the way of the true advancement of the Union. The people will live in utmost luxury and comfort and all of the needs and desires of the people will be addressed.

The ACAP GP WILL be Victorious!

This morning, the CBC Radio program, Sounds Like Canada, featured an interview with a couple of friends of Charlie Prinsep, a cyclist who was struck and killed by a car near Brooks, Alberta on a trip between Vancouver and Toronto.  Prinsep, pictured here from his friend’s blog, Bike Lane Dairy, was only 23 years old and was an enthusiastic advocate for cycling.  I didn’t know him, but the picture painted of him during the interview really touched me.  He was, as the blog linked above notes, “a smiling face in a sea of noise and pollution.”  Sounds like many of our fellow cyclists on the road here in Washington too, doesn’t he?  There will be a ride in his memory today in Toronto – I’m there in spirit.  Be careful out there!

-- posted by Chris

WashCycle points to another article about yet another cyclist death. 

The man was riding a red Mongoose bicycle with rear "trick pegs" and heading north on Route 123 (Ox Road) in the Burke area early July 28. Police said a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix struck the bike about 1:45 a.m. and killed the bicyclist. The driver of the Grand Prix, Keith T. Slay, 18, of Burke, was charged with reckless driving.

Police said the victim appeared to be a Hispanic man, 18 to 21 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. He was wearing camouflage shorts, a dark green shirt, a dark hat with the words "Todo Por Nada" on it and red Converse sneakers. Anyone who might have information about him is asked to call police at 703-280-0552.

There are many questions about circumstances, but a few things are clear:  nobody deserves this, and something must be done to try and address the circumstances.  Racing Union has always stood in solidarity with all who toil on two wheels, and in my DC neighborhood most of my fellow commuters are far closer to the profile described in this article then the dudes I see spinning around real fast at Hains Point and Greenbelt.  While it may be hard to imagine this in the dog days of August, the early evening fall darkness is not too far off.

-- posted by Chris

Hats off to washcycle for awarding Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) as the "tool of the month."  More like BONEHEAD OF THE MONTH!  Why?  Check it out the video .

Yep, that's right, on the floor of the US House of Representatives, Rep. Bonehead (er, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-NC, 202-225-2576) has decided to use the bicycle as a tool in his his partisan game.  Here it is straight from the Congressional Record:

A major component of the Democrats' energy legislation and the Democrats' answer to our energy crisis is, hold on, wait one minute, wait one minute, it is promoting the use of the bicycle. Oh, I cannot make this stuff up. Yes, the American people have heard this. Their answer to our fuel crisis, the crisis at the pumps, is: Ride a bike.

Democrats believe that using taxpayer funds in this bill to the tune of $1 million a year should be devoted to the principle of: ``Save energy, ride a bike.'' Some might argue that depending on bicycles to solve our energy crisis is naive, perhaps ridiculous. Some might even say Congress should use this energy legislation to create new energy, bring new nuclear power plants on line, use clean coal technology, energy exploration, but no, no. They want to tell the American people, stop driving, ride a bike. This is absolutely amazing.

Apparently, the Democrats believe that the miracle on two wheels that we know as a bicycle will end our dependence on foreign oil. I cannot make this stuff up. It is absolutely amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the Democrats, promoting 19th century solutions to 21st century problems. If you don't like it, ride a bike. If you don't like the price at the pumps, ride a bike.

Stay tuned for the next big idea for the Democrats: Improving energy efficiency by the horse and buggy.

The simple-minded McHenry represents a district that's relatively rural in nature, so I suppose it's easier for him to overlook the value of the bicycle, especially in urban areas, where alternative transportation solutions make a great deal of sense.  Of course, a congressman is supposed to think like a leader, and consider how legislation might make sense beyond the narrow reaches of their own mind and congressional district, but that concept seems to escape simpletons such as McHenry.

Comrades, I give you Congressman Patrick McHenry:  Bonehead of the Month.

- posted by Chris

.

Over on Gwadzilla (http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com), my friend Joel makes an interesting comparison: that, because of his doping, Michael Rasmussen is sort of like Keith Richards, but not (different kind of dope, you see...).  

I wonder what Keef thinks about all this...

At any rate, here's what Comrade Peanut thinks:

But wait, there's more:  Someone else in the pro peloton has something in common with Keith Richards.  Alexandre Vinokourov and Keith Richards have both had blood transfusions (again, a different kind of dope, but still...).

Comrade Peanut will now change the channel.

---posted by josh

as bryan so comically put it, le shit has hit le fan.  regular readers of this blog would hardly be surprised by such a revelation.  we've known it all along.  there's no drama left to wring out of this.  any tears shed over this are wasted saline.  this is a business.  the teams treat it like a business, the riders treat it like a business and the sponsors sure as hell treat it like a business.  the riders dope because the expectation is that they will win.  riders have doped for years: for the prestige and money associated with being a winner, un grand et généreux champion. 

you can love to watch cycling but one of two things needs to happen.  either the money needs to leave the sport so it can return to something approximating it's amateur roots, or it needs to release itself from the arbitrary and puritanical standards regarding what is performance enhancing and what is not.  note that in this post, i'm not damning the doping, but rather the hypocrisy of organizers, fans, teams, and sponsors in perpetuating this ongoing myth regarding cycling.   

a special shout-out to bjarne riis who all but provided professional cycling with a road map out of htis tangle, a way or occasion to discuss this.  jeez, if any sport ever was in line for some navel gazing to figure out where they are going, this is it.  you can be passionate about cycling and love cycling, but you can't close your eyes to what is really going on out there.  the reality is that cycling now is a spectacle in the same way that the NCAA colleciate basketball tournament (march madness) is a spectacle.  it's not driven by people who love cycling.  it's driven by it's business relationships.  people aren't stupid.  it's time to face hard facts and decide what you want this sport to be.

oh, and by way, i don't understand the internets (the tubes have always been baffling to me) but i'm shrewd enough to know that when i go to cyclingnews.com to read about the public relations trainwreck that is the '07 tour day france, and the first thing i see at the top of the page is a big banner advertisement selling astana replica jerseys, well, someone who understand those tubes ought to be able to design a kill switch in cases like that.  or maybe have them flip over to selling les chemises avec antidoping écrit sur eux.  in other words, even an anti-capitalist like me can figure that the wheels are coming off the gravy train that follows the tour.

sink or swim, gentlemen, it's your choice...

- posted by scott

it is probably difficult for the people who read this blog to understand the dynamics of real sports.  we go on endlessly about the nuances of hills and rolling terrain or the tactical savvy of a bold mid-race attack or the suffering of domestiques as they attempt to tow an entire field, catch a break and maintain their team captain's lead.  and yet we can't discuss the crushing, smashmouth offense that michigan state college football plays.  when the discussion around the keg switches to who was the greatest yankee pitcher from 1986 to 2006, we sort of stare at our shoes and shuffle away after saying "yeah" a few times when it seemed appropriate. 

so rather than wait for you all to ask me about this, i'll save you the awkward social interaction you'd rather avoid anyway by just telling you that michael vick is a piece of shit and that corporate sponsorship is eroding our morality to a point where to speak of right and wrong is a farce.  we have completed the transition of sports from the grecian ideal of approaching perfection to the lowest slime in the sewer.

the sordid details are sordid and you can find them being sensationalized on pretty much any major media outlet.  heck, even npr got into the action.  but the most stunnign aspect of the story to me is here.  vick has been indicted on federal conspiracy charges.  you'd think that might make an impact on a person.  he's made no comment.  you'd think that if he wasn't guilty (and even if he was frankly) that he'd deny it.  nope.

Vick has yet to comment publicly on the charges

so no denial.  not even a non-denial-denial.  he must feel bad about it right?

The indictment hit Vick personally Thursday when shoe manufacturer Nike announced it has suspended release of its Zoom Vick V shoe after "the serious and highly disturbing allegations."

this is unintended irony.  the incident didn't hit him, personally, until there was the threat of losing a shoe sponsorship.  seeing all that damage and abuse and horror?  not so bad.  losing a lucrative sponsorship contract with a company that exploits it's workers the way vick exploits dogs?  awooga awooga, damage control, dive dive.  okay, so if he's guilty of this, he's done for right?  right?!  dogs are man's best friend.  you don't hurt animals.  ever.  so this guy will be fired and his career is over.  done.  finis....huh?

The Beaverton, Oregon, company said in a written statement, "We have not terminated our relationship" and that Vick "should be afforded the same due process as any citizen."

wow.

i'm not one to say that an indiviual can't have due process.  he may not be guilty.  the same way santi botero and tyler hamilton (who incidentally swore on his wife's life on his cherished and recently deceased dog tugboat's grave that he hadn't doped!!11!!1) may not be guilty in spite of testing positive more than once.  for receiving tranfusions of each other's blood. and exhausting multiple judicial appeals.  it's all just a funny french mix up, disney should make a movie like freaky friday. 

...damn, i drifted off real sports back to cycling.  okay, focus.  back to our topic.  sponsorship.  and real sports.  and how they totally don't corrupt your view of what's right and what's wrong.  i just want to juxtapose these last two things to make the point clear:

1. Dogs that didn't show enough fighting spirit, or lost matches, were put to death by methods that included shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution, according to the indictment. Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, Vick participated in killing eight dogs. (link)

2. The Beaverton, Oregon, company said in a written statement, "We have not terminated our relationship" and that Vick "should be afforded the same due process as any citizen." (link)

well there you have it.  for those hoping that we ground ourselves as a culture, and make a stand here, you're mistaken.  you have overlooked that there is now a complete interdependence between "corporate marketing" and "sports!!!" and the precious result of that relationship is dumptruck loads of money.  regrettably, models reflecting the most cutting edge thinking in understanding public acceptance of depraved behaviour all point towards this thing fizzling out to nothing.  we are rapidly accellerating down the slippery slope.  bon route.

-posted by scott

the racing union patriotism portal, dim for a period too long, is now afire with the message of the glorious revolution in cycling and the social order.  as with the enlightened europeans, we have taken a prolonged vacation through the hot summer months and return, committed to our work, tanned, rested and revolutionary.

we return,this fine morning, with something for the younger revolutionaries.  and end to the subtle tyranny and mind control that most of the pablum that passes for children's literature has become. 

http://buyo.blogspot.com/2006/09/really-revolutionary-engine.html

it's got it all.  rabble rousing, solidarnosc and social unrest.  what child, worth their salt as a revolutionary could deny the stirring message and gripping plot.  those who espouse maoist-unionist thought may feel that the failure of the engines to make a show of the execution of the fat controller is weak, and the rationale for excluding this sort of thing from children's literature weaker still.  the majority of you who avow marxist-leninist-unionist thought should find the end appealing and suitable.

hasta la victoria siempre, venceremos!  union!  union!

-sg

• Condemnation:  WashCycle (http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/2007/06/terry_lynch_sav.html#comments) points to a City Paper article giving an assist to Terry Lynch, the Executive Director of Washington’s Downtown Cluster of Congregations, in the city’s attempt to steal bikes from downtown streets.  The self-righteous Terry Lynch is a contradiction: his opposition to what he deems “abandoned” bicycles on the city streets is all about his admirable goal to make downtown Washington more livable; yet his definition of “livable” is oft-times bizarre.  I recall his successful efforts several years ago to re-route the St. Paddy’s Day 10-K from the city streets of Washington – the real Washington – to the monumental core instead.  Why?  Because he felt the 10-K discouraged people from going to church because of a disruption of traffic patterns.  I still recall his statement that, because beer was to be served at the finish line (It’s a St. Patrick’s Day event, for crying out loud!), the event sent the message that, instead of going to church, people ought to go downtown and drink beer.  Nevermind people who don’t go to church.  Or people who go to church and would like to drink beer too.  Or people who are simply there to enjoy the running.  I shudder to think how Lynch would take to a bike race downtown.  Narrow-minded thinking doesn’t allow for imagining the possibilities, and Terry Lynch demonstrates that.  A bunch of people running on downtown streets, followed by an after-race party downtown strikes me as a great way of making the city streets come alive and more livable, but the Reverend Lynch apparently knows better – just as the Reverend Lynch apparently knows which bikes are abandoned which are not.

• Praise:  A special shout-out to www.GamJams.net.  Several of us Racing Unionistas have enjoyed for some time this newsworthy and notable blog single-handedly created by a member of Artemis who’s love and enthusiasm for the sport of cycling is clear and downright infectious, but its nice to see his acknowledgment (http://www.gamjams.net/2007/06/keeping_tempo_6_3.html#comments) for Racing Union’s efforts to advocate on behalf of all who toil on two wheels:  racers, commuters, and recreational cyclists.  Thanks for the kind words, and back at you, GamJams!

-- posted by Chris 

I've commented here recently about how Che Guevara rode a bicycle.  Not too much of a surprise, as riding a bicycle IS a revolutionary act.  Che was also following in the footsteps of Lenin.

Writer Nadezhda K. Krupskaya published “Reminiscences of Lenin” in 1933, and recalls of Lenin’s time in Paris from 1909-1910:

“Studying in Paris was very inconvenient. The Bibliotheque Nationale was a long way off. Vladimir Ilyich usually cycled there, but riding a bicycle in Paris was not what it was in the suburbs of Geneva. It was a great strain. Those cycle rides tired him out. The library closed at lunch time. There was a lot of red-tape in the arrangements for ordering books, and Ilyich swore at the library, and while he was at it, at Paris in general. I wrote to a French professor who had been giving French lessons at the summer courses in Geneva, asking him to recommend some other good libraries. I received an immediate reply, giving me the necessary information. Ilyich made the round of all the libraries mentioned but none of them was suitable. In the end his bicycle was stolen. He used to leave it on the stairs of a house next door to the Bibliothetque Nationale and pay the concierge ten centimes a day for it. When he came for the bicycle and found it gone, the concierge declared that she had not been hired to look after the bicycle but only to let Ilyich keep it on the stairs.

Riding a bicycle in Paris and the suburbs required great care. Once, on his way to Juvisy, Ilyich was nearly run over by a motor-car. He barely managed to jump clear, and the bicycle was wrecked.”

Let’s repeat that last bit:  “Ilyich was nearly run over by a motor-car.  He barely managed to jump clear, and the bicycle was wrecked.”  Is there any wonder how and why the revolution occurred? 

--posted by Chris 

We have a Bike to Work Day, just concluded, in the Washington area.  But, as I heard on CBC radio this morning, in one of my favorite cities – Halifax, Nova Scotia – they have a whole week devoted to bicycles - “Bike Week” is happening right now (http://www.halifax.ca/bikeweek/). 

Halifax is truly a civilized place – that’s not only because it home to one of the best museums around, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/index.html), and the part-time home of the Bluenose II (http://museum.gov.ns.ca/bluenose/index.html) - a replica of the famous racing schooner which appears on the Canadian dime, and a grand tribute to the common man (http://www.currencymuseum.ca/eng/learning/coins_dime.php). 

I’ve been to Halifax on several occasions, and each time I’ve gone, I’ve been amazed at the behavior of motorists towards pedestrians and cyclists:  cars often literally screech to a stop if you so much as lift your foot over the curb to cross at an intersection.  The municipality is also a green – not only do they require residents to recycle, they have a “green can” municipal composting program (http://www.halifax.ca/wrms/greencart.html).  Truly, Halifax is smaller then Washington, but it is the unofficial capital of Atlantic Canada, and it’s a place from which we here in Washington can learn a great deal.

-- posted by Chris

The May 14^th issue of VeloNews just arrived in my mailbox.  On the cover is Danilo Di Luca celebrating his victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege - an emotional finish surpassed only by Stuart O’Grady at Paris-Roubaix (in my book, this is saying a lot, as I suspect that O’Grady’s performance will go down as one of the most exciting this season).

But I didn't bring this up to talk about Danilo Di Luca or Stuart O'Grady, for there's something else in this issue of VeloNews I want to talk about.  If I can blow my own horn for a bit, the May 14^th issue also has a letter to the editor written by your’s truly.  The subject?  An article published in the April 16^th issue of the very same publication.  Unfortunately, none of this stuff is reproduced online, but all you really need to read is my letter: 

While I appreciate rebellious misfits as much as the next guy, I couldn’t contain my disgust when I read about Michael Ball and his Rock Racing team (“Revolution Rock,” April 16).  I’d never heard of Rock Racing prior to reading this article, but if Ball’s team reflects his attitude, then like his denim company, it’s all show and no substance.  It’s the corporate establishment disguised as rebellion.

 

Changing team kit colors for each race or driving Escalades as team cars doesn’t challeng cycling’s status quo.  A true rebel would try to shake the whole notion of corporate sponsorship or encourage alternative forms of transportation.  After all, some of us buck “the system” by actually commuting to work on our bikes!

 

It is perhaps unrealistic to expect a cycling team at this level to eschew corporate sponsorship altogether.  But to seek out and celebrate the sponsorship of a company that actively encourages America’s addiction to gas guzzlers is the kind of mindless consumerism that represents much of what is wrong with pro sports.  It doesn’t, as Ball so eloquently puts it, give cycling ‘a nice kick in the ass to make it fucking cool.’ 

It’s worth mention that, although I’d never heard of Rock Racing prior to reading this article, I did hear of the team after Stage 6 of the Tour of Virginia.  That’s the day which featured a criterium down in Harrisonburg where the first to cross the finish, Kayle Leogrande of Rock Racing, was relegated for not holding his line in the final sprint.  You can see some real nice photographic evidence here:  http://love2ride.smugmug.com/gallery/2788646#148675413; and check out the photographer's narrative of the event in the May 2^nd post here:  http://love2ridephotoszzz.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html).

I don't mean to pick on Leogrande here.  I have nothing against him in particular, and he's clearly very talented.  My beef isn't even about his team so much as it's about the presentation -- passing off something as revolutionary and rebellious when in reality it's about selling an image.  And besides, cycling doesn't need a nice kick in the ass to be fucking cool.  It already IS.

-- posted by Chris

I guess maybe Dr. Gridlock (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051502697.html) decided to celebrate Bike to Work Day (which is tomorrow, by the way) by publishing some rants in this morning’s Post.  Rather than an intelligent discussion about how cycling can reduce congestion and our dependence on oil, however, we get garbage.  A few excerpts area below, followed by my not-so-comprehensive rants.  Have any further rants?  The comments section is all yours! 

“The truth is, cyclists bend and break traffic rules, exhibit behavior that defies common sense and are bullies.”

Bullies?!  Lemme see:  on one side, there’s a big heavy chunk of metal; on the other, a dude on a couple of metal or carbon pipes.  I can’t possibly imagine how the cyclist could ever be a bully in such a situation.  But hey, so long as we’re using adherence to traffic laws (written with motorized vehicles in mind) as the standard, consider how often you’ve seen cars speeding; turning right on red without stopping; failing to use a turn signal; speeding up to run a yellow light; and slowing, not stopping, at stop signs.  The truth is, nearly all vehicles on the road disobey the law every day in some way.  Speaking for myself, I can think of several places on my commute where the safer option to get from Point A to Point B involves breaking a traffic law (try crossing over to the left turning lane on a roadway full of speeding cars and you’ll get what I mean).  The bottom line is that any motorized vehicle is a far more dangerous weapon then a bicycle will ever be – while there are rare exceptions, when a motorists does something stupid, the cyclist could get killed; and when the cyclist does something stupid, the cyclist could get killed.  The cyclist does not enter this relationship from a position of power.

“Just stopping at intersections with stop signs would carry bikers a long way toward a better relationship with motorists.”

An old chestnut:  If cyclists would just follow the law, the reasoning goes, motorists would suddenly start respecting their rights.  Riiiiight!  What it fails to take into account is the fact that most cyclists are invisible to motorists.  When we are noticed, it’s when we’re perceived to be breaking the law (and, often, that assumption is a reflection of the motorist’s ignorance of the law).

“I strongly oppose cyclists sharing the road with motorists. It is not only unsafe, but inconvenient for drivers. Cyclists tend to act as though the rules of the road don't apply to them, and as though they possess the same presence on the road as automobiles. It is amazing that there are not more cycling-related fatalities in our area. Cyclists belong on paths, and nowhere else.”

Good start to the usual rant of the four-wheeled hegemony, complete with the convenience of the motorist taking precedence above anybody else.  But, there’s a twist:

“Before you chastise me for being anti-cyclist, I would like you to know that I am an avid mountain biker who rides more than a thousand miles a year, and I have been an assistant manager at a local shop for years.”

Oh good!  Thanks for the statement of solidarity, buddy!  And how convenient that your particular cycling obsession doesn’t involve riding on the road.  If all mountain bikers were like you, you can bet I’d think twice before being supportive of keeping trails open to mountain bikers in national forests!

There was one letter this morning which didn’t target cyclists.  Instead, it targeted pedestrians:

“Cars are my number one concern when I'm bicycling in the District, but I also get very nervous in the presence of pedestrians who blithely jaywalk and don't ever see me coming.  It seems to me that they are watching or listening only for cars when jaywalking and pay no attention whatsoever to bicycles. The worst area for such near-encounters is Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 17th and 19th streets.”

OK, I think that’s fair enough, but I’d like to add something here:  Bicycles are to pedestrians what cars are to bicycles.  You can cause them significant damage, and assigning blame won’t prevent that damage from occurring.  Take care not to hurt anyone (or yourself)!

-- Posted by Chris

Last year, during the nascent stages of our glorious revolution, the Racing Union's Supreme Council for Propagation of Message and Truth sent out a request to our citizenry for a stirring patriotic anthem befitting our quest for all that is right and true on two wheels.  An anonymous sympathizer sent us a particularly gusto-filled little number set to the tune of the traditional Welsh anthem "Men of Harlech."  For further reference, and a moving ode, please peruse the following link: http://www.racingunion.org/PermaLink,guid,638193ef-c7be-43e0-b47c-ccf9f55d0218.aspx

However, today we received another inspiring anthem from our own Comrade Kevin (who's been tearing it up at Greenbelt lately), clearly aimed at our younger compatriots throughout the Union heartland (aka "The Fruit of the Union").  As an expression of our deepest gratitude to a comrade who has clearly been reading his manifesto, an extra ration of potatoes has been reserved for young Kevin at the Plaza de la Revolucion.  Just what the hell am I talking about, you ask?  Well, Kevin wrote a song about it, and even though our humble compatriot may not want it posted (heh-heh...), here it goes:

         You frontin the union? 
         Slow yo roll you ain't got that
         We fed yo communion,
         Don't act like you all phat.

         East side or west side, you know we roll hard,
         Forget all thorps corps, that shit should be barred
         You with us or against, don't fuck wit' tha vanguard.

         Ya'll actin like bitches, sponsor's little whore,
         Watch your step or you'll be right out the front door.

         Rollin on the win, hear the Union Da!
         All you others just droppin a jaw,
         Where they come from, ain't never saw.
         Raise yo glass to the Union, a resounding Huzzah!

Well, there you have it, dear friends.  I hope that this little ditty has brought a tear to your eyes as it has to mine.  To borrow some immortal words from none other than the illustrious Flavor Flav himself, I would like to say: "yeeeeeeahhhhh, boooooyyyyyyeeeee!."  In my own words, I say: Da, Union, Da!

- - - josh

-- posted by Chris

Buried in the Washington Post today was an extremely short piece which is a little more detailed here:  http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2502076.ece.  Yep, another warning!  The sea ice in the Artic is “vanishing at faster rate than expected.”  Gee, do you think this (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/28/AR2007042801188.html) or this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070501/ts_nm/usa_air_dc_1) could have something to do with it?

I know that global warming is met with some amount of skepticism from some people.  And ideas such as a local team’s efforts at supporting carbon offsets can get people going (http://www.racingunion.org/CommentView,guid,1c527b8c-602b-4799-8f29-21f1aeac5ac7.aspx).  Our good friend Unholy Rouler – who’s become one of my favorite curmudgeons (and I sincerely mean that kindly) – has his own views on the subject.  But, as when the United States sides with the Vatican and conservative Muslim nations on social issues in international forums (http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/politics/documents/2000religionandpublicpolicyatheun.pdf), I have my suspicions when the United States sides with fellow big polluters like China (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/30/AR2007043000127.html) on global warming issues.  If the United States is siding with China, it raises an, er, red flag for me - could we be on the wrong side on this one??

Regardless, as my dialogue with Unholy Rouler recently shows (http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.com/2007/04/wasser-flaschen.html#links), good people who otherwise disagree on specifics can come to some agreement on some basics.

The bottom line?  Whether you think carbon offsets are a good idea or a scam (or somewhere in between); whether you think global warming is a reality or a global liberal conspiracy (or somewhere in between), some basic environmental principles in your daily life aren’t such a bad idea. My thought is to try doing some really small things, at least at first.  Wash all your clothes in cold water – the clothes last longer and you save some energy.  Plant a tree.  Or, my recent favorite, insist on seafood that’s fished in a sustainable way (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050100446.html).  Monterey Bay Aquarium has some nice handy pocket seafood guides (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp).  Any of these things, and more, are easy to do and are really about living in a smart way.  Now, I’m not saying any of these small things will reduce global warming – indeed, some environmentally-friendly things you can do might have little to do with global warming – but doesn’t it all just make sense to attempt to reduce wasteful habits.  After all, frugality is an all-American concept, isn’t it?  Isn’t it Ben Franklin who said “waste not; want not”?

All this brings me to my final point.  People all over are starting to clue in about cycling as a good, clean, health and fun means of transportation.  Even rural Virginia is catching on (http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=5572&CHID=1&key=bicycle&title=&author=&channelid=), and deep in the Shenandoah Valley, it seems that the recently-completed Tour of Virginia might have the added advantage of inspiring some to get out there and ride their bikes (http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=10033&CHID=1&key=bicycle&title=&author=&channelid=)  My hometown of Detroit – yes, that’s right! The Motor City!  is celebrating Bike to Work day (http://detroitsynergy.org/projects/detroitbikes/folder.2007-04-26.0153150024/folder.2007-03-16.1917094854/news_item.2007-04-27.1056936960).  Mark your calendar:  It’s May 18^th.  Here at home, in the words of our Dear Leader, a “mighty two-wheeled tsunami of green and black will roll with authority eastward on that morning.”  More on this later.  In the meantime visit http://waba.org/events/btwd/index.php for Washington, DC Bike to Work Day events.

just got a series of message from sim over in the south of france.  he just got a cushy gig covering a series of races including flanders.  he sent along some nice pictures showing some of the details of the race.  the text is from his emails...

cobbles: "And here's one for the fine people of DC.  If my memory serves me right, people are often complaining about pot-holes in DC and about the state of VA roads.... "

museeuw's super pimp'd ride: You thought Museuw had horse power?  Sure he did... and still does!  Check "da-man's" sweet, fuel guzzling, non-ecological Audi beast...Shuv that in your Eco-friendly pipe and smoke it.  No doubt about it, this one is on steroids...No need for a license plate on this bad boy... if you can't figure out who's car it is... well.... enough said.

and finally, a cake celebrating the event.  i broke out some shots detailing the details.

this one isfor rudy vercaine, the last flandrian in virginia.  when your country has an equally solid traditionat cycling and at sweets, well, you've got to roll hard.  and these guys roll hard.

and once you're done with the cakes, the kids can take the decorations and have little pretend races.  what's not to like.  i declare this union approved.

you can email sim here and reach him on the web through his workplace here.

- - - posted by scott

This just in from the state of the art broadcast studios at Racing Union’s Ministry of Culture and Entertainment:

Broadcasting in life-like clarity to the latest and most technologically-advanced high definition televisions throughout the Racing Union (including those made from re-purposed produce containers by loyal workers in our tropical industrial cooperatives), film critic Comrade Peanut brings us news of three cycling movies playing in the occupied Washington, DC area over the next few weeks.  All members of the Racing Union Cinema Appreciation Society (RUCAS, not to be confused with RUCCAS, the Racing Union Commuter Climactic Alert System) are strongly encouraged to attend these films.

It is not too often that cycling movies are exhibited publicly, and it is especially rare that three cycling-related movies are showing within the next few weeks, so Comrade Peanut cannot emphasize enough that it is of the utmost importance that we citizens show our support. 

The first of the three movies is “24 Solo,” which was best described on the D-20 list by Artemis Racing’s Evelyn Egizi: “This movie is absolutely incredible! Even if you don't mountain bike, this movie appeals to anyone who appreciates bike racing or an inspirational story. The documentary follows Chris Eatough, 6-time World Champion of 24-hour solo mountain bike racing in his attempt for a 7th World title. If you heard the news stories after the race last year - the finish was more than dramatic...”  For more information about the film, you can visit its website at: http://24-solo.com

The film was made by Arlington-based documentarian Jason Berry, who also made the award-winning documentary “Off Road to Athens” (about mountain bike racers trying to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens).

Although one showing of “24 Solo” has already happened, there is another screening on Friday, April 27^th at 9:30pm at the Arlington Cinema n’ Drafthouse.