sometimes it seems as if you woke up in a foreign land.  everyone is speaking a different language, you don't recognize the streets or buildings.  the culture is alien, and your racing union issued rubles, which weren't much use before, are now totally useless as they do not seem to buy anything.  that's sort of where i am at.  have you seen this shit? 

it seems like the national gestalt is that things are going to hell so you just do whatever you please.  and this actually maps onto the behaviour and views of cyclists as exhibited during most group rides, commutes, training session, et. al. that I come into contact with.  stop sign?  so what.  sprinting over the yellow line into oncoming traffic?  de rigeur!  riding ten abreast on small country roads with 20-30 cars lined up behind you honking?  you betcha!

this is not a trend you can buck.  rather, this is a wave, a veritable tsunami of lawlessness, that I would recommend that all good citizens ride with vigor.  it may be a race to the bottom, but it will be fun, and good intentions won't get you far as things deteriorate.  I recommend that people act, forthwith, to assert their independence from authority.  if this is the way the jackals want it, i say we give it to them. 

please consider this blog post to function effectively as my signing statement.  i hereby assert that the various state, local and federal entities have conspired to control transportation systems and that this control is inherently outside the scope of their legal authority.  i assert that i retain the sole authority to determine limits on my cycling.  the current system of traffic control which includes but is not limited to lane markings, stop signs, traffic lights, curbs, speed limits fundamentally infringes on my rights as a citizen.  my interpretation of my rights of citizenship include the decision making authority regarding when, where and how i ride my bicycle.  though i acknowledge that the laws have been passed by various local, state and federal legislatures, i do not accept their authority over me in this matter.  i hold that i am the only source of limits regarding how and where i ride my bicycle.

i futher assert that the sanctioning body for cycling in the us has exceeded their authority to dictate details of how one may particiapte in activities.  no sleeveless jerseys??!!  how can it be the case that they can tell you whether your arms are covered with a spandex/poly blend.  next they'll be instituting a raglan cut with their usac logo prominently placed, and which derailleur to ride or tire to use.  while acknowledging that these rules are in the rulebook, i follow the president's noble lead in clarifying the jurisdiction i allow over my actions.  in accepting my usac license, i offer a statement that i do not agree with the usac interpretation that they may set rules regarding helmets, field limits, clothing, penalties, event scoring, event permits, prizes, payouts, start of a race, or rider conduct.  i believe that these rules are an infringement on my rights as a rider and racer and I emphatically reject them. 

as a general summary, i assert sole authority to make rules regarding how and when my actions can be controlled.  it seems to work for the current administration, so i'm hopeful it will work for me as well.

- - - posted by scott