FLCC> The Boorish Side of Bike Racing

[Jack Rueckheim]

My first reaction is to thank Eddie and all of his fellow volunteers who
worked this race (even though I did not participate).  I always appreciate
those who make the race happen--probably foregoing the race themselves to do
so.

My second reaction is to wonder why any of them would consider doing it
again, except that Eddie does mention that the bad actors were the minority.

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how some racers can find it within
themselves to berate the volunteers, even if they did screw up!  These
people, for the most part, have no formal training and they are out there
trying to give to their community or club.  

I'm thinking if you have a beef, resist the heat of the moment and save your
beef for the race director and present it in a constructive format.  Cussing
out a corner marshal or wheel van driver after an error has been made will
not help the immediate situation.

I would say that it is good etiquette to actually THANK the corner marshals,
pace and wheel car drivers, and officials as you encounter them before,
during and after the race.

Jack 

-----Original Message-----
From: flcc-bounces at icycle.org [mailto:flcc-bounces at icycle.org] On Behalf Of
Eddie Luban
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 5:04 PM
To: occ at lists.upstate.edu; fLCC at icycle.org
Subject: FLCC> The Boorish Side of Bike Racing

seen/heard from the wheel van during yesterday's Oswasco Stage Race 
Cat.4/5 road race:

1.  persistent and repeated riding on the wrong side of the yellow line

2.  littering, and I'm not talking about banana peels

3.  yelling and cursing at the WHEEL VAN, which was behind the riders, 
after the marshals and pace car led the field the wrong way

4.  friends/family driving behind the field (that in itself is a no-no),
pulling 
out across the yellow line, driving on the wrong side of the road, cutting 
back in between the field and the wheel van

5.  cursing at the driver and official in the wheel van when a rider
couldn't 
get the wheel he needed

While it was only a small minority of the riders who were responsible for 
this stuff, I could see how their actions could taint the whole race.  No 
wonder the civilian population finds us annoying, to say the least.

Eddie Luban


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