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#11
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:44:03 -0800, thirty-six wrote:
On 19 Nov, 12:46, Stephen Bauman wrote: On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:36:57 -0800, thirty-six wrote: Why do it if all you get for your troubles is a paper certificate? In these troubled economic times, it's something one can add to one's resume. :=) There were cheering crowds along the route, when I rode PBP in 1979. It was the closest I ever came to experiencing the ego trip that athletes must experience. It's the endorphin rush. There was one sense of reality. I stayed a week in Paris for r&r after PBP. I visited a bike shop on the fashionable Avenue de la Grande Armee and told the proprietress about my exploit. She inquired about how much money I received. "Nothing", I replied. What about press coverage? Again, I replied, "nothing". Her reaction was: pas d'argent, pas de presse; monsieur, vous etes fou! The pain and suffering are forgotten in the intervening years. The sense of achievement remains. Did you think, before the event, that it was a substitute for racing? No. That's why I was surprised by the spectators. The deal with racing is that only one person wins. Anyone who completes a brevet is a "winner". For the sloggers like myself, my accomplishment is not diminished by others also completing the ride. PBP is tough enough so that finishing it merits respect. Stephen Bauman |
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#12
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On 19 Nov, 15:59, Stephen Bauman wrote:
On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:44:03 -0800, thirty-six wrote: On 19 Nov, 12:46, Stephen Bauman wrote: On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:36:57 -0800, thirty-six wrote: Why do it if all you get for your troubles is a paper certificate? In these troubled economic times, it's something one can add to one's resume. :=) There were cheering crowds along the route, when I rode PBP in 1979. It was the closest I ever came to experiencing the ego trip that athletes must experience. It's the endorphin rush. There was one sense of reality. I stayed a week in Paris for r&r after PBP. I visited a bike shop on the fashionable Avenue de la Grande Armee and told the proprietress about my exploit. She inquired about how much money I received. "Nothing", I replied. What about press coverage? Again, I replied, "nothing". Her reaction was: pas d'argent, pas de presse; monsieur, vous etes fou! The pain and suffering are forgotten in the intervening years. The sense of achievement remains. Did you think, before the event, that it was a substitute for racing? No. That's why I was surprised by the spectators. The deal with racing is that only one person wins. Anyone who completes a brevet is a "winner". For the sloggers like myself, my accomplishment is not diminished by others also completing the ride. PBP is tough enough so that finishing it merits respect. Do you think the ride is 'better' because it is an organised ride as a opposed to you doing the same ride as part of a small group of friends without being overlooked? |
#13
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:10:59 -0800, thirty-six wrote:
snip Do you think the ride is 'better' because it is an organised ride as a opposed to you doing the same ride as part of a small group of friends without being overlooked? One can combine both by having a small group of friends take part in an organized ride. There's a lot going for an organized ride like PBP. You will not get those cheering crowds along the way, if you're riding with only a small group of friends. It's also easier to embellish one's performance, without a group of neutral officials stamping your route card at the controls. Stephen Bauman |
#14
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On 19 Nov, 21:59, Jobst Brandt wrote:
They way you describe that, it sounds like a search for merit badges and recognition by spectators. *It fits well with the local rides with visibly high priced equipment and garish clothing. *Why ride bike in the first place? *Maybe that is the appropriate riddle. To get here and there in an enjoyable low stress manner. Although i do sometimes take a ride to go off-road purely for the fun of it. That's something I've done since about eight years old but hav not analysed why it is fun, it just is and I'm happy leaving it that way. No steenkin badges for me. |
#15
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On Nov 19, 3:59*pm, Jobst Brandt wrote:
Stephen Bauman wrote: Do you think the ride is 'better' because it is an organised ride as a opposed to you doing the same ride as part of a small group of friends without being overlooked? One can combine both by having a small group of friends take part in an organized ride. There's a lot going for an organized ride like PBP. *You will not get those cheering crowds along the way, if you're riding with only a small group of friends. *It's also easier to embellish one's performance, without a group of neutral officials stamping your route card at the controls. They way you describe that, it sounds like a search for merit badges and recognition by spectators. *It fits well with the local rides with visibly high priced equipment and garish clothing. *Why ride bike in the first place? *Maybe that is the appropriate riddle. Jobst Brandt http://www.rusa.org/medalphotos.html Looks like some mighty fine hardware to me. |
#16
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On Nov 20, 12:44*pm, Mike A Schwab wrote:
http://www.rusa.org/medalphotos.html Looks like some mighty fine hardware to me. I don't begrudge this reason for taking on a challenge. I first got really enthusiastic about adult cycling in 1973, but at that time, I couldn't understand how anyone could ride even 30 miles at a stretch. I was in very good cardiovascular shape, but I couldn't do even moderate distance comfortably. Then my wife and I signed on to the "Presidential Sports Award," a program in which you were given a logbook to track your consistent participation in your sport. For the cycling badge and certificate, IIRC, you needed to rack up 600 miles in 4(?) months, but you could count no more than 12 miles per day. The intent was regular activity, not weekend-warrior extremes. By the time I got the badge, I was a competent cyclist. I could easily do longer rides, and I soon did my first century and my first bike tours. Having that goal and reaching it literally opened up a world to me. - Frank Krygowski |
#17
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Avaricious randonneurs.
In article ,
thirty-six writes: Why do it if all you get for your troubles is a paper certificate? Life is fraught with all kinds of bs. So when we get to choose our own bs, life is good. Or at least, a little better than it would have been without the choice. One might as well ask: "Why aren't all cyclists track sprinters?" Actually, if I had my life to live over again, I'd be right in there, on the banked hardwood track, and loving every moment of it, and probably encouraging fellow riders along. 'Cuz that's what sportsmanship & gamesmanship is all about. It's not about what you get; it's about what you give. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#18
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On 22 Nov, 08:20, (Tom Keats) wrote:
It's not about what you get; it's about what you give. And what would that be? |
#19
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Avaricious randonneurs.
In article ,
thirty-six writes: On 22 Nov, 08:20, (Tom Keats) wrote: It's not about what you get; it's about what you give. And what would that be? Irreplaceable, precious time out of one's life. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#20
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Avaricious randonneurs.
On 23 Nov, 02:07, (Tom Keats) wrote:
In article , * * * * thirty-six writes: On 22 Nov, 08:20, (Tom Keats) wrote: It's not about what you get; it's about what you give. And what would that be? Irreplaceable, precious time out of one's life. good reminder, bye. |
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