I found this fascinating, in light of Grant’s lamentations on the state of trail riding bikes. The idea of “slowness rage” as another modern illness is disconcerting, yet we’ve all experienced it, both in ourselves and in others. http://nautil.us/issue/71/flow/why-your-brain-hates-slowpokes-rp
On my bike, I experienced it in myself though the constant metrics of a cycling computer and riding to the metrics instead of to my enjoyment. Could I ride to my enjoyment with a computer? Likely, but then I’d be constantly “not thinking about the elephant,” and I’m not very good at that. In drivers, I have largely eliminated it through the “smile and wave” approach, but still experience it in drivers who pass unsafely. They go wide around me on blind section of road when oncoming traffic can’t be seen, or worse, pass when there is clearly oncoming traffic. Interestingly, between the “smile and wave” and riding in the lane’s right tire track instead of hugging the right shoulder, they almost always pass me with plenty of room, which of course would be negated should they plow into oncoming traffic. In other cyclists (because “people on bikes” doesn’t really change minds and hearts, does it?) I experience it much the way it seems Grant does. The technology promotes speed without thought or skill. Speed as an entitlement, a right. And the accompanying superiority of the “club” who is fast because of what they wear. This is hilarious to see directly confronted when I pass them (as I do most cyclists if we’re going the same way) in their befuddlement at my speed (generally while climbing) on “inferior” technology. These are the riders who “rest their bikes” on the way up and bomb beyond their skill or thought of others on the trail down because they “earned it.” The entire approach of the hillybike, and Grant et al from the begenning, is counter to this. It’s an uphill climb! Grin. With abandon, Patrick www.MindYourHeadCoop.org www.CatholicHalos.org www.DeaconPatrick.org -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
