On Wed, 2010-07-14 at 13:54 -0700, JoelMatthews wrote: > > One (of many no doubt) thing I will never understand about my fellow > human beings is why they want to take something as exhilaratingly free > as riding a bike and tie it down with rules, cards, controles. Don't > we get enough of this every where else we turn?
Some of the rules -- specifically, lighting and reflective clothing -- are safety related. It's my opinion that those rules incorporate the best knowledge out there regarding safe nightime operations, and I suggest that anyone who objects and thinks they have a "better way" is being foolish (not that I think that's what you're objecting to, of course). The time limits, controles and brevet cards provide structure and serve to prevent cheating. Beyond that, you must bear in mind, randonneuring is a French sport - and basically, what else would you expect? Different cultures, different approaches to rules. When I was stationed in Germany, I think I was most struck by two things. First, the favorite toy at the local toy store was the bureaucrat stamp kit, a full assortment of official rubber stamps so kids could play government official. Absolutely unimaginable in the United States, and yet typically German. The other was a visit to the Frankfurt Aquarium. This was an ultra-modern, world-class establishment. I was impressed. I noted a large crowd, by far the biggest crowd in the place, in the center of the large open floor, standing around looking down. I went over to see what the big attraction was, and it turned out that everyone was looking through a large glass panel inset into the floor at the water conditioning equipment for the aquarium. Forget the fish, let's see the machinery! Again, typically German. So to me, the whole business with the brevet cards and the controles is a lot like going to a French restaurant, or watching Bruno Cremer playing Maigret on MHZ1's International Mystery show. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
