Thanks, DD. A few quick thoughts:
- Despite the opprobrium we experienced today, Saanich's Parks Management and Control Bylaw endorses our route through CHGC this morning as entirely acceptable for cyclists. Of course, this doesn't mean we shouldn't always watch our speed, take corners with control so as not to startle pedestrians (ideally with a bell-ding!), and be as courteous as possible when passing ("Good morning! Thank you! Seven more riders coming!") If we meet joggers, and things are skinny, it's best to put a foot down until they pass.
- On the point about bells, it's not just the lead rider that needs one. We often get separated and the warning of "walker/runner up!" doesn't get passed along. Each rider should be equipped to give a ding before a blind corner and to provide that precious moment for a pedestrian or oncoming cyclist to react.
- I'm developing a map of verboten trails so we know what areas to avoid in the future—particularly as newer urban trail-riders plan, lead, and post rides. I encourage everyone to have a look and pass on any comments, additions etc. Once you've absorbed the forbidden zones, consider just how many open trails there are!
- Strava has three privacy settings: Public, Private (only you can view); and Followers (where only followers can see your activity details.) I'm opting for the last one for my TSCX rides. It means I don't show up on segment leaderboards etc.—but the coddling of fragile egos has never been the point of these rides!
Early-morning urban trail riding is a relatively novel use of much of our lovely city's infrastructure. People simply don't expect to come across a group of adults moving at pace through the woods with bright lights. We're going to twist some noses, regardless of how legitimate our activity may be, or whether we're
legally in the right using certain trails. But we must remember that if we're organizing rides on the forum—and especially if we're wearing Tripleshot kit (6 of 8 of us this morning!)—we ride with the Club's reputation on our backs. So let's be extra gentle with the good people we come across and try to ensure we leave them behind with a smile on their faces.
A final observation: today, sunrise was 6:42 a.m.. On Oct. 3, it's at 7:15 a.m. On Oct. 13, it will already be 7:30 a.m. As the darkness, wet, and cold set in, the past two winters have demonstrated that we will soon enjoy entire rides without seeing a single person out there on the trails.
enjoy this incredible glacier-start French DH race where our protagonist passes 961 riders to finish 39th. (Having a little French helps enjoy his play-by-plays; but his laboured breathing transcends any language barriers... )
