When you really think about it, road cycling is pretty stupid. We kit up in a thin layer of Lycra topped off with a Styrofoam lid, then go out and ride on public roads. We hammer around at full tilt mixing it with all sorts of motor vehicle traffic, some of it passing by at arms length travelling 100km/hr (60-70mph).
We quite literally go out and play in traffic!
What other sport or form of exercise has you fighting for space with cars, trucks, busses, taxis? You wouldn’t kick a football around on the main street in town. Perhaps running is similar to cycling, but even runners tend to avoid most roads or find a path off to the side.
As much as the safe cycling lobbyists shout that roads weren’t just made for cars, in many parts of the world that simply is not true. Here in Australia for example, most roads were definitely designed with only motor vehicles in mind. Very little thought has been put into cyclists or pedestrians for that matter (either as recreation or active transport). But still, we ride.
We claim our space on the road even when it seems the world is against us. We get out there and enjoy ourselves, conquer the climbs, breath in the (hopefully) fresh air, enjoy the descents and ever-changing views. For whatever reason deep inside each of us, we love the open road.
Silly really, isn’t it… 😉
Here in the US “The Good Roads Movement was initiated by bicyclists in the 1870s”. At least in this country, our two-wheeled forebears were responsible for the first decent roads. In Wisconsin they were followed by the milk trucks, which needed good roads to get to all of the small dairy farms every day. Cars were late to the game. But yeah, they have pretty much taken over and cities were designed for them once they took control. But we still have those back roads which don’t go anywhere “important” since the dairy farms have been swallowed up by bigger enterprises. They are roads for the people who live on them and for bikes.
But are we nuts, or is it the folks who wrap themselves in two tons of steel designed to look like it’s for the outback but really is just to go to the shopping mall or to an office with only one person in it though it ostensibly seats eight? Keep spinning those cranks!
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It’s probably similar where you are, almost every “car” on the road is now and oversized SUV or truck sized 4WD or similar. The roads and lane widths, designed decades ago, can hardly cope! Madness. Thankfully around here most of the drivers are fairly courteous, but it only takes one.
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No, not at all!
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Very true mate. Its crazy in so many ways but we love doing it. You didnt mention potholes which is another really big danger here in Victoria at the moment. You cant beat the feeling though of being on open roads like you say climbing ,descending or just spinning on the flats. Keep spinning everyone and do it safe
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