Monday, May 17, 2010
How about a wave???
If someone asked a triathlete to describe the multisport community as a whole the terms athletic, and motivated would almost certainly be used. But as a triathlete would you ever describe your compatriots as rude, or inconsiderate?
We’ve all been on a ride or run and been subject to the blaring car horn that comes up behind us like a freight train. Like me you probably use some colorful language to describe the motorist who just left your ears ringing and they sped on undoubtedly talking on there cell phone. I guess I’ve just come to the realization that some people in their cars are just going to be jerks. There’s no other explanation, and I’m okay with that. No body ever said there was anything wrong with being a jerk. What I find disturbing is that this sort of attitude seems to be making its way out of the passing traffic and into our sport.
Now I’m admittedly still what most would consider a new comer to triathlon. I’m only entering my third year in the sport and still have many many things to learn. One concept I’ve never really grasped is the ongoing feud between cyclists and triathletes. I realize there are inherent differences between the two types of riding. Triathlon cycling resembles only one aspect of road cycling. And I’m sure to pure roadies we as triathletes must look like goobers with antenna sticking out in front of our rigs. But that doesn’t explain why when I see a cyclist on the opposite side of the road and extend a hand in acknowledgment I get stiffed in return. Usually by a smug look and sometimes just ignored all together. I mean let’s be serious, we’re not solving all the world’s problems out on the road, we’re riding bikes. And on top of that we’re riding bikes in spandex.
This past week I was doing a pretty easy brick with my friend Bryan. Nothing too crazy, 25 mile ride, 4 mile run. He was actually going to tack on more bike miles after our ride and I was going to run alone with my dog, Lucy. On our ride we spotted a group of 4 guys probably about a quarter mile in front of us bunched up in a pace line. Bryan and I both fighting a case of cement leg after a tough riding week decided to try to catch them. As we pulled up to the back wheel of the last rider we realized they were going a little slower than we were and we decided we were going to pass on the left. Bryan and I made our pass and as we passed we both said, "good morning" to each of the four riders. Not one of them responded. As we rode on up the road I commented to Bryan that none of the riders even made a noise. He responded, "yeah that was nice of them, wasn’t it?" Later during my run I had pulled off to the side of the sidewalk so Lucy could do what dogs do as two runners approached from behind engaged in a conversation with one another. I waved and said good morning to the two ladies as they strode by. They both looked at me, said nothing, and not three feet by me started talking again to each other. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t. Lucy and I just went on our way.
My fiancé, Meri, is a triathlete as well. I remember when I first started racing she said how much she loved being around triathletes because they were so nice and down to earth. Both of us having run too numerous a running race to count have had plenty of run-ins with running snobs. It was very refreshing she told me, to be around so many people who looked like they were having so much fun. So why now does their seem to be a change in attitude among triathletes? When did we become too good to acknowledge our fellow athletes?
We, as a whole, started doing this sport because we like to swim, ride our bikes, and run. Not because we find joy in putting our bodies through torture every week just to shave a few seconds off the clock in our next race. I know not everyone’s a waiver, or a knodder, but we are all exercise enthusiasts, so maybe we can just appreciate that about one another.
I was out on a long solo ride yesterday and passed an guy on the other side of the road in baggy clothes on a mountain bike. As he approached he nodded to me first and said, "good morning."
I returned with a nod and "good morning" of my own.
He wasn’t an avid cyclist, just a guys out enjoying riding his bike, appreciating another guy out doing the same. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from that.
-Athlete Ian
Posted by Athlete Ian on 05/17/10 at 07:59 AM
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