23.6.06

Inverted Culture Shock

1) I went to the Tuesday night crit to check out the action and shoot the buzz. The weather was great with no wind, dry roads and almost 20 degrees. I arrived at about 7 as I figured people would be there by then, but only a handful where there and no sign of racing so I went for an hours spin and then came back around 8. At this point a handful of riders had arrived, some spinning laps of the course, others humming around in anticipation. The problem was that no race officials had shown up, only about ten riders and it was already past the scheduled start time. Why was there no race!? The weather was fabulous and the Alberta racing calendar is thinner than an airmail envelope so how is that a race like this can be cancelled?
2) Went for a ride in Springbank yesterday. It was a beautiful afternoon, quite roads, no wind, great for an easy spin. As I was coming south towards the arena a schoolbus full of kids drives up beside me about 500m before the stop at the intersection. The bus never actually passes me, just pulls up beside and then starts to drift right pushing me toward the ditch. I gave the side of the bus a couple of good smacks, but no reaction from the driver whose face I could see in the side mirror. I slowed, came around the left side of the bus, cut it off and road through the intersection.
3) Went for a coffee ride today...alone. I figured I would ride a couple of hours and then head down to Eau Claire to sit on a terrace and enjoy the sights, maybe meet some other riders. I sat in the heart of the district at peak lunch rush for over an hours and saw only 5 cyclists, all commuters or tourists, not one road bike. I was thinking others might have the same idea about a ride, but all I got were strange looks and casual Friday corporates in bad jeans and polo shirts.
People work too much in this town. Take a day off and come on a coffee ride.
Riding in highheels and a skirt is much faster than walking.
4) Booking tickets for nationals and Altoona came to as much as two trips to Europe. Its cheaper to race for an entire season in Europe than one month here and yet only one Canadian non pro is truly spending the entire season there and I was one of only a couple who was there for more than 3 weeks.
Come to Europe with me next year and live the dream. Its a leave of absence and less than two grand away.
5) Litre large coffees.
Coffee travel mugs or Starbucks cups are not fashion accessories. Sit down, relax, enjoy a good beverage and then leave the cup on the table.
Breathe...
6) SUV/pickup central.
7) More fruit boots than bicycles.

Jeg savner det livet som er sa mye bedre...Ik hep beter gesein enn ik mut terug...

6 comments:

Cyrus said...

I would love to come to Europe and race my ass off next year but like you said, Calgarians work too much.

Anonymous said...

Hey stromper, post some stuff ok, 3 days have past since your last post... keep up the good training and show them what great things you're capable off!
BTW thanks again 4 the great curry dish (b) cu S.

Anonymous said...

If u mean: ik heb beter gezien en ik moet terug... Then i must say: we hopen ook je nog terug te zien en je bent altijd welkom.
This was clean dutch but i suppose u understand written dialect better: tis topen da we a nog weer zien en ge zet alted welkom... alle slopel en salie é tot noste keer... peizek?
Last time was a strange goodbye..

Matt Patterson said...

calgary sucks my balls

The Experience said...

I've seen more people out at weeknight group rides down here than you would get for a weekend race in Alberta. You need to leave to be a cyclist!

Lieke said...

And Per how did the nationals go??
It f**ing hot in Belgium, tomorrow we will exceed the 30 degrees! Great for getting tanned legs and a sunburn. BTW the kriek tastes deliciously now, we will drink one on you!