My friends must hate me, and with good reason: I tease them mercilessly. Here's an example. Yesterday, I did the Denton Turkey Roll bike rally with Joe, Joe's son Jason (they were on a tandem), Julius, Dave, Mike, and Mark. (Report to follow.) This afternoon, Joe sent the following letter to the rally organizer (with a copy to me):
Mr. Becker,
I just wanted to say, thanks again for holding the Turkey Roll. My son and I had a marvelous time riding in the wierd sort of way riders have fun. We rode a shortened course of the 71 miler. I believe I have spoken to you about this before. Several of my friends and I ride numerous rallies throughout the year and we always ride the Turkey Roll as the close of another season. My only comment is the length of the ride. I have done this ride since 1985. Yes, that's a lot of Turkey Rolls. I rode across 455 before there was a lake! I've ridden it when it was moved to October. I've seen the traffic get worse and I know the problems of coming up with a safe route. My only thought was to shorten the long course up slightly. We stayed on the access road of I-35 for just another couple of miles and then came straight into Valley View right where you had the rest stop. A group of us rode this same course last year and we came up with 61 miles. I understand the detour this year that added an additional 3 miles. Now it may not seem like a whole lot of difference, but that 10 miles sure does make a difference. When it's this late in the cycling season a lot of riders just don't put the miles in to do 71, however 61 might be right on their threshold. I personnally wouldn't mind anything between 50-60 miles. Also another key thing about this new course is the direction. The previous long course went all the way from Aubrey to the intersection of 1173 where the King's had their motor home. A mostly east-to-west course. Now the course is mainly a north-south course. That means, like yesterday, you're fighting a head wind for 25 miles. That makes for a lot of tired riders at the end and may increase the numbers that need to Sag. In fact of of our group had to Sag yesterday even though he had ridden that distance many times. Please take these comments constructively as a long time rider of your event and the good causes of the money raised.
Joe [surname omitted]
A few minutes after I received Joe's letter, I sent the following letter to Joe (but not, unbeknownst to him, to Mr Becker):
23 November 2008, 2:00 P.M. Mr Becker: I am a longtime "friend" of Joe [surname omitted], who wrote to you again this year to complain about the "long" course. I want you to know that Joe does not speak for the rest of us. Some of us are tough. Some of us actually enjoy the increased suffering of a 71-mile course. Please leave the course alone. If nothing else, it serves to keep wimpy people such as Joe, who hasn't trained properly this year, and who has to rely on his 12-year-old son for turbo power, from riding it. The fewer wimps there are on the course, the better for all concerned. Thank you for your time. By the way, yesterday's rally was my 16th in the past 20 years. I always thought that 58 miles was insulting to those of us who are in shape. Perhaps next year you can increase the distance to 81 miles, which would be respectful to the well-conditioned. kbj
With friends like me, who needs enemies?
