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Monday, April 26, 2010

Volunteering on 300K


Volunteering was a great experience, though my only 'repair' was giving Mike D an M5 cap screw and washer to replace one that had vibrated out of his front rack. As I covered the last 60K in the rain and darkness (checking on rider progress), it gave me a better idea of what shows up to motorists. Taillights are critical - the more the better. I agree with the RUSA requirement of a reflective vest or sash, but they are not that effective due to the fact that light doesn't reflect too well (back to the motorist) off a surface that is not perpendicular to the ground, and randonneurs don't ride sitting bolt upright. They work for traffic patrolmen because those people are standing or walking, not leaning over a bike. The reflective leg bands and safety triangles mounted vertically on the back of a rack pack are excellent.

Congratulations to everyone who rode and it was great to meet some new people. Photos can be seen here


6 comments:

  1. Biker Bob!

    That cap screw and washer made all the difference. I think they made my bike faster -- that and those great cookies. Thanks for volunteering, your efforts were truly appreciated.

    See you soon on the road.

    Mike / Raleigh
    Research Trailer Park

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  2. I better add that the assistance was all legit and legal - it took place at an official control and there are witnesses! So tough luck, those who were looking for an excuse to DQ Mike!

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  3. Bob - I am on the NC Rando list-serve yahoo forum thingy as "skiffrun at yahoo dot com". I apparently deleted the recent e-mail(s) from you, and can't figure out how to "figure out" your e-mail address just from looking at the feed of the yahoo thingy.

    So ... in addition to linking to your blog posts to get permalinks to excellent photos, there is one photo in particular I would like to "borrow".

    My blog is more for my usual cycling suspects, er, partners than it is for the rando world (though rando world readers are certainly welcome), so ... photos of me where I don't look totally spent are at a premium.

    Follow my icon / ID and I'm confident you will find my blog. It isn't always only about me.

    ...Martin

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  4. Hi Bob -- many many thanks for your work this past Saturday. Your cookies and rice crispies were the only thing that tasted good -- after all the usual cycling fuel stuff. JayJay clued me into eating that mustard and dang it worked -- although eventually it dorked my stomach. But that wasn't until I was about to hit the pillow...See you next time.

    --sridhar

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  5. Biker Bob!

    Thanks for volunteering. Sure was great seeing you in Snow Camp. Thanks for the cleaner that removed the chain grease from my hands. I ate one of the cookies right then and there and tucked the other one away in the eventuality that my appetite might suffer. Luckily it didn't. But I ate the cookie anyway.

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  6. Thanks again, Deane and Bob!

    Your observations about people's visibility in the dark (and rain) are really important. Can you send them around to the ncrandon mailing list, too?

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