 |
| #BUSC2014 |
So by now it's actually been a few weeks since the Brompton US Championship. I started writing it up right after the big race, but it's been a hectic couple of weeks so I hadn't had the chance to finish up. Plus there was so much to write about!
- My First Social Ride: A Day at the Races - I finally go on a social ride
- Race Festivities - I try (and mostly fail) to stay cool
- The Race Itself: A Spectator's Perspective - I have fun with my camera settings
After the cut, a series of mini-posts about the above.
My First Social Ride: A Day at the Races
I have been scoping out the
BicycleSPACE social rides for a while, but I had never actually been on one. I like social rides in theory, but I mostly prefer to go on rides with D, and I'm not a big fan of chit-chat with strangers. But it seemed like the perfect opportunity--a Brompton-themed ride, plus a way to get to the race! So off I went, and there's even photographic proof:
I enjoyed myself, of course. Moderately-paced city rides are my thing, and I'd never been to the U.S. Capitol before, despite living here for a year-and-a-half now. It was also nice just to ride along and not worry about getting lost, just following the dude carting around the big speaker. I only had to deal with a couple of awkward chat moments, which I could live with. I got a chance to have a conversation with a Brompton dealer as well; he even knew what store I had gotten my bike when I told him what city I found it in.
 |
I think the whole time we were on this street,
I didn't notice the Capitol in the background |
One thing I wish I picked up better was the conventions of a social ride. I don't know if they explain these things beforehand because I got to the meet-up a little late. I gathered that there are ride marshals who escort the group through the city. However, anybody can point out potholes or other obstructions in the road. I'm still figuring out the etiquette of riding with others, and how to deal with people riding closer to me than I'm comfortable with.
Anyway, I may go again in the future, but I think I would only enjoy it more if I went with D or brought a friend.
Observation: Social rides are moderately acceptable forms of communal interaction for cagey introverts such as myself, because 1) there's a readily available topic of discussion, i.e. bikes and how awesome riding a bike is, and 2) there are many opportunities to ride quickly away from a conversation that are perfectly acceptable in the context, like a pothole or an impending red light.
Race Festivities
I wasn't at the race to race, so I mostly wandered the vendor tents trying to stay cool. That was actually the most memorable part of the whole day (besides the race): the heat and humidity. In fact, it was so hot that the race sponsors decided to
make an exception to the standard rules, and allow riders to go without a suit coat.
 |
| Tents for BicycleSPACE, Clever hood |
I tried to combat the heat with my grandmother's fan, a mango popsicle, and a lot of water--thank goodness BicycleSPACE was a good host and had tons of water available for free. They even had recycling bins for all the plastic bottles we inevitably went through.
 |
| My grandma's fan |
|
 |
| Mango popsicle |
|
It was so hot and sunny out that I got a sunburn on my nose and the top of my lip, even though I tried to prepare ahead of time and slather my face with sunscreen. It probably didn't help that I ended the day with an unplanned ride of undetermined length--I guess that's what happens when you indiscriminately follow around the bike with the streamers attached (in my defense, I was just trying to get home).
Observation: There comes a point when you are so uncomfortable that you no longer care how you look. I know this because I've found all sorts of pictures of myself looking distinctly rumpled, and not giving a crap.
The Race Itself: A Spectator's Perspective
I don't think the race was organized with spectators in mind, but I'm still glad I went. I scoped out a good spot, right by the table where the timekeepers (?) set up shop at the
Start/Finish line.
 |
| My bike with the timekeepers |
I had a good vantage point to watch the beginning of the race, and I could also track riders as they completed their laps and crossed the finish line.
 |
| And they're off! |
|
 |
| First one out of the gates |
|
Since there wasn't a good way to actually watch the entire race, I decided to entertain myself during quiet periods by testing out the sports/action setting on the camera that D got me last year. This was really only during the first lap: the field spread itself out pretty quickly as the race went on, so that a steady stream of people passed us spectators by the time they were on their second lap. Because of
the way the course was designed, people actually went by our area twice during each lap, and I started to recognize specific racers. Actually, I recognized the guy from NYCeWheels before the race, because D had me watch
their Brompton video several times before we got our bikes:
 |
| NYCeWheels guy eventually got Men's 3rd Place |
There were other riders who made for memorable "characters." I didn't necessarily get great individual pictures from my sport/action setting, but I got a multiple series of photos that were good for
making animated gifs. Here's a couple, though I actually have a few more I was too lazy to animate (maybe I'll post them somewhere):
 |
| Lady with the pink veil |
 |
| Lady with the royal wave |
I also got "photo finish" type pictures from the end of the race, but I already tweeted those so I'll just link to them:
Anyway, I'm glad I watched the race the year, though I think it would be more fun to actually ride. Maybe next year? I thought I heard someone at the race say that they try to hold the race in the same city two years in a row...
Observation: Clipless pedals on a Brompton amuse me.
No comments:
Post a Comment