In light of the first North American Cogal (a Cogal is a gathering of Velominati just like a Cabal was a gathering of Illuminati); this Guest Article by community lurker @gmoosh seems apropos. Except that obviously every ride starts at V past the hour. In this spirit, we have added Rule #87.
Message from the Keepers to @gmoosh, it is precisely V past Awesome; time to stop lurking and start sharing more of your undeniable insight into la Vie Velominatus with the community.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
Things that happen on time: Saturn V rocket launches. D-Day invasions. BBC time codes. Japanese Shinkansen. UCI time trials. Things that do not. Greyhound buses. Airline flights. Weddings. Work meetings.
There is an obvious, significant and qualitative difference between them. One class are demonstrable showcases of Rule #5. The other involve the mundane, forgettable and lamentable periods of time between such brilliance.
That is why the best rides, and, I would argue, every ride, should leave at exactly the stated time. If the ride is called for 7:30, it should leave at 7:30. Not 7:31. Not 7:29. Anyone arriving after the stated time of departure should see, far up the road, the Lycra-clad asses of Ones-Who-Take Riding-Seriously.
The upside of always leaving on time is considerable. Others will be late exactly once. You signal that the sanctity of this ride, like all rides, is not something with which you should muck. You demonstrate, not with words but with actions, your commitment. As a bonus, you make more time for post-ride espresso.
Conversely, if you’re not ready to roll at the announced time, you’re prove that in your feebly misplaced life, other things-sleeping, driving, talking to you spouse or even pumping your tires-are more important than The Ride. You are wrong. That’s why you are sprinting up the street like a domestique after a puncture, while everyone else is chatting with insouciance on the rollout far ahead of you.
Don’t believe that starting on time is important? Ask Pedro Delgado. In the 1989 Tour, he showed up 2:40 late to the opening prologue, accepted his fate and rocked as hard as he could. And lost the Tour, finishing third behind an aero-helmeted Greg Lemond, and a collapsed and crying Laurent Fignon.
It is worth mentioning that there is exactly one acceptable way to be late: Overtaking the leader of the group on the first significant hill in a casually deliberate display of the Five and Dime. If you can’t consistently do that, show up ready to roll, and roll when expected.
Discipline. Commitment. Punctuality. Three great tastes that taste great together.
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Also note the paradox of punctuality: The late bloke is generally single and free livin'. All the punctual riders are heavily obligated; spouse, kids, full-time employed while doing a PhD, renovating the bathroom and coaching the local footy team.
If you want something done, ask a busy person...
great point gmoosh
Time is an interesting thing with perhaps a little relativity to it, but punctuality is virtuous and unforgiving when not carried out. In that, my ride time starts at dawn +1 minute every day. What time, I am not sure as now I am losing 2 minutes to the ole man winter, but now punctuality is still required...to be ready and chomping at the bit like an incindiary dog ready to report for duty.
Now, as the sun is up, time becomes a necessity especially when groups are considered and races and events.
Take for instance the lack of punctuality in my last ride, by the organizers. I enrolled online, did the deed, showed up and they had no clue who I was, what was up, and by the time they dragged it out, redid everything, jacked off for 1/2 hour, I was late for the eschalon lead out and the 170k ride of the day. That my friends is how 'not to' organize and I recommend a beating and flogging for the organizer who is unable to rise to the occasion. I promise they will punctually deduct the ride fee from my account however.
I like the point that is well taken...discipline, commitment, punctuality...all good tastes indeed
A stint in the Marine Corps has impressed upon me the need for punctuality and the ex-wife demonstrated that habitual tardiness was an expression of one's self-importance. I am NEVER late for a ride and it mystifies me why if we said we were leaving at XX:XV o'clock we are not leaving at XX:XV o'clock.
Nice article.
Jaysus, what a virtuous bunch you lot are.....
I'm going to court soon following an attempt to get to a ride on time, following a double school run - next time he can play hockey without his hockeystick (driving offence, not assaulting a minor)
I try and be early (or exactly on time) for everything. Now, this doesn't come from something honorable, like Cyclops' stint in the Marines. Rather, I think it comes from not owning a car while I was in college, so I had to take the bus everywhere (school and work, where I was a retail manager and therefore couldn't be late).
And as every poor bastard that has ever relied the bus for primary transportation knows, to be on time you need to be EARLY, since you have no earthly idea if the bus will be late, run slow, break down, or whatever. If you live in Japan you can count on public transit to be on time. Here in the States, you may as well give it a +/- of 15 minutes.
Regardless, it now drives me up the freakin' wall to be late for things that have a defined start time, even those of little consequence.
Though ironically, I think I may have been late for my first ride with @Scaler911 a few months back by a few minutes, as I under-estimated the time it would take to ride over to our meeting place... oops!
Chapeau.
I pride myself on punctuality, and interpret tardiness in others as disrespect. I wish my club rides were more punctual, but c'est la guerre. That said, we all fuck up, and when I'm late for a ride, I expect to chase on or ride alone. Or if I know I'm going to be late, I'll ride to a later point so I can intercept the group. And here's a Rule 88 submission: If the ride starts and/or finishes less than 20km from home, no driving to and from. Ride to the start and ride home afterward; you'll arrive warmed up and ready to dish out the V, and have a nice spin home after coffee. Racing excepted.
@frank
When are we going to see a Cogal report?
@sgt
I think it's going up tomorrow.
@sgt
+1 to that nomination!
+1 to that
I laugh when someone pulls the bike off the rack and they live 5k away...whats with that...ok. off topic, but agreed
back to slammin