Guest Article: Rule #9 Festivus

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• @Ron

  I'm on macbook and chrome and vimeo loads great, much better than youtube. Who knows?

  @Marcus

  You guys drank a lot more beer than those crazy dutch. Either ride seems nuts, theirs slightly more so. Moyston!

• @Gianni

  I would have needed to drink a lot more than that to start a ride in Europe in Winter. At night. In the rain.
  Nothing moist in Moyston right now.

• @V-olcano

  Well, someone is eventually going to be the prick that rains on this parade, so it may as well be me. I don't understand why riding a certain distance exempts one from the Rules. To my mind it does no such thing. Even self-supported, these chaps stopped along the way to feed themselves, negating any need for a bag. And there was an automobile with them. While I understand that the vehicle was used for filming, not support, it seems to me that the driver would not have been averse to stashing dry clothing and emergency supplies in the trunk/boot. Weather notwithstanding, why a YJA? And what's with the camelbak? (or was that a backpack?)

  Yes, it was an incredibly long ride. Yes, that is impressive, especially given the conditions. And yes, these men should be congratulated on their fortitude. I will not, however, excuse them their breaches of the Rules.

  These guys obviously weren't doing a sanctioned event.  However, if you do an ACP or RUSA sanctioned brevet (which are anywhere from 200-1500k) regulations require the use of reflective clothing and (gasp!) a reflective vest, and forbid the use of support vehicles except at widely spaced checkpoints.  Around here we follow the fucking rules, and that includes rules that are enforced by our governing bodies.

  Furthermore, here in the States we often ride in rural areas where one is frequently many hours' ride from the nearest resupply point, and where it is not unusual for the temperature to swing by 40F, necessitating more gear and fluids than can be carried in jersey pockets without looking like a lycra-clad camel, which is unaesthetic in the extreme.

  Thus, my suggestion of an amendment permitting a variance under certain circumstances where a lack of idiocy and a surfeit of V necessitates the breaking of existing rules.

• @antihero

  @V-olcano

  Well, someone is eventually going to be the prick that rains on this parade, so it may as well be me. I don't understand why riding a certain distance exempts one from the Rules. To my mind it does no such thing. Even self-supported, these chaps stopped along the way to feed themselves, negating any need for a bag. And there was an automobile with them. While I understand that the vehicle was used for filming, not support, it seems to me that the driver would not have been averse to stashing dry clothing and emergency supplies in the trunk/boot. Weather notwithstanding, why a YJA? And what's with the camelbak? (or was that a backpack?)

  Yes, it was an incredibly long ride. Yes, that is impressive, especially given the conditions. And yes, these men should be congratulated on their fortitude. I will not, however, excuse them their breaches of the Rules.

  These guys obviously weren't doing a sanctioned event. However, if you do an ACP or RUSA sanctioned brevet (which are anywhere from 200-1500k) regulations require the use of reflective clothing and (gasp!) a reflective vest, and forbid the use of support vehicles except at widely spaced checkpoints. Around here we follow the fucking rules, and that includes rules that are enforced by our governing bodies.

  Furthermore, here in the States we often ride in rural areas where one is frequently many hours' ride from the nearest resupply point, and where it is not unusual for the temperature to swing by 40F, necessitating more gear and fluids than can be carried in jersey pockets without looking like a lycra-clad camel, which is unaesthetic in the extreme.

  Thus, my suggestion of an amendment permitting a variance under certain circumstances where a lack of idiocy and a surfeit of V necessitates the breaking of existing rules.

  How about a rule that forbids fucking weirdo, beardy, sandalled events that require socialising with the sort of losers that'll eventually end up driving recumbents?

• @antihero it's called the Masturbation Principle. Look it up in the Lexicon and may I suggest you drop the faux attitude on following rules. Makes you sound like a wanker, which I am sure you are not.

• @Chris

  @antihero

  How about a rule that forbids fucking weirdo, beardy, sandalled events that require socialising with the sort of losers that'll eventually end up driving recumbents?

  You good sir win the prize for epic generalization of the day!

• @Beers

  @Chris

  @antihero

  How about a rule that forbids fucking weirdo, beardy, sandalled events that require socialising with the sort of losers that'll eventually end up driving recumbents?

  You good sir win the prize for epic generalization of the day!

  Yeah, I passed a recumbent this morning. Sandals, ponytail, YJA, flag and three tail lights, but she didn't have a beard.

• @antihero

  These guys obviously weren't doing a sanctioned event. However, if you do an ACP or RUSA sanctioned brevet (which are anywhere from 200-1500k) regulations require the use of reflective clothing and (gasp!) a reflective vest, and forbid the use of support vehicles except at widely spaced checkpoints. Around here we follow the fucking rules, and that includes rules that are enforced by our governing bodies.
  Furthermore, here in the States we often ride in rural areas where one is frequently many hours' ride from the nearest resupply point, and where it is not unusual for the temperature to swing by 40F, necessitating more gear and fluids than can be carried in jersey pockets without looking like a lycra-clad camel, which is unaesthetic in the extreme.

  Thus, my suggestion of an amendment permitting a variance under certain circumstances where a lack of idiocy and a surfeit of V necessitates the breaking of existing rules.

  First, yes, follow the rules of your sanctioning body, though if they differ from the Rules then someone has stopped paying proper attention.

  Second, you made my point for me - Strava is not a governing body. There was a vehicle involved that could ostensibly have been used for support. Even had the driver/filmmaker refused, these chaps were frequently in urbane enough environments to acquire water/food/other necessaries. These men were not here in the States, nor in rural enough areas to necessitate "more gear and fluids than can be carried in jersey pockets without looking like a lycra-clad camel."

  Lastly, @Marcus has pointed already to the Masturbation Principle.

• @Ron

  @Ron

  I need more friends like this!

  Now, to finish up the workday so I can watch this.

  RE: finishing up work so you can watch it ....    Please see Rule V

• Homer's Illiad  is but a trip to the corner store, pale and pitiful  next to this epic tale.  Well done gentlemen.  

  Chapeau doffed.