I have seen a few things lately which made me think about this more. One was Jay Petervary's recent experience at an ultra-distance bike packing event where the event was called off due to weather and maybe some other circumstances. Another was a comment, which I reference in the podcast episode, about a rider wishing to explore a road off the group's GPS route files and the group not wanting to veer off their prescribed course.
There are a couple of other examples I've seen lately making me feel as though we are losing our will to risk a little bit for adventure, exploration, and to stretch ourselves both mentally and physically. For myself, I find it all disappointing and disheartening.
Of course, safety is a thing we are all concerned with. Unreasonable risks are to be avoided. However; at what point do we say that tying our ride strictly to a GPS route, (not a race event) with no other options to - you know - have some fun, is a bad thing? Is dealing with adversity in weather, equipment, or mental/physical states to be avoided at all costs, or do we explore the fringes of those areas to stretch ourselves a bit past our "Comfort Zones"?
And questions. What about asking questions? It means you have to "engage your brain" and maybe people are just too lazy to think things through anymore. It seems that way when some folks won't even think to go somewhere to ride without a "route" that has been sanitized and made so popular that there are "heat maps" guiding you to choosing those routes.
Personally I get excited when I am not quite sure where I am at. I kind of like having to think through my next moves. I don't mind taking a road if it is something I've (a) never been on before or (b) something that looks interesting. Yes- I've ended up in places which were not ideal, but then you get to solve more puzzles, and afterward I have a great feeling of having been 'alive' and having to work through things mentally and physically is a blessing, in my opinion.
Following a beeping gps file is about as vanilla as it gets, if you want to know my opinion on gps routes. But I get it. You don't have to think about the next turn. Your waypoints lead you to resupplies without having to consider much. Easy.
Easy but not very challenging.
But you do you. This all is just my take on how I like rides to go.
If you follow turn-by-turn directions carefully you'll know that you'll reach the endpoint. But you'll never know where you are, where you're going, where you've been, or where you might have been had you not been following directions.
ReplyDeleteHaving a gps route can make people more comfortable to try the
ReplyDeletetraditional roadie "shoot the wounded" go fast ride.
After you are dropped, the gps means you can get home.
Unless I’m riding in an event, I stay away from turn by turn directions. I like getting a little lost. Being able to figure my way out of a situation is a good exercise. I can always “find myself” using technology if I get too lost, but I fear I may never find myself if I don’t at least try.
ReplyDeleteThis subject is so close to my heart as a forever traveling cyclotourist. Lines are cool to follow if your situation dictates it. It's the tourist or bikepackers who clearly have flexability denying themself a wrong or rather long turn that cause frustraighton. I also find vanilla suggestions come from bicycle shops. Then I'll ask what about this River Rd, there's always a River Rd, and get a response like: oh, that road isn't paved or it's rough. I throw my hands up. What's wrong with it?
ReplyDeleteI just spent 100 miles going the long way off a course thru WV. Best and worse times. Worse being robbed by a deputy of all my money. This happens more than I care to admit since the QNon/*AGA rave started, but never in WV. I refuse to accept this time being a race thing. More akin to having a poverty mindset and targeting the slowest moving thing a tourist tax, $1600 gone, gone. I could have thrown in the towel. Luckily a friend sent me a bit of cash to PayPal, obviously not anywhere near that amount which I have been pinching from over the last few weeks. To the best moment being over taken by a bunch of super loving dogs in the middle of nowhere. I had stopped to check the download GIS map after climbing a ridiculous hill. I heard a dog bark. I didn't look until a million barking dogs sounded. They were a group of 20 stand at a distance. I get off the bike to lay on the ground. Don't do this as an amateur dog lover. They all came running over with licks and nozzels. The owner couldn't stop laughing. He could only see a bike and dogs. Another long turn took me to a bar at 7am where a guy was on beer #3. Lots of random directions were given. Despite having very little money, I left him with 2 chips for additional beer. Now in crossing Ohio, I am purposely shadowing a line off by a few miles. Yes, it's cold out here. Go get lost.
@teamdarb - You, Sir, are a legend. Be well out there.
Delete