This always amazes me...

[RoadRaven]

I just had a big lecture with my eldest sons and their training friend (ages 17, 16 and 15).
They were out riding with me the other day and were doing handsfree stuff - eg how fast can you go handsfree.
When home I talked about how dumb and irresponsible that is, especially when in a group.

I said that if they they have to go handsfree during a ride (eg to stretch their back or take off a windbreaker) they must go to the back of the bunch. It is too easy - a gust of wind for example - to get blown into another cyclist.
I also said if they crashed handsfree, there was no way I was paying for replacement or mending of their bikes (my sons have expensive carbon GIANTs, thats alot of money they will have to find.

I never stop to eat - I carry what I think I'll need in my back pocket, and the only time I have stopped to refuel is because one of the women I train with prefers to stop to eat.

[Dianyla]

Oh, this post brought back memories for me!

When I was about 13 or so I was out on a ride with my dad. I was just getting into road riding and had been watching a little too many Tour videos and thinking it was just no big deal to take off a layer while riding. I had done a little hands-free sitting up and drinking water about once or twice and was feeling a wee bit overconfident in myself.

Halfway into the ride the morning clouds were burning off and my dad says "hey let's take off these jackets". Five seconds later he notices I've gone missing and looks back to see me on the ground, arms trapped inside my sweatshirt.