Quote Originally Posted by Nanci
I think going too fast limits people, too. They don't have time to stop to see one of the largest oaks in Florida and take a picture of their bike by it. They don't have time to help a Three-Striped Musk Turtle across a busy road. They don't have time to watch a family of baby alligators. They don't have time to look up and down the River Styx and spot a white heron. They don't know where to find the restroom key at Tim's Fast Nickel. They don't stop for scenic group pictures along the way. All those speedy A and B riders- most of them aren't training for racing, maybe they just want to be REALLY fast for the annual Century, maybe they have to get home to do chores, maybe they just enjoy the limited field of view of the rider ahead's butt- good for them, go go go, but they are missing out on the _pleasure_ of riding a bike from one good thing to the next.
Nanci, I love you.

This being said, I am starting to understand the other side of the story too. Dear Partner (quoted ahead as competitive triathlete) is an uphill speed junkie. He's in med school right now and has had to decide not to compete this year. You know what he misses most? "Being fit." I can't believe it (as he is extremely fit even when he claims he's not), but it's true. He gets high on feeling extremely fit, and competing is his way to make that level of fitness happen.

Riding together at a common pace is of course difficult. We've decided we'd do a long but "slow" (for him - think 25 kmh or 15 mph average - because I get quite a workout out of it) but long (again it's relative, only 100-130 km, which for you Nanci would be a shorty... ) ride on hilly terrain together on the weekend, and stop for lunch, pictures, etc. He carries the camera and I have given him a pictures "quota" to fill: 5 shots an hour at least. He hits the hills hard and waits for me at the top to take a picture of my sweaty self when I eventually get there. Others could be offended by this, but I find it cute, and it entertains him while he waits for me. I let him drop me except on flats with a headwind, in which case I'll ask for his protection and ride at a happy 35 km/h + enjoying the view of his bum. Sometimes at the end of the day he'll be tired enough that I'll even get to take a few pulls.

He's also very supportive of my involvement in the sport, and loves seeing me smiling my way through every ride.

All this to say that I now understand why someone would want to go very fast, and have hard time going slow. He still struggles with the "touring" mode, but he is finding it enjoyable, he's very proud of his pictures of deers, and I'm sure he'd be happy to rescue the occasional turtle if he'd have a chance. But that didn't come spontaneously to him, he has to learn it, just as I would have to learn to work my way up faster. Who would have known ?

Eventually we'll get him a heavier touring bike and maybe a trailer with a couple of kids in it, that should slow him down. In the meantime, we can't afford any of these!!!