Still feeling somewhat anxious over being slammed into by another bicyclist eight days ago, I am opting out of this Sunday’s Tour de Broward http://www.tourdebroward.com/ 100 km bike ride. I won’t even subject myself to the alternate 50 km ride.
Although physically capable of doing either the 100 km or the shorter 50 km, I have a great deal of reservations in regards to placing myself in the middle of an anticipated mass of 1500 crazed cyclists hell bent on riding from point A to point B as fast as they can. That, in itself, is lunacy.
And if I opted to stay near the end of the pack, I would then be subjecting myself to hordes of inexperienced bicyclists. It was an inexperienced bicyclist that caused me to crash eight days ago. No thank you!
Furthermore, we are not talking about riding along isolated roadways devoid of vehicular traffic. All avenues of travel this Sunday will be on roadways semi-clogged with motorists oblivious to cyclists, pedestrians or other earthly creatures moving about.
And as far as the advertised police escort is concerned, only the lead cyclists have the benefit of being escorted by a small brigade of motorcycle police officers. So if you are not traveling at an ultra-fast pace on your two-wheeler, you’re on your own the entire distance.
Putting my existing cautious demeanor aside for a moment, I recall being almost run down by speeding cyclists during the beginning of last year’s Tour de Broward. I also remember being nearly forced off the road by motorists when traveling south on Dykes Road near the end of the 100 km ride.
In conclusion, in my opinion, as well as the opinion of many others who have traveled on those particular roadways, the 50 km and the 100 km course may be horrendously hazardous to a cyclist’s health.
By the way, I have no qualms over paying for the ride and then opting out. That's my choice! The monies could not go to a better cause, Joe DiMaggio's Children Hospital in Hollywood, Florida USA.
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