‘In a road bicycle race, the peloton (from French, originally meaning ‘platoon’) is the main group or pack of riders. Riders in a group save energy by riding close (drafting or slipstreaming) near (particularly behind) other riders.’

A while back I tried to write a balanced and fair article about cyclists in the Hills. Trying to demonstrate that drivers and riders alike should be mindful of each other and the shared road space. Well its goes to say with this article that I have changed my mind. After a certain nerve bending encounter with a peloton of lyrca clad yahoos, I no longer have a lot of empathy or understanding for this type.

Sunday morning driving down Burwood Highway from Kallista I encountered this posse of racers, riding in a collective of around 20 bikes. Speeding along defying every and any road rule, as they changed positions in the group, they showed little if no concern for the safety of the community. I tried to politely stay behind them in the hope that they would offer the same courtesy of moving to the left and allowing me to pass. No such luck. Each time I tried to pass them, at below the speed limit, one would pull out in front of the car more interested in the thrill of the downhill ride than those around them or any motorist on the road. At best this shows a narcissistic need for attention, at the very worse a pathological death wish. If I actually accidentally hit one of them with my car not only would their lives be potentially changed forever, but mine most certainly would.  I eventually had to pull off the road at Tecoma to give them a head start. After about five minutes I drove all the way down the Highway to Vermont. I never did catch up with them.

Too much money, not enough sense.