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Archive for September 4, 2016

HPG Velo Saturday ride reinforces HPG Rules of Disorder

HPGers –

The ride this morning, once we got to Concord, exemplified and serves to reinforce the four fundamental HPG Rules of Disorder (ROD as in “Spare the ROD and spoil the cyclist”):

  1. RULE ONE: There shall be no agreement on where we shall meet for the ride start
  • Most of us agreed to meet at Peet’s at 8am
  • But for reasons known only to Giuseppe, he and he alone wanted to meet at Weston center
  • Ergo – the 14 Peet’s originated cyclists detoured to meet solo Giuseppe with no complaints or bickering

RULE TWO: There shall be no agreement on where we are going once we do not agree on where we shall meet for the ride start

  • Some wanted to go to to Hollis
  • Some were going to Carlisle
  • Some were going to do Carlisle ‘expanded’

RULE THREE: There shall be no agreement on who is going where once do not agree on where we are going and where we shall meet for the ride start

  • With three routes in mind, we all went up Monument together
  • Which was good until we got on Rt. 225
  • Then some of us turned right for Carlisle ‘expanded’
  • Some went straight to continue to Fern’s to go to Hollis
  • Some went straight even though they had meant to turn right

RULE FOUR: There shall be no agreement on how to reorganize once there is no agreement on who is going where and where we are going and where we shall meet for the ride start

  • Some who turned right decided to turn around and chase down to bring back those whom they thought meant to turn right but had not
  • Some stopped to wait – thinking we would regroup by default
  • Some continued on to the beaver dam to wait there with no plan in mind
  • Minutes ticked by. Then more minutes.

RULES OF DISORDER OUTCOME: With no agreement on how to reorganize once there is no agreement on who is going where and where we are going and where we shall meet for the ride start, everything will work according to the plan which we didn’t make in the first place

  • Steve, Thom and I bailed out and went to Fern’s to have a coffee.
  • As we were about to leave, figuring everyone would eventually get back to Peet’s on their own or in small groups, the entire Carlisle group had somehow reassembled and rode by.
  • Thom and Steve joined them, and I went back to Cambridge on 225.

Rides like this are invaluable since they serve to reinforce the fundamental HPG Rules of Disorder. Great ride!

John

September 4, 2016 | Categories: Discussions...& Endless Debate | Leave a comment