Watching some historical newsreels of previous races, I'm
always amazed at the stupidity, or whatever you call it,
among the spectators in the race. Several spectacular
crashes were caused by camera hounds standing in the
course, jumping out in front of the leader, and juking back
into the crowd
- in some cases, the rider would have avoided them had they
just stayed put, but them jump right in front of the
evasion attempt.
In addition you have all the motorcycles, passing and barely
missing riders, support cars coming dangerously close. Not
only that, but all the exhaust fumes and noise. You'd think
the riders would be telling the organizers to keep the
buggers in line and out of the way of the riders.
Don't know if the riders like it but you see people
dashing out and throwing something liquid (hopefully
water) on riders.
(Yesterday I'm riding in the park and a guy with a hiking
stick sees me enter the parking lot. He stands around for at
least 20 seconds, dwaddling near his car, and as I turn
around, walks over to the narrow entrance. Then he stops and
appears to be looking at a nearby bulletin board as I head
for the entrance. Then -just- as I'm about to go through the
2-3 ft wide gate, he _leaps_ to the side like a deranged
jackrabbit bit by a snake and goes right in front of me.
Fortunately, he's not -quite- fast enough to cause a
collision as I say 'look out!'. The guy had to be 60 y.o.,
and has probably never moved that fast in his life. Sheesh -
it's always something. Amazing how the peds will see you
coming and just stand there like paralyzed deer, or do
something stupid.)
Wonder who in the tour this year will succumb to some
grandma swinging a purse around? ;-p
-Badger