Imagine a scenario where our Air Force is economically bankrupt from repeated Mid East operations, but still required to go in to Baghdad for the 637th time to threaten the communications infrastructure there as a warning to Saddam to play nice. A maverick Air Force Lt. comes up with a brainstorm for the limited budget and assembles a crack team of former Stealth F-117 pilots to ride bikes into town at night after parachuting to the city limits from a DC-3 borrowed from a friendly third world nation. Their mission; to plant radio-detonated niobium nukes near government buildings under the cover of darkness. The bikes are not ordinary, they are flat black, with all the shiny gears and bits covered, all reflectors gone, no lights. The pilots (cyclists) are not ordinary either. All will wear black clothes, black gloves, black balaclavas, everything dark and non-reflective, all have excellent night vision allowing them, almost, to see in the dark. In effect they will be 'stealth' cyclists. These are all brave men, volunteers for what has been deemed a 'suicide' mission. "If the Iraqi troops don't get ya', the Baghdad traffic will!", cautions the Lt. to warn off the weak.
Why have I blown the cover on this top secret military mission so vital to our country's well being? Because its so very real! Every night I see those brave men out training right here in Gainesville on our city streets. Barely see them would be more accurate, their camouflage is so effective. I have lost count of the number of times I have nearly bounced one of these brave stealth men in black with my car. I know that these cyclists are not GCC members because they rarely have helmets and I know GCCers are far too smart to ride a bike without wearing a helmet. I also know that no GCCer is inclined to ride at night without lights, reflectors and light colored clothing, because no GCCer is training for a 'suicide' mission. And finally, I know that all GCCers understand that it is their 'mission' to make themselves as visible as possible so that people in cars (who we know are not our enemies) can see them and avoid 'taking them out'.
So when you see the Stealth guys out training, stop them and thank them for their selfless sacrifice, but as civilians, lets not try to emulate them. Safe night riding.
Following winds, my friends.
Rob Wilt