Rob Wilt
Ever hear anyone say that? "The good old days!" Well the fact is some of those were good and some were bad, just like today. But people tend to remember what they want to remember, so they remember the good. Mostly.
Anyway, some things are much better than they used to be in the good 'ole' days. For instance, nowadays you can have your hip replaced with a titanium and polyethylene prosthesis if the original equipment gets too damaged to walk on. Couldn't do that in the good old days, would have had to spend the golden years tooling around in a wheelchair (and not an electric one either). So the new days is gooder than the old days, some ways.
Anyway, computers! I think computers are great, I think everyone should have one and eventually I'm sure everyone will. The amazing thing is that for $1000 or even less you can get a computer that connects you to the WORLD. Notice I say that in capital letters. That's how big this is. If you don't have a computer, you don't know what you are missing, literally.
Here's an analogy. Imagine that you had never ridden a bike, that you had only watched others ride by. With no experience on a bike it would be easy to ignore and dismiss the experience as frivolous, worthless, absent of any real joy (don't laugh, take a look at all those joyless people driving by, glaring at you from their cars). But if you get on that bike and you feel that trickle of sweat sneaking down the center of your spine, feel the wind ripple across your skin, the surge of youthful energy, the pure joy of tuning in to the WORLD, then you cannot dismiss it, nor would you ever want to.
A computer with a hookup to the Internet (the web, the net) whatever you want to call it, is a window to that big WORLD out there. It's yours for the taking and you should take it. It may never get your endorphin levels going like a fast bike ride, but it can pump your brain.
Now I say this without embarrassment, The Gainesville Cycling Club has one of the finest bike home pages on the web! You need to check it out. We have a fine newsletter, but our newsletter absorbs a large part of our club's money with publication and mailing. In spite of this cost we cannot afford to put color pictures in the newsletter, but check out the color pictures on the web site. Lost your newsletter, but wish you could read that article again, check out the archives on the web site. Wanted to show your friend a Linda McMahon' cartoon from a couple of newsletters back, you'll find it archived on the web site. Wanted that friend in Sweden to read our St. Marks article, but can't stand to spend eight dollars to send it there, email them the home page address and they can check it out for themselves with their computer. And what does all this capability cost the club? Almost nothing!
And then there is the Florida Bicycle Touring Calendar. A comprehensive listing of all the bike events all over Florida, Georgia, and Alabama with LINKS to the associated home page of every bike event that has a home page. And if you can't find the information you need from that, they all include an email address to someone who will answer your other questions. All for free.
And email! Ask Bill Boyett (Slider Leader) if email has been useful in the continuation of the Sliders rides. The Group Mail that the club has access to makes it easy for a ride leader to put out the word in short order when things have to change suddenly, and without having to make twenty-five telephone calls. Can't do that with a newsletter, and certainly not for free.
If you don't have a computer yet you are missing the ride. Check out the story line coming in from Mark Fuller as he crosses the United States on his bike, now available on the web site with color pictures! Check out the pics from our cub members who rode TOSRV. And much more to come.
And speaking of money (see how I sneaked that in), the club's big event, The Horse Farm Hundred, is coming up October 4th (see the section about it on the web site). We can't get the computer to do this job. We need flesh and blood volunteers to help with a myriad of tasks on and preceding that big day. Come on out and help your club. Give Roger Pierce a call or email him and let him know you want to help out. It's lots more fun than it is work.
See you on the road and on the web.
Following winds, my friends
Rob Wilt