It’s a good-sized mixed-fitness crew with places to be, so everyone’s trying to balance being considerate to their friends with keeping the train choo-choo-chewing up the kilometers. We’re in a tight trail network, navigating a series of junctions, and my thoughts are elsewhere as my bike occupies a sliver of single-track sandwiched between the tires of the riders in front of me and behind.
Just around the bend up front, I hear a voice call out, “Trevor?” There’s an echo from somewhere behind, “Trevor!” Then the cycling centipede carries on forward, no other communication needed. As long as the person at the front knows they’re at the front, and the person at the back knows they’re at the back, it’s a solid system.
Hilariously, though, on this particular day, there’s not a person on the ride who has ever even met Trevor. Never mind having ridden with the fellow. For all they’re concerned, we might as well shout “Elvis,” or “Madonna,” or “Celine Dion!”
But we don’t. Trevor is the word, and the word is Trevor.
The basic system has been in place as long as I can remember. So, at least since last Tuesday. Ha. But we used to yell “Thumbs!” Or, when sight lines were good and it was daylight, the last person in the group would give a thumbs up when they were ready to roll.
Our crew at the time was riding a lot at night, and confirming such a visual signal was impossible. Or, rather, impossible without potentially flashing more than a few folks in the face with a light. So during the day, the physical thumbs up and at night a call and answer of “Thumbs?” and “Thumbs!“
What changed? Long story short, Trevor, a real person, used our ride system to put the hurt on some other folks in front of him, by simply ‘Thumbing’ them into the ground. Pedaling through an entire ride without a break. And so, a legend was born.
Anywho, I share this – apparently not for the first time, but 2019 was ages ago – because I have a dream that you and your crew will give it a try. Trevoring, that is; who knows, it might work for you?
A dream that one day I’ll be pulled over on a trail, taking a breather, sorting a mechanical, whatever. And on that day, a ride group comprised entirely of folks I don’t know will pull up. And when they’re all collected, the person at the front will gauge their collective readiness by calling out “Trevor?” And the person at the back will confirm the order for departure by hollering back, “Trevor!”
And it will be glorious.
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