If You Can't Beat 'em, Cheat 'em

Perception is reality. I heard this over and over, like a reminder, a discovery, an Effingham nuisance. While I appreciate the concept, I did not spend four emotionally exhausting hours in therapy expunging that imaginary box just to jump back in.

Perception affects the outcome of reality, but only reality IS reality. RAAM is reality on steroids. The behaviors you are accustomed to controlling seep out in semi-consciousness. Biker beware.

Case in point. The Surfer Boys were all set to win at well over 20mph. And although it may appear that east of Ole Miss AW4F was well ahead of TSH, this was not reality, or was it? What exactly IS real? Please define ‘is’.

Illinois, Ohio, WVA, Annapolis Maryland. Ahead, in front, beating, first. And yet behind. Not making sense? Now, you’re following. Here’s the scoop, or my best attempt at it.

Back in maybe Illinois ( I can’t be sure the stats indicate no deviation), rumor has it the Surfer boys got aggressive and ran into TSH’s van. TSH stayed to fill out an accident report for breaking another rider’s ankle, how sweet. To the best of my knowledge nothing was filed about breaking anyone’s pride.

It appears, and tends to reason, their rider rode on. THE STATS INDICATE NO DEVIATION. The Surfer boys, collecting their surf boards and road tattered egos, ditched the bikes and abandoned their Gucci tour bus (if we had only known).

They may have fared well in Chillicothe where the streets became rivers. The expert parking of one skilled Arvee driver put AW4F under protection at a closed gas station and beside a 24 hour joint(I get that now). Where again, we ran into TSH and found out the truth about the rumored ran over cyclist.

Somewhere around this point one TSH rider came to one AW4F rider and explained the position of our teams. “We are in different divisions, how ‘bout letting us go ahead of you?”

“Yeah, no, we are not interested in functioning like that,” said the competitive German.

Lo and behold just before Maryland we learned of an interesting development. TSH was awarded a 50 minute credit. For hitting another rider? It appears to be true, our perceptuous bubble poppeth.

And although it also appears to be true that we crossed the finish line afore them, perception is indeed NOT reality. Hit a Rider, Get a Credit. On what page was that rule again?