Row, Row, Row Your Bike

This is so wrong . . ..

If you've seen the rowing races at the London Olympics, you probably have wondered who those guys riding on bicycles along the water's edge are.  They're the coaches of the rowers, calling out to them on what to do and how to do it as they follow them.  They're pedaling at least as fast as their rowers are rowing, and they're trying to keep up with them . . . all while making sure they don't hit a bump or lose their balance.  The coaches are trying to pay attention to where they're going even while looking out on the water to look after their athletes and record their split times.

So . . . why don't the coaches get cycling medals?

Come on! They deserve medals! Some of those coaches have actually crashed while looking after their rowers.  One coach from Canada actually ended up in the bushes - twice! They've screamed themselves hoarse so the rowers can hear them.  This is a freakin' endurance run for them.  I understand that BMW, who's sponsoring the Games, supplies the bicycles. Well, do the coaches at least get to keep the bicycles? Even if their rowers don't get a medal?  Because if you're going to put Olympic rowing coaches through all that - and risk a few ending up in a hedge - a Bimmer bike would be a nice souvenir to bring home.

Now if only you can figure out how to get them home . . . I guess you gotta ship them via UPS, because they'll never let you on the plane with a bicycle.

If there's a cyclist in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed, then . . . it's just the head coach for the Dutch team. :-D