All infrastructure is a compromise, though; these and similar structures can make newer cyclists feel safer, getting them out on the road, and more cyclists out on the road makes it safer for all of us; even though I'm curmudgeonly and want to fight cars, sometimes this is better public policy.

It's not bad if there's no traffic, but during commuting hours it's better to be by the road and take the lane to pass. IMO this also is best for long, uninterrupted stretches, whereas if there are roads to turn on, the extra distance b/t cars and bikes creates more opportunities to not see bikes.

This is one of my favorites. That whole album, really (of course, the Tony Rice album, also).

(And for the record, we scare-caps "Harvard Swimming Boys" affectionately. Mostly. A few of them are alright.)

(I will not say, however, that we "[drink] less because of anxiety"; but maybe we skew more millennial. Or degenerate. Or whatever.)

In that case: for sure! Especially given their different... experiences... in the Olympics MTB and so on.

Also: "Ardennes boy" is maybe my new favorite moniker 😂

Similar trajectories for sure through. But even in the classics it's more of a Holy Week vs Ardennes thing, isn't it? Anyway – fun thing to ponder!

I mean, I'd really defer to your much deeper expertise!! But knee-jerk, yes: MvDP has never carried GC ambitions, whereas Pidcock has (or has had them thrust upon him). So despite the weirdness of the current era (i.e., Pogacar doing everything), they're not comparable, at least on the road, for me.

Sumo oranges and crabapples 🤷🏻‍♂️