I have never been much of a joiner.  You might even say that I am a bit of a loner, a rebel and at times purposefully do not like to run with the crowd.  If everyone is going one way I will go the other. Adhering to group rules has never been my forte.

I can remember getting in trouble early on playing on the JV basketball team in high school.  While everyone else was quietly listening to the coaches while running drills, I of course was being a wise guy and cracking jokes.  That did not go over well with the coach and I almost got canned!  Joking about things is one of the ways I deal with stress.

Later on in life about age thirty I got this idea to start an Internet service for Cayuga County.  Of course everyone told me I was crazy because there was almost no technology here.  Me being me and all I went against the crowd and did it anyway.  It was moderately successful at the time but more importantly it launched me into a consulting career that has paid the bills for twenty-five years.

So with all of that as a background, how exactly did I get so involved with the HERD?  I ask myself that quite often.  I was trying apparently with no success to stay low key and to participate only in non-official ways.  For example I help sweep with many group rides but have never had the official red beacon which suites me just fine.  Somehow though I have become involved.

The first thing that happened is that I was invited to join the Herd Leaders group.   I have no idea how or why.  It might be that I talk too much, tell too many jokes and came up with too many nick names for other Herd Leaders like “Your Royal Bikeness”. We also have people that have only one name like LeBron or Michael or Prince.  In the Herd we have Marius.

Before I knew it I was riding lead as the official yellow beacon part time on a Thursday ride.  Dave Turner you finally got me!

I have met a lot of nice people along the way via many Discord and phone conversations.  If there was ever a group to get involved with if you are a rebel like me, then the Herd may be the one for you.  Everyone here is as strange, unique and wonderful as you and I!

So, get involved!  Learn how to sweep.  Shadow the yellow beacon.  Make friends.  You may also get tapped on the back and be asked to help out in various ways to make this wonderful group function as well as it does.