Divvy Bikes Will Be Used In Chicago Triathlon
By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 14, 2014 3:30PM
File this under “what the hell?” The Emanuel administration announced over the weekend that 100 Divvy bikes would be available to participants of this summer’s Transamerica Chicago Triathlon.
The bikes will be located in a special corral called the “Divvy Wave” allowing triathletes of all skill levels the chance to ride the pedal-powered tanks along the 10 kilometer SuperSprint bike course portion of the race. Participants of the August 24 event at Montrose Beach will also swim 375 meters and run 2.5 kilometers. Divvy staff will ensure the bikes are race-ready.
Emanuel said, "Divvy isn't just a convenient and fast way to get around the city, it's also fun and good for you. This new Divvy Wave will allow people to try out the sport of triathlon, and compete with one another in a fun way."
First, who in the hell would want to participate in a triathlon on a Divvy bike? Those things have proven popular since the program’s launch last summer and are good for civic morale. But they take a bit of effort to get a head some speed going; anyone looking to set a personal course record riding a Divvy may be delusional.
Second, who would register for a triathlon and not own a bike? The Tribune writes “triathletes who don’t own bikes are no longer at a disadvantage in Chicago.” Triathletes who don’t own bikes may want to reconsider registering for the race. What triathlete, of any skill level, doesn’t own a bike?
This is more of the overselling of a program that already proved popular from the moment it launched. If you’re looking to participate in a triathlon, you don’t need a Divvy.