The Cycliste Moderne, October 3, 2005

We find ourselves at the end of the season with much less news to discuss and analyze. As such, the Cycliste Moderne will be regularly published on Mondays with special editions if necessary to address breaking news.

Interbike

This last week was Interbike, the big annual cycling trade show in Las Vegas. Unfortunately the practice of law got in the way of going to Interbike again this year. Interbike is the place where you see stuff you cannot afford, stuff you will never use, and people you only read about.

In sad news, Allan Butler, who had a strong season on the Utah race circuit, was killed at Interbike when he was hit by a taxi that ran a red light on the Strip. Butler was a member of the Logan Race Club’s Healthy Choice team and had won the Utah Cycling Association’s season overall title for Cat 1-2.

Championship of Zurich

Sunday marked the 92nd Championship of Zurich. Moving to October from the place it has historically occupied in early August, this one day race has long favored strong riders who can climb and sprint. Sunday was no different as Quick.Step’s Paolo Bettini broke away to win by almost three minutes. More importantly, ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca finished fourth to all but tie up the first ProTour individual championship. Other than Davide Rebellin of Gerolsteiner, most of the other top 10 in the ProTour standings have finished their seasons. There are only two more ProTour races left this season and Di Luca has sown up the overall ProTour title.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

I read with amazement Neal Rogers’ Friday column at VeloNews.com regarding a new condominium development in Boulder, Colorado called “The Peleton.” The developer noted in its press release that it chose to name the project for the “main pack in a bike race” because “it is an analogy for people living together and working together.” Please.

As most of you know, I am a real estate attorney and represent a variety of commercial and residential developers. As you also know, I am of the firm belief that the homebuilding industry is driven entirely by demand, not by supply. Residential development occurs because there is a demand for housing. Residential development does not create demand for housing.

I like to think I am selective in my clients as there are many developers and builders that I will not represent, even though I have had the opportunity. However, it never ceases to amaze me how new developments get named and marketed.

I was on a long ride earlier this year with my occasional ride buddy, Tom Blair, as we rode through southwest Ada County. We discussed the stupid names that are given to subdivisions. Recognize that much of the subdivision naming process in Ada County, Idaho, is driven by the ultra narrow reading of Idaho law by the Ada County Engineer. According to the Ada County Engineer, every subdivision must be platted with an absolutely distinct name to avoid “confusion.” As such, you cannot have a “Cartwright Ranch” because there is a “Cartwright Canyon.” You cannot have a “St. Mary’s Crossing” because there is a “St. Maries Subdivision.” You cannot have a “Hobble Creek” because there is a “Hobbler Creek.” You cannot have a “Harris Ranch” because there is a “Harris Subdivision.” However, the platted name of a subdivision is not the name that the subdivision is marketed as. Thus you have subdivisions marketed as Cartwright Ranch, St. Mary’s Crossing, Hobble Creek and Harris Ranch. So marketing your subdivision with a stupid name is your own fault.

As Tom and I rode through Ada County, we passed theme and variation on Tuscany: Tuscany Forest, Tuscan Villa, Tuscany Lakes, Tuscan Hills, Tuscany Green, Tuscan Woods. The problem is that the areas being developed look nothing like Tuscany, nor do they evidence any familiarity with Tuscany, or any other similarities with Tuscany either. Apparently, the term "half way to Kuna" loosely translates as "Tuscan" in Idahoo. We did not see any of the great Tuscan cyclists out on that ride either.

How you can call a subdivision of faux Craftsman houses “Tuscany Villa” is beyond me. Similarly, subdivisions that are built out with faux Italian amenities but given a WASP name are the product of developers who are just creative enough to cause problems. Fortunately for them, the limits of their buyers’ international experience is the Fiesta Chicken at Applebees. If I am buying a house in a subdivision called Tuscan Villa, I expect my neighbor to be Mario Cippolini, not Joe Six Pack. If I am buying a house in a subdivision called Tuscany Hills, I expect my neighbor to have a garage full of Bianchis or Colnagos or Pinerellos, not ATVs. If I am buying a house in a subdivision called Tuscany Green, I expect my neighbor to invite me over for a fine dinner of pasta, not elk stakes or nachos.

Thus, people who buy in “The Peleton” are most likely going to be the type of people who are disappointed that the parking stalls are not big enough for them to park their Ford Expeditions and who will get upset when somebody brings their bike up on the elevator after a hard ride on a sloppy spring day.