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General Category => General Banter => Topic started by: tk on July 27, 2013, 11:42:52 AM
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There were only two of us on the Hooky Tuesday ride this week. We only had two on my Summer Solstice ride. I don't see that many participated in the Rockton BBQ ride. So are rides too long? Too short? Go in the wrong direction for people?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I'm not seeing many rides posted this season. I know Jon and Mark seem to be missing in action and they organized rides often (Frontier ride, Ely run etc.). Still there are a lot of seasoned riders capable of organizing and posting a ride now and then. If you have been on this forum awhile you might remember a time when we had rides posted for five days in a row.
Any suggestions for getting more rides posted would be appreciated.
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I lead a ride every Sunday--no point posting it up though, far too many underskilled and unsafe riders on this forum I don't want along..
It is about time they are forced to do more than play follow the leader and let someone else do all the work.
Lets see some of those people take on the burden of organizing rides for awhile.
If good riders want to join me they can PM me, email me or text me.
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IMO the biggest contributor to ride/rider counts being down this season is the weather. Seems to me wx was the biggest single factor that had me say "nah" when it came time to commit (throw a leg over and head down the street) to either the Solstice or BBQ rides. The weather hasn't been very cooperative at all this riding season, late start, crummy weekends seem to have been the rule, rather than the exception this season, including a couple just too damn hot. Fortunately, the weather, similar to group dynamics, is cyclical, and I'd imagine both will swing back towards "normal" without outside intervention.
The couple of rides I have posted up were very short notice (breaks in the weather), so it is understandable that no one could make the under-3-hours to KSU from the time they were posted.
Other than weather, I don't think the forum/group is doing anything wrong, speaking for myself. Workload has any thoughts of playing hooky right out the window, so no weekday rides work for me, at least this season.
Well OK, there is one thing that would make rides a bit more appealing for me...later starts. I know the "typical" start time of between 8-9AM has evolved for many reasons, but again, just for me, Nelson is 2+ hours away, which means leave home at 6AM. For the record, I get up at about 7AM on weekdays ??? so 0530 on a weekend isn't ideal, but I'm setting an alarm for tomorrow morning's Tri-State. Hope it isn't snowing in the AM :o, I've been hoping all day today to get that new rear tire scuffed in, but geez, the wx just aint cooperating!
Regards,
+Wade
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Mister
I think I am one of the underskilled riders you speak of, but I do try to ride safe and within my comfort zone. The ride I went to was a great route, and the guys there where all really nice. I enjoyed watching how they rode. Very inspiring to watch a line of bikes in the curves from the back. I felt like I held the group back some, although they all said no. They waited for me at the corners, made sure I knew where we where going, and the guy ahead of me always kept in sight- Thanks Joel.
While I appreciate the opportunity to join the group, my preference is for a much more relaxed pace. I guess I am more on the touring side of sport touring. Explains why I like my C14 so much.
I will continue to ride at my own comfort level. If the opportunity comes that a more relaxed pace ride matches up with my schedule, I'll be there. I may even try to put something together to invite the group to at some point. For now I think it is best that I stick to learning- After al,l I have only been back on a bike for just over a year, since I was a teenager... a long time ago.
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It's been sparse on my weekday rides too-just 2 of us on 7/11. I'll probably post the August ride next week and maybe you can make that one TK. ::)
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Waiting for my PM! My whole riding season is in the pits. Where is my PM??
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Group ride leaders are just hard to find, I'd say.
It takes a lot of work, and it is very often thankless (even open to criticizing).
That's my experience, at least. Except for leading my DS rides... those are always fun and very much appreciated. But dirt bike people are always happier than sport bike people. LOL
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Mister
I think I am one of the underskilled riders you speak of, but I do try to ride safe and within my comfort zone.
I would fit this category as well and don't go very fast. If you'd like to ride together sometime I'm great for slower paced rides and I know lots of good roads. Just pm me if you're interested.
TK the group rides seem to be down this season even on the other forums. It was a late start season due to weather but seems like lately things are picking up a bit. More ride leaders would certainly help but so many are afraid to do it. I lead a couple rides last season and personally I don't mind leading rides but don't anymore simply because others bitch I go too slow. And when I've offered newbie/slow paced rides I just don't get any interest.
Leading rides isn't hard but takes some planning and commitment. So maybe trying to get some others to step out of their comfort zone and do it would help get more rides going. Perhaps get some of the current leaders to take another rider under their wing and help them lead their first ride? That's how I got comfortable being up front was riding alongside Vince like we were both leading. Additionally, the same person doesn't have to lead the entire ride. We went on that group ride Sat. and 4 of the 5 bikes took turns being the leader so no one person had the burden on them the entire time and that seemed to work very well. Just a couple thoughts.
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I think we need more cave rides. ;)
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Lloyd showed me some roads on Sunday we could steal them from him for a new way there.
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" We went on that group ride Sat. and 4 of the 5 bikes took turns being the leader so no one person had the burden on them the entire time and that seemed to work very well."
I agree. Greg and I have been encouraging this for a long time.
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Lloyd showed me some roads on Sunday we could steal them from him for a new way there.
(http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/forum/smileyvault-stirthepot.gif) (http://www.smileyvault.com/)
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In my opinion and situation, it is weather and work related. Squeezing in a "fun" ride for me around Overtime and Family Stuff means no time for pre rides, printed route sheets or waiting for late people who show up with a tank on fumes. I suspect many of us are working hard to keep ourselves employed.
That said, the regular ride leaders deserve a break. If you are on a ride and know a section of the roads, let the leader know ahead of time that you can lead that section. It gives them a break from being on point.
I often switch leading and following on my rides with friends. It helps to keep the pace and it fights off boredom.
A benefit of leading is that you don't get shelled with rocks from the tire of the guy in front of you :-)
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A benefit of leading is that you don't get shelled with rocks from the tire of the guy in front of you :-)
Looks like someone is following a little to close.
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Had 2 along last Thursday but 3 weeks earlier was a solo. Went on several CDRs but tired of their craziness. Missed Blind Lizard,only made 2 1st Thursdays. May do a leaf color ride in the hills but am not sure due to 3 "BAMBI CLOSE ENCOUNTERS" this year. I know work and general economics impact a lot of folks riding schedules. 1stThursday looks wet and days are getting shorter so the long rides may be over.
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Group ride leaders are just hard to find, I'd say.
It takes a lot of work, and it is very often thankless (even open to criticizing).
So many people ask me at bike nights and events, "oh so you must like leading routes doing rides huh?" well no not really, but if I don't lead no one else will. lol
It kinda sucks because there are so many people that know great routes and rides but just don't wanna step up and lead or are too busy to get out. The few rides I've done with other people leading this year (TK's ride a weekend or two ago to get taco pizza and TWISTAR and a few other's here and there) were great rides and we had a lot of fun riding some new roads. I wish we could do more.
And then you get certain people like Guzzi john who leads routes during random times of the week day when the rest of the world is at work and doing all that nonsense.
Jeff