The very fact that there are listed speeds for the various rides
does tend to encourage some to aspire to a faster pace than is comfortable
for others in the group. A good leader will try to moderate the pace or
leave the renegades to forge ahead on their own.
The best organised groups have two leaders, one at the front, to
lead the way, the other a 'tail end charlie' to ensure no one gets dropped.
Regrettably, as with all organisations reliant on volunteers, there can
never be enough of the latter, and OBC is no exception. We are fortunate
indeed that we have two volunteers vying for the presidency.
The incident that triggered this whole discussion was, I suspect,
the article in the Citizen by Trent Edwards, in which he slammed the club
for riding in excess of the listed average speed, resulting in his being
dropped. I believe that he joined the ride as a $3 non-member.
This situation could have been avoided if there had been a 'tail end
charlie' in that group. Another approach would be to give everyone a map,
let individuals make their own way and povide a sag waggon to pick up
stragglers. Even this doesn't always work, as some riders learned to their
cost on the 2000 Rideau Lakes Ride. It can even happen to experienced club
riders - ask Sir James how he enjoyed dinner on Day 3 of this year's
Kennebunkport Ride.
Hopefully the enthusiasm we now see in the election process will
carry through into 2002. It will indeed be a bonus if for every vacant
volunteer position, we could find two candidates waiting at the door !
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 8:54 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [obc] Group Rides
>
> My experience riding is with the touring 1 and with the James' Tuesday
> night group. These areusually the same groups with the same leaders week
> after week, so they would know that I have a bit of trouble on the climbs.
>
>
> When the group would to go at a pace between 23 and 26km/hr, I would catch
> up within a km or two. But, when the touring 1 group goes at a pace
> between 27 and 29 km/hr,catching up after a climb becomes almost
> impossible. I'm able to ride at this pace, according to the Tuesday night
> rides, but only to the next uphill. Asa result, the Sunday rides turn out
> to be solo rides.
>
> Unfortunately, you can't legislate 'group' riding practices. Nobody can
> make a tourleader wait for slower climbers or keep the group within posted
> range for a givenspeed category or allow riders in the group to warm up at
> the start of a ride (i.e. go at a more casual pace for that first 15 km).
>
> Cheers,
> John Twemlow
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