I agree with the idea of a slower group but not less distance. As mentioned before - we can handle the distance but the race snakes kill us on pace. Wednesday - it was a tail wind and downhill all the way to silos - so of course all feel strong and go like hell - but the return into the wind - and those bl@@dy hills at full speed - eish. We were going to make our own night group after wednesday - but from other replies - it appears a slower group is required by a few others too - so it would be great if we could get this working better. My views on the Group ride We have many riders who want the distance but not the elite race pace. [With no race snakes, somebody still needs to do the up- front work (into wind etc.) and if the riders are 99% wannabes and wheel suckers the group goes super slow – i.e. they must really be fit enough] It appears that there may be a shorter time/distance requirement for some newbie / limit time riders / etc. So, we need 3 groups. [how/can organizers manage 3 groups re routes/backup vehicle?] It is a problem when the 1 group joins or waits for the other - i.e. join slower with faster riders - because they all take off at full speed again - dropping the slower guys - and instead of two groups we have chaos murder death kill. [how do we stop riders joining another group – i.e. slower trying to hang on to another group?] There are always guys who are in the race snake category who go ride in a slower group and push the pace too hard (!@#$%)– and worse, splits up the group too much and in the second half of the ride they just do their own thing and ride away from the others - some guys desperately hang on but eventually it’s a long split group with murder death kill at the tail end. [How do we keep these snsofbtchs in control ?] If the groups start only 15 min apart they catch the earlier group too soon. [Probably not practical to split the depart times further – not many can start earlier than 6 pm (it’s a race from work to ride location) – and will the race snakes start later – say 7pm ? [Get home too late, wife, girlfriend, anger, your food is ‘in the dog’, murder death kill.] It is too problematic to try and arrange the times so that all the groups rejoin at a point along the route – the split times are too short. [let’s forget deliberately trying to join along the route] Cyclists think only of themselves. They don’t like rules and being told when to wait, when to slow down, when to work in a group. [All who want to join in the Wednesday rides must be told it is on condition that they are team players – not individuals who do their own thing. The organizers go to great trouble and sacrifice to assist with their safety and support. If they don’t follow the group rules they are not welcome to join in. Example: - if they break a chain, nobody helps or waits and they get mugged or run over on their walk home they will want to accuse the organizers. If you want to join the group, you join the rules.] So, the suggestion:- (although I am documenting it, my impression is that this is basically along the original ideas and thoughts of the organizer – the Big C himself ) Before the start (and in web rides notifications) • All Riders must know that they individually have a group commitment if they want to join the Wednesday parade. • If riders are not prepared to ride by the rules, they are not welcome. • If they find they are in the wrong group (example too slow for them) they can work more into the wind and ….Tough Sh!t, they can change next week. The Groups 6 .00 pm “Short Snort” - 25/30 km for “novice or time limited” riders 6.15 pm – “Determined Donners” - 40/50+ km for slower “iron baldies with boeps” and so on. 6.30 pm “Race Snakes” - 40/50+ km for the “main manne what counts” AND the Group Control (1) A Group Captain must be appointed for each group. The group Captain (and helper if available) will basically:- • Wear a clear ‘marker’ – best would be a “neon safety vest” over their cycle top. • Identify himself to the group before start. • Brief group on their commitment (to stay together), route and pace • Be responsible to keep the group together. • Set the general pace • Tell riders were to regroup (i.e. if some race up / down hills etc.) • Wait for the group at intervals/regroup points, and confirms all present. • Monitor (slows pace) when guys fall behind at stops/traffic lights etc. AND (2) Groups must be kept Separate• Groups must not stop at the same place at the same time • If another group catches up – they must pass – no riders swopping groups. Phew !....
