by
Tullio
Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:29 am
All,
I thought I'd add some comments from a slightly different viewpoint, although I feel less qualified to comment being only an occasional attendee.
1. People join clubs for a variety of reasons; social, common interest, a way of competing etc. Cycling has also got lots of fields now; TT, Roadracing, club riding, Sportif, MTB. It strikes me that if we want to increase membership, without trying to be all things to all men, we simply increase the coverage of activities in some way so people don't simply get the impression that to join in that have to race.
2. Personally speaking, I'm probably sitting somewhere near Steph's point of view. My serious competing days are long behind me by I still love challenges so I tend to ride for pleasure and aim for events throughout the year that I can train for (Sportifs, Audaxes and MTB events being my current favourite). I also love the club runs (when I do get out) as, like most cyclists, I prefer riding with others than alone.
3. I ride regularly with some fellow parents that are not in the club but would probably join if they weren't intimated slightly by the thought of racing. These are fit riders (1 did the Etape 2 years ago and they all completed the Etape Du Dales this year in good time) so presumably fit within our target audience. Like me though, full time jobs and full time kids tend to limit available time every week.
4. I tend to agree with Nick on the youth side of things. I'd love to get my lad into serious cycling but I'm finding more success by making it 'fun' at the moment but getting out MTBing. The thought of spending hours on a road bike holds little attraction for him but hopefully keeping his interest in cycling will give him the option to transition later, if he wants.
5. Regarding new members, how about appointing someone to concentrate on new members? There's lots that can be done to recruit, encourage and keep new members that often takes a low priority during peak racing season, and that could be why people feel slightly alienated and leave. I remember my first run with the club. I turned up at the square and was confronted by a fairly intimidating bunch and was largely ignored. Then everyone started heading off in different directions and I just followed someone that I thought I might keep up with. Luckily, I picked the right group I've been in enough clubs before to know cyclists can be an insular bunch at times. If I was a true novice I'm sure I wouldn't have come again. I only takes a smiling face and a quick explanation of what goes on to make you feel welcome (which Rob's very good at I must add) but if we had something targeted at new members like a welcome pack and got there phone number to call them when they got home to make sure they were OK it would just give a good first impression.
6. Speaking for Gill on the ladies side of things, she'd love to ride more but doesn't want to road race. She did the Lightwater MTB race at the weekend and rides with Kev occasionally, but always complains that she can't find like-mided women to cycle with. Perhaps making the club a little broader might naturally attract more of the fairer sex which will, in turn, make it more appealing for new female members.
I guess the points I'm trying to make are that there are a lot of 'serious' cyclists out there, some ride just for pleasure, some like to 'compete', but not necessarily race, and some are potential racing members. It could be that the club does just want to focus on being a racing club in which case most of the above is probably of little interest.
Enough for now.
Paul