Autumn/Winter Club Runs

[Helen]

I thought I would beat Rob to it this week and start a general discussion

Thinking about organising the club runs for the next couple of months
I wondered who would be doing them and what sort of rides would they want to do and who would be available to lead them.

I think there are 3 options (I know I'm a fan of lists)

Try and keep an organised club run going of on Sunday.
If this is to happen I need people to come forward to lead rides.
There are (after 12/10) 11 sundays untill the end of the year and another 9 to March. I will be able to do about 1 in 3 of those.

Ad-Hoc option of simply meeting up on a Sunday for a ride.
It would be best to make sure we change the contact details if that's the case to insure nobody,especially a newcomer,turns up expecting a ride and nobody is there.

My other thought was to run it on a Saturday
There are not that many people who want a longer ride especially in the winter so we could form 1 group and Saturday is a more popular day.
I would suggest meeting at the square at 9:30am. If,on hearing the destination or feeling the group will be a bit faster than wanted you can opt to shelter in the gallery cafe and join in 1 of the Saturday rides.

Another idea was to plan in a once month away from York ride.
Copying the mtb gang the idea would be to share lifts and head out for a ride. Good places to start from include Catterick and Dalby.

So what do you think ?

Helen

[Dr Dave]

Sundays are out for me anyway for the next 8 months (son's rugby season). Regarding rides on Saturdays I'd have thought that a 9:30 Saturday ride will more or less duplicate 'Howard's ride' and resembles an idea I raised some months ago. At that time a few objections were raised, mostly relating to the knock-on effect on Kevin's rides and so the idea was shelved but ? now may be a good time to revisit it.

Is it worth taking soundings from Kevin/Howard and some of the 'Howard's ride' regulars and see if the idea of an earlier, slightly longer ride has legs?

[Arthur]

I'm planning on riding Howard's rides every other week from now on (long story), and 10am seems to work very well.

At least over the winter, it's hard to see what would be different about having an extra ride at 9.30. In summer it might make sense to have a longer ride starting earlier.

The odd ride starting away from York would be good. Make a nice change and I'd try and make an effort to make some of these, either sat or sun.

[dave c]

My view is:

Saturday rides are covered. Howards ride more or less covers same riders and pace and time if set off at 10 in winter.

A third of Sunday rides are covered by Helen, maybe other people can lead some of them, I would be able to do some.

There are maybe some people who can only do Sundays.

I prefer to bike from home.


Dave

[Dr Dave]

The idea of rides starting away does seem to be a good one. Not sure what the old-time purists would say though. Could the train be any use - say Northallerton, Darlington etc? Could leave York early am and get a good ride in, either back to York or return to starting point and return by train.

[Arthur]

Dave - train has always been a no-go in the past because you can't get enough bikes on a train.

[Rob]

I thought I would beat Rob to it this week and start a general discussion

Ahh Helen, you need to be more controversial to really get the juices flowing!!

Seriously though, I'll be out most Sundays and can lead when/if required. But it would be good to get a few others to plan some interesting routes. Personally I'd like to keep things in the 70-90mile range with a one-stop strategy, but I'll go with the flow.

R

[HowardD]

I too can't see the point of having another Saturday ride leaving half an hour before "my" one, only to do a very similar distance/pace (most of the Saturday "faster social" rides are 70 - 100 miles with one cafe stop).

So I suggest we have one ride of this sort only on a Saturday and that it leaves the square at 10am. I'm happy to plan and lead it but have no objections whatsoever to someone else organizing it from time to time.

Tomorrow, we shall be doing the Cockayne loop clockwise and lunching at Nunnington. Distance approx 85 miles. All welcome!

[paulM]

I should be out Sundays as Cath normally does a ride on Saturday. Will be happy to lead rides anytime & would be looking for a mid afternoon return so back before dark.

[MarkA]

To me autumn winter = club run time.

I am slightly biased though as it was the Sunday runs that got me back into cycling a few years ago when we had a really good bunch of regulars.

I sensed some of that spirit in the square last Sunday when a mix of old and new riders formed up in good order and set off at sociable pace.

If we can keep that going i think it would be great! But appreciate it needs volunteers.

Happy to do what i can to help but will be struggling to commit a whole day more than say once a month.

What i will do is try to make as many Sundays as possible in the square and offer to take responsibility for anyone who cannot make a day of it or any new riders who may be bit nervous about full day. Maybe set out with the group and at some time head back in time for lunch. 3 hours ish in total.

Hopefully once a month I will be able to make it for the full day though

[Helen]

Thanks for the feedback

Going by your feedback I shall be able to put out a runs lists for Sundays.
Your offer to turn up when you can't be out all day is really helpful Mark and is something I may do myself.

I will put on away day towards the end of October and see who comes along.

Good to have a chat about routes and the inclusion of local audax events

Helen