Clifton CC

Just floating an idea for discussion - if it's a rubbish one please shoot it down!

Now that Kevin's social ride has become so popular that it has split into 2 or 3 rides each Saturday, and following on from Cath and Claire's earlier Saturday rides I wonder if there is any merit in having an earlier group - with say a 9-9:15 start.

The advantages would be:

A. There would be less of a crowd at the square at 10am

B. Starting earlier would leave more time for slightly longer rides using less familiar roads further afield. This would enable longer rides to be more steady than Howard's 'race' can sometimes be (no criticism here btw).

C. In winter the time spent in getting back in darkness with lights could be reduced

D. If people needed to get back early they could still get a few miles in before needing to head for home

The most obvious downside would be that an earlier start would disadvantage those who need to travel some distance to get to the square but assuming numbers hold up/increase there should still be enough riders to enable Kevin to allocate rides at the normal 10am for those not keen on the early start.

I'm sure there are other aspects I haven't thought of - responsibility for leading etc but if there is a demand I'm sure this could be made to work.

I think it would be a good idea just as long as it does not make the 10am groups have like super small groups, I like to go in groups with large numbers really 7+.

Even though I live around 12 miles away I like the earlier start at the weekend, there is less traffic too when coming through york compared to to an hour later as I have found out with the sunday rides.

I feel that with a cafe stop and everything else, a 60 miler can completely wipe out your afternoon whereas with a slightly earlier start then we could be back by 2-3.

Not to mention the fact that the week before last I accidentally turned up an hour early and would have liked a group to go out with then instead of having to go home and come back at 10

Rob_h wrote:I feel that with a cafe stop and everything else, a 60 miler can completely wipe out your afternoon whereas with a slightly earlier start then we could be back by 2-3.

Not to mention the fact that the week before last I accidentally turned up an hour early and would have liked a group to go out with then instead of having to go home and come back at 10

If I was on that saturday ride you proberbly would have seen me as I am usually there about 30mins to 1 hour early all the time

Kevins are the only 60 milers aint they? Saturday ride yesterday was about 80 miles on howards, 106 for me as I cycle 12 miles there and 12 miles back.

haha, no it was the saturday before last. Kevin's are normally about 60-70 yep, but I imagine you got back later than i did then. am definitely interested in the idea of earlier runs

Hi Dave,

Just to be perfectly clear about "Cath and Claire's earlier Saturday rides", they have in no way been a regular occurrence nor a club run alternative.

They have been a handful of rides, aimed at Cath & Claire's pace, to fit in with Cath & Claire's life, with the specific aim of getting Cath & Claire ready for their own personal challenge of the 180km Dales Grimpeur.

Kevin had been fully briefed of our aim and I purposely didn't advertise the rides on the Club forum, not wanting to take away numbers from the Saturday Club run nor wanting to setup anything permanent.

Whilst I can certainly understand the desire to start out earlier on rides, Dave, you are right to consider 'ride leader' for this group.

As a major beneficiary of Kevin's rides over many many years, I would attribute much of his success to the fact that Kevin is a most reliable attendee of ride Leader.

He always has a plan, he flexes that plan to the weakest rider and almost always compromises his own speed and perhaps planned destination for the enjoyment of others. There are few of us, with limited days portioned out to cycling, that could honestly say we would do that week in week out, year in year out for others.

So before I go on and knight 'Sir Kevin'.......whilst I think it is great to consider alternatives, be aware of the undertaking.

Eventually, poorly led and poorly managed rides become 'adhoc' and 'unreliable' eg. the Sat non-stop training ride. I'm not saying these don't happen anymore, but just that they happen 'sometimes' and there is no longer a defined plan that riders (and new riders) can rely on.

This then means that the Club can no longer reliably advertise a Sat morning training ride. It does not mean that riders don't meet up some Saturdays to do a training ride when they want to, of course.

I'm not criticising in any way. Supply & Demand means that rides and Club focus will constantly change. But it is something that we should remain aware of when advertising rides: Are they one off rides that suit 'me' at that time or are they going to be managed as a reliable weekly Club event.

In Sport
Claire

I rather like the 10am start on Saturday, as it allows some of the Saturday-type domestic things to be seen to before heading out. Like doing market shopping!

Equally importantly an earlier start will also mean that the Saturday 'sociable' riders will have to be 3 1/2 hours in the saddle before a lunch stop even at say 12.30! This is more like Sunday main clubride stuff, where the ride distances touch the 160km mark, not suitable for the 'beginners and improvers' class.

My vote is strongly to stick with 10am, but if the power boys want to get going sooner that's fine, but don't mix this with the regular reliable social ride programme. Claire has spoken wisely.