Club run 18/09 - now a general discussion of the club run...

[Paul H]

Bare in mind the people who want change (for change's sake?) are the ones who are going to be more vocal. The ones who are have no issues with the current CRs and regime are less likely to comment.

There has been alternative rides going out on Saturday for quite a while now but the normal ride still seems far more popular so guess the majority are happy with the consistency of where they are going and when they will get back. We are not the only large club who do the same rides (London Dynamo & Rotherham Steve's club?).

I note that there are a number of 2nd claim members that come out with us who could go out with their own clubs but seem to prefer ours.

[Alex P]

Paul I agree with you, there is a large number of people who like the standard route else they would not turn up and go on them (or drink the coffee at Charlwood). I also agree that we need variety as well, either via the Pete S rides or a number of standard routes that are rotated. I think as a club we can support all of the above as long as people step up and be counted.

If we get a new Captain then that person will need all the [color=#FF0000]consistent [/color]support that they can get, not the odd ride here and there. We will also need good communication between the VCs and Captain to organise these rides else it will end up a chimps tea party every Saturday and that is when accidents will happen.

All great ideas, now lets make it happen....

(sorry about that, soap box now broken up and burnt)

[Amy]

I have to say I love all these ideas coming out. Please keep them coming, irrespective of who's Captain

The more people willing to help the better, though I think a core of VCs who are out fairly consistently would be good. Tbh Monty specified that VCs only need to come out at least 12 times a year (preferably on a fairly regularly basis of one a month)

Alex, it was decided to use the forum (a private part) for VCs to post if they were coming out or not and what they intended doing so hopefully we'll avoid the chimp's tea party. Though if it's a different ride then I hope they'll post on the general forum too. And to meet for 9am at CSS in order to discuss and organise things on the day as well as assess who's out and welcome newbees.

[Dombo]

JUst a point of mild interest: a friend of mine is looking to buy a road bike; I suggested he come out with us but he politely declined as he already knows from other clubs that we do the same CR each week. Apparently it is a source of some amusement among Redhill, Norwood, Dulwich etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOGAAlHzF4o

Perhaps we are a bit too parochial also

[Paul H]

[quote]JUst a point of mild interest: a friend of mine is looking to buy a road bike; I suggested he come out with us but he politely declined as he already knows from other clubs that we do the same CR each week. Apparently it is a source of some amusement among Redhill, Norwood, Dulwich etc.

[Amy]

Now if we can translate what we do on the club run to Charlwood that keeps people coming out on to other routes... I think one of the reasons why people come out is because we do have a dedicated team of VCs to look after people, you can ride with a group of people at your speed and we tend NOT to lose newcomers. Smaller clubs tend to be of the same high standard and full of racing boys and anyone trying to come out with them when they're not at the same level of fitness, tend to get dropped and left.

The Kingston Wheelers and the SWRC though seem to have groups of different levels going out to different destinations. In fact, I was talking to my old friend and work colleague who's in the Wheelers and he said they've now got over 300 members

If we do go for different places, perhaps the groups should be of a broader speed remit with regroups on tops of hill and the usual ACC code of conduct

[quote="Paul H"][quote]JUst a point of mild interest: a friend of mine is looking to buy a road bike; I suggested he come out with us but he politely declined as he already knows from other clubs that we do the same CR each week. Apparently it is a source of some amusement among Redhill, Norwood, Dulwich etc.

[Phil H]

At the moment, we've got a choice of speeds - which is good. Now, if we were to be able to add a choice of routes and even a choice of distances (some of us fancy an all-dayer from time to time) it would be better.

There are obviously some issues there - it requires coordination between VCs during the week before to decide who is taking which speed group where. It would be nice if us plebs were told before Saturday as well so we know how long we're likely to be out.

It might be easiest to achieve this by slowly adding more "standard routes". A few clubs seem to have 4 or 5 destinations that they rotate between and that seems to work.

This is just a newbie thinking out loud. Feel free to disregard.

[Mulberry]

Ummmm, I'm not saying anything.

Marcus

[Dombo]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]

This is just a newbie thinking out loud. Feel free to disregard.

[Rob Q]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]
This is just a newbie thinking out loud. Feel free to disregard.

[Antloony]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]At the moment, we've got a choice of speeds - which is good. Now, if we were to be able to add a choice of routes and even a choice of distances (some of us fancy an all-dayer from time to time) it would be better.

There are obviously some issues there - it requires coordination between VCs during the week before to decide who is taking which speed group where. It would be nice if us plebs were told before Saturday as well so we know how long we're likely to be out.

It might be easiest to achieve this by slowly adding more "standard routes". A few clubs seem to have 4 or 5 destinations that they rotate between and that seems to work.

This is just a newbie thinking out loud. Feel free to disregard.

[quote="Antloony"][quote="Phil Hawkes"]At the moment, we've got a choice of speeds - which is good. Now, if we were to be able to add a choice of routes and even a choice of distances (some of us fancy an all-dayer from time to time) it would be better.

There are obviously some issues there - it requires coordination between VCs during the week before to decide who is taking which speed group where. It would be nice if us plebs were told before Saturday as well so we know how long we're likely to be out.

It might be easiest to achieve this by slowly adding more "standard routes". A few clubs seem to have 4 or 5 destinations that they rotate between and that seems to work.

This is just a newbie thinking out loud. Feel free to disregard.

[quote]
"Dombo"

I see your "How to win over potential new club members" course went well.

[Paul H]

[quote="Mulberry"]Ummmm, I'm not saying anything.

Marcus