Club Run Riding: Complaint

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

What's this all about??? I've been an agreeable for 4 years and I've ridden nearly every CR since Feb - 16, 17 and 18 mph groups and I'v NEVER seen four abreast riding. The only argument that has any credence could be when we go up 'the steps' and things get a bit ragged. Sloppy riding? yes, sometimes - poor calling, not keeping directly behind the rear wheel, not keeping tight gaps, not keeping with your pair, too much free-wheeling, poor cornering, stalling when getting out of the saddle and braking suddenly without warning - but that should bother us not anyone else.

and sometimes we've had a bit of a go at a inconsiderate, impatient motorist when perhaps we should have risen above it - perhaps that's what they don't like?

sometimes even when we're riding neatly two abreast we still get shouted at to get in single file - perhaps that's what they don't like?

It's inevitable given how some people will find fault with cyclist whatever we do and it's inevitable we're going to be noticed given how big and yellow the club is.

anyway, I don't want to sound complacent, hopefull it might make us think about how we behave and look - up to all of us to ride with discipline and consideration to others especially when we're wearing the yellow shirt.

[steve felt]

The only time that i think addiscombe can look abit untidy and all over the road is on the return journey after everybody has regrouped at the church and then set off on masse. By that time and on that road there are lots of cars lots of cyclist and thats where ive seen 3/4 abreast and conflict with the cars.

[Phil H]

I'd echo steve's comment. Also sometimes groups returning via Box Hill don't maintain the perfect formation and aren't always regulation size. As a newbie, I don't know if the return journey is supposed to be as tight. Also when people pass me going up the steps, they go quite wide because I am quite wide.

We could ride all over the place, jump lights etc. and change the name to Addiscombe Dynamo ...

[Marcus]

I hope the term scum was said in jest otherwise I wouldn't give that person the time of day.

I can't say I have seen four abreast besides in the sprint or occasionally on the steps, usually for brief periods only when it is overtake or stop. I have never seen it causing other road users issues.

Otherwise I would echo Teach Jon's points which were well put.


[quote="Phil Hawkes"]We could ride all over the place, jump lights etc. and change the name to Addiscombe Dynamo ...

[Roy Green]

I only ride with the J4F, 15s or 16s groups. I have never seen anything other than well-positioned group riding. I can see that the temptations in faster groups are to bunch up but — avoid it!!

[Keith]

Toks, I've also heard on more than one occassion other riders speak negatively of Addiscombe's group riding skills.

I really wouldn't read too much into the 'scombe nickname. I regard it as a play on words, rather than an insult.

Regarding car drivers, since the club rides the same roads at the same time each week, the club convoy is likely to impact the same car drivers repeatedly - they too are creatures of habit. I have seen and heard of a fair amount of behaviour that doesn't endear us to drivers. I think that 99 considerate riders will be entirely overlooked by the actions of just 1 inconsiderate rider, and we're all likely to get tarred with the same Yellow, Black and White brush.

I appreciate we've a lot of riders and that cycling isn't risk free, but my feeling is that the club runs have far too many crashes. It seems to be a weekly feature of the CR write-up.

[Antloony]

Perhaps if the time keeping was of a higher standard the groups could be sent off with a little bit more time inbetween them. I think were up to a 9.30 average now before the TG gets away. Surprising how much more traffic there is at this time as apposed to 9.00.

Food for thought maybe? Though judging by the efforts in the past to get back in line with the advertised start time is nigh on impossible to get people there on time.

[jon avery]

leave at 9, if people aren't there then tough, they will soon start turning up when they should do, why should we have to wait whilst other people fancy an extra 20 mins in the sack, and yer you are right about the traffic (rant over)

[jon avery]

Apart from the alternative route,I'm sad to say I can't ever see the club changing the CR route.

[Dan_K]

[quote="jon avery"]leave at 9, if people aren't there then tough, they will soon start turning up when they should do, why should we have to wait whilst other people fancy an extra 20 mins in the sack, and yer you are right about the traffic (rant over)

[Amy]

OK, my twopence worth…

Timekeeping - yep, getting going as early as we can after 9am would help as Ant points out.

Discipline - I know people don't like being told what to do but we're a big club and we need to show the world how well we can ride in a tight disciplined group of two lines. This means you need to ride directly behind the wheel of the rider in front; if I get someone who tends to ride in the middle of the row/road then I tell them to get back in to the left because it pushes me out further into the line of traffic. We should be riding within a few inches of the wheel in front and practically rubbing shoulders with the rider next to us. Yes it does take a bit of getting used to and you need to gain the confidence to do that - and there are some people who I like riding behind less than others …But the more we do it the better we'll get. (If you go on one of Huw's bike skills courses, you'll learn that you can still ride while practically leaning on the next person's shoulder!) Oh and we need to ensure we obey the rule of the road to the letter

Route - well, there are alternatives available… And how about meeting at the top of Farthing Down In the summer at least…?

So basically we need to ensure that all riders, whether members or guests, ride according not only to the Highway Code but also to the club run protocol - so that means everyone needs to remind everyone else - it's not just up to the VCs!!

Huw, you were going to work on some 'reminder' cards of the CR rules - how they coming along?

[Steve W]

Why not organised Sunday rides for those riders who need the flexability on the weekends or others who just can't get enough?

They are usually informal affairs, but could be a way of reducing numbers on the roads on the busiest day being Saturday

Now the summer has finally arrived the numbers are only going to increase.

[quote="Keith"]Toks, I've also heard on more than one occassion other riders speak negatively of Addiscombe's group riding skills.

I really wouldn't read too much into the 'scombe nickname. I regard it as a play on words, rather than an insult.

Regarding car drivers, since the club rides the same roads at the same time each week, the club convoy is likely to impact the same car drivers repeatedly - they too are creatures of habit. I have seen and heard of a fair amount of behaviour that doesn't endear us to drivers. I think that 99 considerate riders will be entirely overlooked by the actions of just 1 inconsiderate rider, and we're all likely to get tarred with the same Yellow, Black and White brush.

I appreciate we've a lot of riders and that cycling isn't risk free, but my feeling is that the club runs have far too many crashes. It seems to be a weekly feature of the CR write-up.

[Dombo]

What looking after? I've even been dropped on the CR. Bunch of meanies

[Steve W]

[quote]like "you" [ generic you, not you specifically Steve] are still a kid