It's a Club

[Keith]

A moment of your time please:

When we chose to join Addiscombe Cycling Club, we all paid a small membership fee. We weren't buying a service, we we're joining a club. The theory is that we all give a little, and consequently everybody gains a lot. Some do a lot; join the committee, organise events, arrange the kit that club members wear, lead group rides, for example. There's loads of things that people can choose to contribute to the club. One thing everybody can do is to help at one of the events.

I notice that Andrew really struggled at the recent Open 25 TT to get a couple of dozen helpers. This is out of a membership of around 300, I believe. To Andrew's credit, the event was a huge success; a quality field of riders. So many wanted to ride the ACC event that there was a reserve list, and people had to be turned away.

Now George is similarly struggling for helpers for the [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14472]Surrey League race[/url] in 9 days time.

Basically it's everyone's choice. Choose to give a little something to your club at one of the many events, or choose to just take.

[Amy]

Right behind you, Keith. Come one, folks - it's all part of being in a club and a fun part of it too

[Andrew G]

Couldn't agree more Keith, sadly for oh so many Addiscombe Cycling Club isn't a cycling club it's a club run.

The vast majority of all cycle sport in the UK is done by unpaid volunteers giving up a huge amount of time and energy.

Getting helpers for events should be the easy part that looks after itself in a club of 300+, sadly it is the hardest and most stressful part. If it wasn't for the few like yourself that contribute so much then Addiscombe would be a laughing stock through its inability to run events and having to cancel them through lack of helpers.

[Phil H]

For those not on the ACC Facebook, Paul Tunnell has said that, after 11 years, he doesn't want to run the road race again because of the hassle of getting people. This would be a great shame - it's a popular event and he's been doing a good job.

Just to lighten things up a bit, helping out at these events is normally quite good fun. With the evening handicap on the 16th, it's a lovely setting, a short lap so you get to see the riders many times and the handicap format makes watching the evolution of the race quite interesting. Marshalling isn't scary and there will be people on hand to explain what the drill is.

I know it can be tricky for those in that London to get down for weekday evenings it but there are other events. I am promoting the Open 10 on August 31st which is a Saturday afternoon event and easily rideable from Charlwood. I was looking at the trophy last night and there are names on it like Michael Hutchinson and Wouter Sybrandy. A couple of years ago we had Sean Yates. I need about 12 people for this.

[Iliya]

Last week I attended Dulwich Paragon Crystal Palace briefing. They had more people (marshals) at the briefing which was one week ahead of the race than we can get to turn up on a race day. Why are our members so dificult to engage, I don't understand.

[RachelB]

Maybe that's the problem, ACC being a Cycling Club, The rest are racing clubs! And what are they doing that Acc isn't?

I must admit the timing for me on the TT's is too early.. due to the fact I live in London. I would also be "terrified" of being left alone on a marshall point with a pack of expectant cyclist approching. Do people know what to expect? are people afraid? This needs to be looked at.

I do think these Racing Clubs are all about it - ( RACING ) - and its unfair to compare. BTW I have done one duty and not collected my fiver, and I dont want it either, so its not about the money. . More a mentality..

[Andrew G]

Maybe that's the problem, ACC being a Cycling Club, The rest are racing clubs! And what are they doing that Acc isn't?
Addiscombe and the rest ARE cycling clubs. A cycling club is not a club run that is only a small part of what a cycling club is and should be. Domestic cycle racing exists for one reason, cycling clubs running and riding in races. A club run is not a cycling club, if that's all that is cared about then it is no more than, if fact actually less than, a CTC section. A CTC section for example will also organise touring holidays etc. Wherever you look cycling in its many guises happens because people organise it, if people don't want to be part of a cycling club they shouldn't join one. They do sign up to the rules of one and the requirements of one when they sign their membership request.

I must admit the timing for me on the TT's is too early.. due to the fact I live in London. I would also be "terrified" of being left alone on a marshall point with a pack of expectant cyclist approching. Do people know what to expect? are people afraid? This needs to be looked at.
An event organiser should provide marshals and other helpers with the required info to not be abandoned not knowing what to do etc, either before or in a briefing on the day. For the 25 I sent everyone a marshal pack I created which should have answered questions and said to contact me if they had any, no-one did so I presume they were happy. A simple note to the organiser when volunteering that you are nervous and have never marshalled before and I, and indeed and other organiser, would put you with somone they know is an experienced marshal so you would have support. Organisers have a huge amount to do for quite a long time before the event, during, and after, so we need to be asked a question if people have them, we can't know what they are otehrwise.

I do think these Racing Clubs are all about it - ( RACING ) - and its unfair to compare. BTW I have done one duty and not collected my fiver, and I dont want it either, so its not about the money. . More a mentality..
As I said not an unfair comparisson at all. They (whoever they are, but any cycling club that isn't a specific sponsored race team) are not all about racing. Addiscombe nor any other club, Dulwich, Norwood Paragon, Old Ports, Redhill, etc etc etc are about more than one thing. They are not, or shouldn't be, just a club run in the same way they are not just a race organiser.

Re the fiver, this is a donation from the club and was introduced to try and get people to help where they weren't before but should not be a required to bribe people to help their club. It probably hasn't made any difference. As I said the organiser has a huge amount to do and chasing people around after the event to give them a fiver won't be top of the list. You may need some patience and a suitable moment to speak to the organiser, or ask before the event when they will be distributed.

The above isn't aimed at you Rachel but the coments needed addressing. Addiscombe Cycling Club is a cycling club not a club run...in theory.

[quote="RachelB"]Maybe that's the problem, ACC being a Cycling Club, The rest are racing clubs! And what are they doing that Acc isn't?

[Phil H]

Cross-posted with Andrew while messing around with formatting.

Sir Brad got his start in youth races at Herne Hill and Crystal Palace (maybe why he has trouble in the wet). So did Jo Rowsell. Addiscombe would've been amongst the clubs out there making these events possible. A future tour winner could be out there now.

[RachelB]

Gents, I still maintain this is an internal fault. No matter how uncomfortable some will find.

Woulter Sybander has been mentioned here, well he is of H&DW, Who I have ridden with on their CR ( Fabulous ), However it was obvious the CR was just an aside to all the other events they organise AND are obliged to marshal.
Their set up - meetings weekly are social events barbies etc,
CTC also have Many trophy events, not just the cycling holidays.
That's just an ignorant type cast. In the meantime, I'm available for any evenings events.
OK. Eg 10 Crystal Palace etc, July / August.

[RachelB]

Anyone else see that Marathon article where the poor marshal sent 75% of runners on WRONG Route? Poor guys did not know unlil they had finished race.... No wonder no one is coming forward ! For Marshall duties..that is!

[Andrew G]

I am not ignorant of CTC activities, I mentioned the touring holidays purely as an opposite to race organisation. I didn't mention the many other thing cycling clubs do either as that was not the particular topic.

Addiscombe members are also OBLIGED to marshal or help at an event, two if they are racing members. It is in the club rules that all members signed up to when they joined.

[RachelB]

Andrew, I never said that you personally were ignorant of CTC. It is a general remark.

As Iliya said, D.P & C.P had marshals running one week ahead, and ACC cannot get enough! So, why is that?
Do these other clubs attach a certain status to this role that ACC don't? The answer to this problem lies within itself. Simple.

[Bridget]

[quote]Also we will need people at Crystal Palace one Tuesday evening (July 30th?)

[Bridget]

[quote]As Iliya said, D.P & C.P had marshals running one week ahead, and ACC cannot get enough! So, why is that?