Goals for ACC

[Rob C]

Are there any, if not, then what should they be? Marco mentioned developing a section of female riders but what about a youth section and more structured help and support for those wishing to race or those that have already started? Perhaps more club rides throughout the week, guest speakers, an in house points trophy run throughout the year for the member that represents the club most frequently across all disciplines. Anyone else got thoughts about this? It seems that now is the time of year to focus on this kind of thing...

[Gavin]

midweek rides would be good perhaps a return of the infamous hilly wednesday rides with easier routes if required?

[Stu Merckx Man]

was there not some talk of getting an addiscombe chaingang going in the new year?

[Andrew G]

The hilly midweek ride would be good to start up again once it starts getting lighter in the evening. Preference for Wednesday or Thursday bearing in mind Palace/Hillingdon/Evening 10s are on Tuesdays.

The points trophy's a good idea, but I don't think it would automatically go to a training group rider Sean. If it's a combined effort of road races, TTs, Sportives then it would mix it up. I think it would need a bit of thought for the scoring though.

Suggestion to start the ball rolling:

1 point = Palace, Hillingdon, or other crit, or 10 mile TT.
2 pts = Surrey League / SERRL road race or similar, or 25 mile TT.
3 pts = 2 day road race, 50 mile TT, or up to 120km sportive.
5 pts = 3 day (or longer) road race, 100 mile TT, sportive 121km or longer.
10 pts = 12 hour TT or multi day sportive (Tour of Wessex, can't think of any others).

The only other thing to think about is when the scoring starts and finishes. No matter what they call it the hell of Ashdown is a reliability ride in January so shouldn't score points. I would have thought to base it around the main racing season so scoring starts from 1st March and your last points are scoered on 31st October.

[Dominic]

These all seem very race oriented goals for the club which is good because there are people that enjoy racing and will do it I believe regardless. Obviously there is the encouragment aspect as well.

However, there is a huge untapped resource in our club. Look at the club run. Surely there should be some sort of target to get the people who are out on the club run to do something different. It could be something as simple as a Sunday type ride. You know the type slower, sociable, couple of stops but if people had the time a longer ride in both miles and hours. I am sure that is a bar to some people trying something different. They are in the comfort zone and sometimes it is a very nice place Something like this could lead on when confidence grows to an audax event, a sportive or even racing!!!

However and this is just from my view point, possibly sometimes because I can be an ar$e. It doen't matter to me if there is a points system in place because it will not encourage me to do anything different. By that I mean, in a couple of years I might try road racing again, but that will be because I want to, if you see what I mean.

Sorry I seem to be rambling a bit here. It is little things to me like if somebody wants to start TTing and is thinking of entering one they could be put in touch with somebody who can talk them through what to do and even offer to meet up with them, take them there etc etc. Same for RR. It can be quite daunting and we have all been there

[Andrew G]

Dominic I was talking to John L a while ago and he was commenting on the fact that it can be a bit hit and miss with TTs knowing who's going to be where etc. I find the camaraderie over the tea and cake afterwards is fine but knew where he was coming from with this, and as you say it may not help or encourage a newcomer to TTing along to their first open event.

Once the CTT handbooks have come out I was planning on putting a sticky anchored to the top of the Racing section for TTs. I already have a very provisional schedule from the provisional listing I downloaded from the timetrialling forum so I'll do it this evening and put mine in so people can see the format I was was thinking along.

My idea is that you put a post up with your planned events schedule which you edit to add or remove events from as needed. This way people can see who's doing what and how many friendly faces in yellow will be there. It could also help if there is any targeting of team prizes or records.

With one reply per person it would keep it fairly simple and easily scanable. Anyone who fancies dipping their toes would also see who already did them and would know who to speak to on the CR for advice/support/a lift etc.