[nnc-list] 2007 Ride Season

Mon Feb 5 07:17:56 EST 2007

Hello everyone,

A majority of the responses that I received in respect to the ride start 
time preferred an earlier start time.  So we will continue with the early 
start times.  During early spring and late fall we may opt for later start 
times due to the cooler weather.

Thanks,

Donald

>From: "Donald Mitchell" <dlmitchell71 at hotmail.com>
>To: nnc-list at northernneckcycling.org
>CC: brown at keyisp.com, fletchersfixit at keyisp.com, jwarren at kaballero.com, 
>dlmitchell71 at hotmail.com
>Subject: RE: 2007 Ride Season
>Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:41:13 -0500
>
>Hello everyone,
>
>Thanks for all of the good responses.  Steve Reiss sent me a detailed write 
>up based on his experience with the Potomac Peddlers and Oxen Hill Bike 
>clubs.  His response pretty much summed up all of the other responses.  
>Here is a revised ride plan based on all of the good responses that I 
>received:
>
>1.	We will have rides on Sunday only.  If the interest is there then we 
>will extend the rides to Saturday.  A majority of the responses that I 
>received suggested combining the rides into one.  That will give all riders 
>the opportunity to work their way up to a faster pace.
>2.	I like the idea of having the post-ride snack once a month.  This will 
>alleviate the hassle of having snacks every week.  Steve Reiss even 
>volunteered to have the post-ride snacks at his home.
>3.	The main route will be 30 – 40 miles.  The route will offer 
>opportunities for riders to do a shorter distance.  If a group of riders 
>decide to go longer then they will decide on a route on ride day.
>4.	Those who wish to form a pace line can do so at anytime during the ride.
>5.	We will require two ride leaders.  One ride leader will guide the faster 
>riders and another will guide the social ride group and ensure that no one 
>gets left behind.
>
>Steve Reiss suggested a later start time of maybe 9:00.  What do you all 
>think?  Are you comfortable with the 7:30 – 8:00 start time or would you be 
>more likely to ride if the start time was around 9:00?
>
>I have included Steve Reiss’ response below for your information.  Steve 
>really gave some good feedback and I think he has a lot of experience that 
>we can use in our ride group:
>
><<
>I have finally just completed my move to Irvington from NoVA and look 
>forward to riding with group more often this year.
>
>While living in Alexandria many of my cycling weekends have been with the 
>Potomac Peddlers and Oxen Hill Bike clubs so my comments are based 
>primarily on my experience with their group rides.
>
>It appears that your two suggested groups are comparable to "CC" riders for 
>the shorter distances and "BB-A" for the longer rides.
>
>I would offer a slight variation to the two different rides. I would 
>suggest that we have rides on both Saturday and Sunday, both open to all 
>riders. Each ride should be, on a average, 50-60 miles, a manageable 
>distance for most "CC" riders and long enough for a good "A" ride. On 
>occasion you may want to increase the mileage to a metric century or 
>possibly a full century. Perhaps the routes could be set up so that someone 
>wanting a shorter distance could cut off from the group at some point.
>
>The "A" riders could form their pace line at any point on either day and 
>complete the ride at a faster pace. The "C" riders would have rest stops as 
>you suggested. This approach would allow riders to ride with either group 
>on any day.  This would also allow the "CC" riders to train up to ride a 
>pace line at some point during the year while the "A" riders may want a 
>pace line ride one day and a recovery ride the next. This approach would 
>require two ride leaders. One to ride with the "A" group and another to 
>ride sweep for the "C" riders.
>
>I like the idea of having a hybrid/mountain ride every so often.
>
>I know ride start times are difficult to agree upon but, for me, the start 
>times of 7:30/8:00 seems too early, except in extreme heat or humidity 
>days. I would think that a 9:00 start time on both days might bring more 
>riders out.
>
>The social time after the Sunday rides is a great idea and I'd be happy to 
>volunteer my house during the year. Having the whole group ride the same 
>route, even at different paces, would further the social aspect of the 
>rides.
>
>Now that I'm down here full time I'd enjoy working with you and the group 
>to help increase ridership in the group.
>
>Please let me know how I can be of assistance.
>>>
>
>Donald
>
>
>
>>From: "Donald Mitchell" <dlmitchell71 at hotmail.com>
>>To: nnc-list at northernneckcycling.org
>>CC: brown at keyisp.com, fletchersfixit at keyisp.com, jwarren at kaballero.com, 
>>dlmitchell71 at hotmail.com
>>Subject: 2007 Ride Season
>>Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 17:01:23 -0500
>>
>>Hello riders,
>>
>>Jeff Warren talked with me about taking our ride group to the next level.  
>>He has a few good ideas about what he would like to see happen and I agree 
>>with his ideas.  Our ride group participation dropped off a little last 
>>riding season and we would like to see that participation go back up.  To 
>>accomplish this we would like to offer more riding options.  Here are the 
>>ride options that we came up with.
>>
>>First of all we would like to offer shorter distance rides for those who 
>>prefer the shorter distances over our normal 30 mile rides.  Second of all 
>>we would like to offer fast pace and slow pace rides.
>>
>>Short / Slow Pace - Sunday:
>>
>>These rides will take place on Sunday mornings.  Our shorter distance and 
>>slow pace rides will encompass rides from 15 to 30 miles with a pace of 12 
>>mph to 16 mph.  These rides will have occasional stops.  We will regroup 
>>at each stop and no one will get left behind.  These rides may also 
>>contain stretches of gravel road which will require a hybrid or mountain 
>>bike.  At the moment I have one ride that is around 17 miles in length 
>>that will contain a section of gravel road.
>>
>>We would also like to see one or more riders sponsor a small post ride 
>>snack each Sunday.  The snack sponsors will rotate so no single person 
>>will be responsible for this.  I liked the one that Fletcher’s wife 
>>sponsored last summer.  I thought that was a great idea.  Since this is a 
>>social ride this will be a good opportunity to continue socializing after 
>>the ride.
>>
>>Long / Fast Pace - Saturday:
>>
>>These rides will take place on Saturday mornings.  Our longer distance and 
>>fast pace rides will encompass rides from 30 to 40 miles with a pace of 
>>17+ mph.  These rides will be non-stop.  Riders will ride in a pace line.  
>>Each rider will lead for 1 mile before rotating to the rear of the pace 
>>line.  The leader will set a pace that will be 17 mph or more.  If the 
>>leader falls below 15 mph the pace line will pass up the leader.  We will 
>>wait for no one.  If a rider has a mechanical failure then all riders will 
>>stop to assist that rider.  That will be the only situation where we will 
>>stop.
>>
>>Please send me any comments (negative or positive).  I would also like to 
>>hear your suggestions.
>>
>>Donald
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
>>Get in the mood for Valentine's Day. View photos, recipes and more on your 
>>Live.com page. 
>>http://www.live.com/?addTemplate=ValentinesDay&ocid=T001MSN30A0701
>>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>From predictions to trailers, check out the MSN Entertainment Guide to the 
>Academy Awards® 
>http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars2007/?icid=ncoscartagline1
>

_________________________________________________________________
Valentine’s Day -- Shop for gifts that spell L-O-V-E at MSN Shopping 
http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctId=8323,ptnrid=37,ptnrdata=24095&tcode=wlmtagline