General Cycling Discussion - First caller interested in bike club...scary

I live out of town in a rural community. I have seen and talked to a few cyclists around here, but in general I don't see many.

So I thought that it would be a great idea to post in our local Recreational Flyer (printed 4 times per year) for interest in starting a cycling club in our community.

I figured that I could, maybe, get some cycling buddies, and perhaps promote cycling as a fun, healthy recreational activity.

Two days after the flyer comes out I get this call from Daphne. OH BOY!

Well, Daphne described to me that she cycles with her grandkids on either gravel backroads or on the multiuse trail in our area. The odd time she does ride on the road she rides against traffic and no she doesn't and will not wear a helmet.

Mmmmmmm, I think to myself. What have I gotten myself into.

So I try to explain that its actually safer to ride WITH traffic and be predictable by using hand signals and.....

She cuts me off, saying that she doesn't believe it. Also when a car approaches she stops and gets over on the shoulder.

Oh boy, now just how can I incorporate her into a bike club?

During the phone call she got increasingly rude, I think because when I told her the distances I was interested in she got defensive (20km to 100km). I tried to tell her that even though I was formaly a racer that in many of the bike clubs I am in there is always a HUGE span of skill levels, experience, fitness levels etc and you usually fall into a group of similar people.

So I tell her not to worry about it so much, she was the first caller I have had. Right now I just want to collect names, get a feel for who is around the area and start from there. I told her that since it is only March yet I may not be calling her back for about a month yet.

After thanking her for calling (or trying to) and getting off the phone with her I felt as if I wanted to NOT call this lady back....ever. She was quite rude and seems like she would be a trouble maker.

Plus the fact that she does not wear a helmet (opens liability issues for me) AND rides on the opposite side to traffic AND is hesitant about riding on heavier traffic areas, gives me concern on how to fit her into a club ride.

I want to scratch her name off the list, but I feel guilty about it. Perhaps I should rethink this club thing....?

Digger

Maybe she can look after the social aspects of the club. Her grandkids may be bored with her sort of bike rides and would prefer to ride with you.

Dude, are you seriously feeling guilty for not wanting to include a rude woman in to your not yet existent club? Give your self a break. I'm sure she has enough excitement with her grandkids as is. I'm sure you don't want a ticking bomb on your hands when she goes goo goo on you and people you ride with.

I want to scratch her name off the list, but I feel guilty about it. Perhaps I should rethink this club thing....?

No reason to feel guilty or rethink the club at all. However, perhaps in your flyers you might think about mentioning the distances you ride, and the requirements such as wearing a helmet, following the road rules and so on. If you're upfront and honest, you'll probably never hear from people like that and it won't be an issue.

On a side note, we recently gave a member the punt from out club for inappropriate behaviour. What you need to be aware of here is that in the long run, someone like this might end up driving other members away.

Well, you can always drop her by making a lot of right hand turns.... JUST KIDDING! :)

If she is really adamant about riding on the wrong side of the road, she can't expect all of you to do that just for her so perhaps you should make some initial ground rules about rides. You probably should anyway, things like what to do with red lights and right-on-reds, what to do with folks who say get a flat, stuff like that. You can state that all rules of the road will be followed on the rides.

Jay

Just set rules for everybody to follow, including her. If she can't, she's out.

Personally, I wouldn't call her back unless several other people just like her wanted to join. Then you'd be the odd man out. :eek:

55/Rad

I am one of those people who feel guilty for bad thoughts as well. Don't feel guilty. When the time comes that you "Club" is ready their first outing, send her a flyer of distances, location, etc.. Guaranteed she won't show.. And by far chance that she does, if she acts badly, you won't have to say something because I am sure there will be a bunch in the group who will say it for you..

Your club, your rules. You also have the law on your side regarding where you should be riding.

perhaps in your flyers you might think about mentioning the distances you ride,



Ya know I thought I was gonna get blasted by you guys for not making some accommodations for this lady. Perhaps, as my wife says, I am being a pushover...again.

Yes, I should post the distances of the rides in my flyer, but I really don't want to discourage anyone. Besides, I don't want to come accross as being a snob and this club is for the extremely fit only. I want to encourage cycling not create some sort of elitist club. Being in a rural community, and not THAT many cyclists around, I think I would discourage people if I post distances. Here's why:

Few weeks ago I was running on the treadmill at the local gym (very small gym mind you) and struck up a conversation with a young lady, Kim, on the treadmill next to me. She asked me if I was a runner. "No", I reply, "I am a cyclist. I'm thinking about starting up a bike club in these parts."

"Oh! how far would you go on a bike ride? 4 or 5 km?"

"Ummmm...........no. Up around the 50km mark or more."

"...........oh.............I'd never be able to do that." (I mentally smack my forehead and sigh).

With regard to this other lady whom I was speaking with on the phone, I think I can help her get more confidence in riding with traffic. But, if she is uncomfortable then I should leave it at that.

I don't believe that it's 'my rules then my club'. The club is for everyone, and should be there for those how wish to go fast and those who wish to take in the scenery. Plus, it is only advantageous to me if I get more people on the road to promote cycling in this area. I hope to make it more acceptable and more familer to people around here and again to promote a healthy lifestyle.

I guess comes down to 2 choices:
1) am I strating as club for the somewhat experienced cyclist
2) am I starting a club to train newbies to ride

My preference is number 1, but a touch of number 2 is ok also, if it gets me more people. So you see, if I post distances, then the person who can ride 10 or 20km, may at first balk at the idea of 50km, but after 4 weeks of riding may start to think 50km is nothing but to be laughed at!

Digger

P.s. One more thing. This is the flyer I was going to post around the community. Comments?

Interested In Cycling This Summer?

I am looking for people interested in cycling to form an informal cycling club. Just people with a love for cycling to meet 1-3 times per week for some great exercise, fresh air and a bit of a challenge.

Various routes and distances.

Helmet and a well tuned bike are essential.

If you are interested please call or email Doug at ###-#### or yadda@yadda.ca.

"Oh! how far would you go on a bike ride? 4 or 5 km?"

"Ummmm...........no. Up around the 50km mark or more."

"...........oh.............I'd never be able to do that." (I mentally smack my forehead and sigh).

Well, since I don't live in your neck of the woods and don't really know what impact posting distances on the flyer would be, I can't really comment. However, with respect to your conversation with Kim, I personally would have not left it like that and explained that really a 50km ride is not undoable by someone even mildly fit. I would have asked her how far she runs and kindly pointed out that due to the efficiency of a bicycle, one can generally cover three to four times the distance using around one-fifth the energy one would expend while running. A rider-bicycle system is nearly 100% efficient. Some estimates put a human riding a bicycle as having the fuel-efficiency of a 1,000 MPG car.

I don't believe that it's 'my rules then my club'.

The first thing is, SOMEONE has to be the leader. And since so far you are the only member, YOU have to be the leader for now. A club without someone to give it direction, and usually do most of the work, will last about five minutes.

You definately have to set a helmet rule, and some others. If someone says "no way", you will have to tell them "Thanks, but no thanks." You need good members for your club. Not just anybody. A bad person or two can ruin the whole thing. I was a member of a car forum that had a couple thousand members. ONE person was there that was consistantly a jerk. The forum now no longer exists.

So, keep your direction. Get the word out. Give it a try.

Yes, I should post the distances of the rides in my flyer, but I really don't want to discourage anyone. Besides, I don't want to come accross as being a snob and this club is for the extremely fit only. I want to encourage cycling not create some sort of elitist club. Being in a rural community, and not THAT many cyclists around, I think I would discourage people if I post distances. Here's why:

Few weeks ago I was running on the treadmill at the local gym (very small gym mind you) and struck up a conversation with a young lady, Kim, on the treadmill next to me. She asked me if I was a runner. "No", I reply, "I am a cyclist. I'm thinking about starting up a bike club in these parts."

"Oh! how far would you go on a bike ride? 4 or 5 km?"

"Ummmm...........no. Up around the 50km mark or more."

"...........oh.............I'd never be able to do that." (I mentally smack my forehead and sigh).

With regard to this other lady whom I was speaking with on the phone, I think I can help her get more confidence in riding with traffic. But, if she is uncomfortable then I should leave it at that.

I don't believe that it's 'my rules then my club'. The club is for everyone, and should be there for those how wish to go fast and those who wish to take in the scenery. Plus, it is only advantageous to me if I get more people on the road to promote cycling in this area. I hope to make it more acceptable and more familer to people around here and again to promote a healthy lifestyle.

I guess comes down to 2 choices:
1) am I strating as club for the somewhat experienced cyclist
2) am I starting a club to train newbies to ride

My preference is number 1, but a touch of number 2 is ok also, if it gets me more people. So you see, if I post distances, then the person who can ride 10 or 20km, may at first balk at the idea of 50km, but after 4 weeks of riding may start to think 50km is nothing but to be laughed at!


Those are all valid points, but I think you also need to be a realist about what you can or intend to do here. At the end of the day, if you post ads encouraging a certain type of person, that is exactly what you'll get. If you word it in a way that is going to attract people who prefer to ride 10km over two hours, you'll have to deal with them when they show up for a ride.

I deal with this same issue myself when I put my own rides in the Bicycle Gold Coast calendar. I believe mentioning distances and terrain is essential. If you don't specify the distance of a particular ride, what will you do when both a 10km newbie and a 50km elite rider show up? There is clearly going to be a conflict of somekind, whichever alternative you decide on. Ultimately trying to please everyone at once leads to a "middle of the road" situation that ultimately pleases nobody.

What I think you should try to do if you want to attract both groups? How about some set rides that cater for both groups on alternate days. Maybe you could put on a 100km hammering ride on the Saturday for the elite riders, followed by a 10km ride for the newbies on the Sunday (which you could then use as a recovery ride). However, the most important thing here is to specify what it is that you're doing with each individual ride. After all, attracting them out the first time is only part of the job. You also want them to come out next time don't you?

Do you really want to start a club, or do you want to "get some cycling buddies, and perhaps promote cycling as a fun, healthy recreational activity". I think that's the first decision you'll have to make.

If you want to start a club, you'll need to decide what type of club you'd like to start. Do you want to start a racing club? A cycletouring club? A cycling training club? You say an "informal" club in your ad, but that doesn't really explain much about what you have in mind. If you asked 10 people of varying cyclist abilities what they thought "informal" meant, you'd probably get 10 different answers.

Once you decide what type of club you want to be, post more details in the ad, be more specific, but don't narrow it too much. If you want to cater to cyclists who want to ride 20-100 kms at roughly a certain pace, say that. 20-100 kms is still quite a range. You could indicate that 1 day during the week you'll have a 20-30 km ride, and then 1 day on the weekend you'll have an 80-100 km ride. If you know you'll feel frustrated and trapped catering to cyclists who think 5 kms is a really long ride, don't cater to that group of cyclists or you'll begin to dread going out for the rides.

If you still really want to start a club, you should also be prepared for a lot of paperwork and organizational stuff. As soon as you get a group of people together in some sort of regularly-meeting organized event where there will be a leader, etc. etc., you start to wade into the whole world of legalities. There are waivers that may need to be signed so that if someone crashes on your ride they don't sue you for not "holding their hand" the whole time. If you happen to become a fairly large group, the police can get excited about having so many cyclists on the road at the same time and you may need permits etc.
If this is still the route you want to take, you might check with the Canadian Cycling Association, and your local Atlantic Cycling Association to see what words of wisdom they might have for you.
http://www.canadian-cycling.com/
http://www.atl-canadacycling.com/

However, if you just want to get together with other cyclists for rides, you might opt to drop the name "club" from your ad, and just post the rides you'll be "hosting". Having your ad in a paper that is only published 4 times a year isn't the best for that, but if you could post an ad in some other publication, or at the gym, or somewhere, that might be better. What you might want to do is to scout around for a nice 30 km route over the next couple weeks. When you find a comfortable route, on a paved road that doesn't have a lot of traffic, put up an ad saying that you'd like to get together with other cyclists with a love for riding who are looking for some exercise, fresh air, and a bit of a challenge . . . and that you'll be "hosting" a 30 km ride that goes from here to there, and back, on these roads, on this day, starting at this time, with an expected minimum/maximum average speed of whatever. If anyone wants more info, call you, email you, or just show up. That way people will have some idea what to expect.

I am looking for long distance cyclists in my area. We've got racing clubs, a touring club, and a Randonneuring club in the area, and I am a member of both the touring and Randonneuring clubs, but neither of them do long distance rides as frequently as I would like. I definitely DON'T want to start a Long Distance Cycling Club, so I simply post an ad whenever I'm planning to do a century (100 miles) on which I might like some company. I tell them where I'm planning to go, what time I'm hoping to start, and what sort of speed I plan to maintain. I am open to modifications, but that way if people are interested in cycling with me, they know what to expect. I'm not a particularly fast rider so I state that. The last thing I want is to meet up with someone who expects that I will maintain 35 km/h for the full century or something, and then when I don't they whine and nag me the whole way. On the other hand, I do want to maintain a certain minimum speed, so if someone is a brand new and very slow rider, well, they know that I'll be keeping up a certain pace.

All the best with your efforts!! :)

Ooooooo! These are all good points! Sure does make me think some more about this.

No, I don't want extremely green newbies who I have to hold there hand the whole way, as I would like to ride myself and enjoy the ride. Not cater to someone. But then I don't mind helping someone along a bit either, but I don't want to put my full concentration on 'em, if ya know what I mean.

I like that idea of posting an ad that I am going for a ride on such and such a day, for this distance and this speed, etc. THAT'S a good idea!

This has definately started me thinking a bit heavier on this and opened some ideas.

Thanks guys!

Digger