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04-10-09, 08:56 AM
A comment on food at controls:
I volunteered at the RM1200 last August. Every control reported that they had lots of food left over. The organizers (and I was not one of them) did a fantastic job of determining the kind of food and how much was needed.
At my control (and I heard from riders that it was the same at all controls) we gave the riders as much food and drink as they wanted. After we signed them in, we directed them to the tables and set food in front of them. We refilled their water bottles with ice-water. We offered refills of the food and drink. Some were surprised at that saying, "You mean I can have more than one plate of this?"
The last arrivals got the same treatment as the first. Experienced riders commented that the controls were the best they had ever seen.
I mention this because on some 1200 rides that advertised that there would be food at the controls, there has been a problem with food such as:
1. Not enough so that slower riders got crumbs
2. Limited amounts where riders are told they can't have more or must pay for more
3. Only peanut butter sandwiches when some riders are allergic to pb
4. Meat dishes without alternative when some riders are vegans
5. Providing "hard to digest" food. (Most of our riders loved the mashed potatoes with melted cheese because it was easy to digest)
6. Lack of variety of types of food at each control (our menu was different from what was served at the previous or next control)
7. Little or no fruit
8. Providing only water (we had fruit juice, a few types of powdered sport drinks, ice water -- and we filled their bottles with any of the drinks that they wanted)
9. No coffee or tea esp. for the "morning" at a sleep control
10. Lack of variety from control to control.
For organizers, I'd suggest contacting the BC Randonneurs and getting their menu.
I volunteered at the RM1200 last August. Every control reported that they had lots of food left over. The organizers (and I was not one of them) did a fantastic job of determining the kind of food and how much was needed.
At my control (and I heard from riders that it was the same at all controls) we gave the riders as much food and drink as they wanted. After we signed them in, we directed them to the tables and set food in front of them. We refilled their water bottles with ice-water. We offered refills of the food and drink. Some were surprised at that saying, "You mean I can have more than one plate of this?"
The last arrivals got the same treatment as the first. Experienced riders commented that the controls were the best they had ever seen.
I mention this because on some 1200 rides that advertised that there would be food at the controls, there has been a problem with food such as:
1. Not enough so that slower riders got crumbs
2. Limited amounts where riders are told they can't have more or must pay for more
3. Only peanut butter sandwiches when some riders are allergic to pb
4. Meat dishes without alternative when some riders are vegans
5. Providing "hard to digest" food. (Most of our riders loved the mashed potatoes with melted cheese because it was easy to digest)
6. Lack of variety of types of food at each control (our menu was different from what was served at the previous or next control)
7. Little or no fruit
8. Providing only water (we had fruit juice, a few types of powdered sport drinks, ice water -- and we filled their bottles with any of the drinks that they wanted)
9. No coffee or tea esp. for the "morning" at a sleep control
10. Lack of variety from control to control.
For organizers, I'd suggest contacting the BC Randonneurs and getting their menu.