As one of the past leaders of the WCC and having been involved in other cycling clubs in leadership capacity, I can provide some insight that some of you obviously don't have.

The first thing to get straight is that no one called the cops on anyone. We have a good relationship with the local law including Montgomery county sheriffs, Oak Ridge PD, and Shenandoah PD--and they tell us about various groups who are being reported through citizen complaints. It is an open dialog and information is shared both ways. Ultimately everyone is responsible for their own actions on a ride and if those actions are not in sync with the expectations from the non profit club that established them, then they will be asked not to participate with that particular club. To me this is common sense.

Secondly, there are many groups who cycle in the Woodlands/Spring/Tomball/Conroe/Magnolia etc. areas and although the WCC is a larger group, certainly does not mean it is the only group. The club tries to teach and follow through with basic safety rules and expectations on rides that fall under its insurance liability . . . does not take a genius to follow the legal ramifications of not doing a safety talk and then having someone seriously injured and then that person suing the club and so on. The ride in question became unsafe due to riders not respecting the expectations, so the club removed its name from the ride. We don't care if it continues or not, we just don't want to be associated with it if safety cannot be followed. It is that simple.

Sometimes I think cyclists as a subgroup of culture do more to harm our very own subgroups than necessary. The law is already established, but we spend more time debating how to follow the law than actually riding our bikes and having a good time with people who like to do the same! Race team, social riders, safe, unsafe, he said, she said--it is all serving what purpose? Ride your bikes within your own comfortability level and know the consequences of your actions . . . what more can anyone ask?