Abandonment and Safety Concerns of the Clubrun!!

[Grahame]

This has made me think again about whether I want to continue being a VC.

What has to be remembered is that we (the VCs) do this voluntarily. It is not a job. We do not get, nor do we seek, any material reward. We (or at least I) do it as a way of helping give something back to the sport/recreation that we enjoy and get so much from.

In the first 6 months of the Addiscombe year, I led groups on 18 weeks (the "commitment" for a VC is understood to be to lead 12 group rides over the year). I started to feel "burned out" and wondered whether I should continue. I have taken a break from the clubrun for nearly 2 months, with Saturday being my return, and as I didn't feel strong enough to lead a group, decided to go with Snoop's scenic sojourn.

Anyway, back on topic. I make a point of briefing "my" group each week before we leave CSS. I know there are several people who don't listen - I see their body language during the briefing, hear them chatting to their mates, etc. but most noticeably, recognise it through their riding. Refusing/failing to communicate hazards such as holes, cars -up, or -down, whether junctions are clear, or insisting on trying to "improve" on the group's target average speed ("great ride this week, the 18s averaged 21mph to the cafe"), etc. This makes the VCs role rather difficult. If one is concentrating on maintaining/creating basic discipline in the major part of the group, it is near impossible to use the eyes in the back of one's head to see somebody who is struggling. This does not excuse us for leaving somebody behind, and I rpide myself on thinking that I won't knowingly leave anybody behind, prefering to ensure the main group knows the route, then dropping back to help the struggler(s) at least get to the safety of the cafe or a railway station.

Remember, VCs do this out of "the goodness of their hearts" not some power crazed lust for glory. Being a VC is more like being a "super domestique" than a star rider. One often has to sacrifice one's own ride targets/goals (or even enjoyment) for the sake of the group experience. This gets wearing, so please bear with us. If you want to help, there are big and little things you can do. Little things include riding with discipline, helping keep the group compact, and letting the VC know if somebody is struggling - prefereably before they "blow" or get dropped. Big things include volunteering to be a VC.

Here endeth the lesson.

[Marcus]

[quote="Amy"]Yes, go away, Marcus

[Marcus]

I have been a club member since September 2009 and had a very Agreeable welcome and ride to Charlwood with JC. All the newbies were encouraged and waited for.

I have also seen JC and other VC's taking a very slow ride to Charlwood in order to wait for the slowest riders. In general I believe this is the norm.

What happened on Saturday I could be wrong but I believe to be a one off or a rare occurrence. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it. The VC's meeting will take place it will be discussed and lessons will be learned.

Will it happen again, yes, we are after all only human. But if and when it does it won't I'm sure be intentional.


Pete's rides need to be publicised more. The club is not just about a ride to Charlwood every Saturday, there is so much more. Whether you want a scenic more challenging route with Pete (always great with the most agreeable riders you could meet, great routes and cafes), a easier ride with Snoop or a longer ride with Amy. There is something for everyone. These are not alternatives to the club run, they are the club run as is the training group for eyeballs out rides.

So to those who got dropped, it isn't the norm and I am sure every effort will be made by the VC's and other conscientious Agreeables to make sure this doesn't happen again.

[John Cochrane]

I must agree that it is unreasonable to start criticising the VCs, for those who do perhaps they should have a go themselves. It is so easy to be dropped by a group, I know from personal experience, and the group will fast disappear into the distance. On one club run when this happened to me I lost my way. Ended up on a very narrow lane and a four by four came hurtling down the road. I came off the bike and luckily ending up in thorn bushes. The four by four did not stop and I was left to extricate myself from my landing place bruised, bleeding and still lost.

It can also be difficult for those in the back of the group to realise, until too late, that someone has been dropped. My experience with another club was that this was managed by frequent stops, particularly at the top of climbs, junctions etc. and if necessary the group going back to pickup/help out the dropped rider.

Having said that I do think there is difference between a "club run" and a "training run". In the former I think it should be about fun, the priority being to wait for each other, to keep together as a group rather than maintain an average speed. If a "training run" then the priority would be maintaining an average speed rather than keeping as a group.

Maybe there should be a "club run" group/s, in the above format, every Saturday rather than just once a month?

Members can then make a choice knowing what to expect.

[quote="Dombo"][quote="Amy"]
Personally, I think the main lesson to be learned from yesterday is EVERYBODY needs to look out for EVERYONE else.

Right, bunker time...

[Toks]

crashes on the clubrun - these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!
riding in ice, people come down; these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!
Newbies or weak riders get dropped on [size=150]slow rides[/size] - these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!

I'm expecting to get blasted now but before I do I'll mention in general the VC's do a sterling Job - Graham, Steve (not sure if he still does it) and Smiley Jon stand out for me personally because I've ridden with them on a number of occassions. I'll repeat it again. If you have eight people riding in a slow group and three people get dropped (two of which are women, yes it's important cause we don't have many!) thats simply not good enough so it needs to be mentioned. I'm sorry if that hurts some people's feelings

[Antloony]

Why not have groups no larger than 12(easier to do a head count) and then designate or ask for volunteers to lead and care for their group on the day along with the VC. Save all the crap we had the other week when you could count the VC's on one finger.

I do feel for the VC's at times, I just think there isn't enough of you and the groups are way too large at times and that makes it a difficult job.

Take a look at the list of VC's, there are names there that haven't been on a club run for a good while. Proof surely were relying on far to few to do the job.

If my other half came back with the same story as told by Steph I would be mightily annoyed and concerned this was allowed to happen.

[John Cochrane]

[quote="Toks"]crashes on the clubrun - these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!
riding in ice, people come down; these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!
Newbies or weak riders get dropped on [size=150]slow rides[/size] - these things happen, it was nobody's fault, we're all grown up!

I'm expecting to get blasted now but before I do I'll mention in general the VC's do a sterling Job - Graham, Steve (not sure if he still does it) and Smiley Jon stand out for me personally because I've ridden with them on a number of occassions. I'll repeat it again. If you have eight people riding in a slow group and three people get dropped (two of which are women, yes it's important cause we don't have many!) thats simply not good enough so it needs to be mentioned. I'm sorry if that hurts some people's feelings

[Dombo]

[quote="jon avery"]Mmmmmmmmmmm Fine when someone knows the route, i have been dropped myself on occasions, but when we have new riders who don't know the way, then surely we should be looking out for them?

[quote="Dombo"][quote="jon avery"]Mmmmmmmmmmm Fine when someone knows the route, i have been dropped myself on occasions, but when we have new riders who don't know the way, then surely we should be looking out for them?

[steve felt]

As a realitive newbie to road cycling if i saw the website came out on the cr and got left behind on roads i had never been on before i wouldnt have thought much of ACC. Luckily for me i went out with smiley john and that first cr is one of my favourite rides.

[quote="jon avery"][quote="Dombo"][quote="jon avery"]Mmmmmmmmmmm Fine when someone knows the route, i have been dropped myself on occasions, but when we have new riders who don't know the way, then surely we should be looking out for them?

[Jon H]

It used to be a rite of passage for new cyclists to go out on a clubrun, get their legs ripped off, bonk, and get dropped in the middle of nowhere in the pi**ing rain. Ah, the good old days

[George]

[size=150]over-analysation its all gonna end in tears [/size]

[Amy]

Thanks, George, just what I've been thinking

Come on, folks, let's just carry on trying to do our best and we'll try not to let this happen again.