SNCC Committee Meeting

We have a Committee Meeting approaching, so if anyone has any issues they want raising, questions answering, suggestions discussed etc if you can let me or any of the other Committee members know we'll add to the agenda





see www.stneotscyclingclub.info/the-club/committee for details

cheers

Simon

as heartened as I am that nobody thinks anything could be done any better, explained, clarified or done any differently, theres still (just) time to let me or anyone else on the Committee know if theres anything you want raised at next meeting..................

I'm sure there's a host of stuff that members would like to bring up but not everyone wants to put their name to it. Could it be done anonymously?

Here's one to be going on with:-
Club Rides - I think it's time to bring back ride leaders and a rota but this would only work if we get enough volunteers. Discuss and come up with a solution please.

Before I start I would like to say I am in not criticising anyone or saying I have found the answer to any problems that may or may not exist on Sunday Mornings.

I have however, had the pleasure for various reasons of riding with/leading the short group on occasion. I have many times heard these riders suggest that a 4 group would be great. By way of example.

The last two weeks the following distance routes were planned.(For which we are grateful)

30-52-63
30-49-60

There is as you can see a big step up for the weaker/less experienced riders at the club, who not only face a bigger distance (by comparison) but also a faster pace.

So what is the suggestion I here you ask. 4 routes circa 30-40-50-60 miles.

This gives more achievable building blocks for less experienced riders. Further it presents an opportunity for current medium riders who want to ride 40 miles at more relaxed pace ~16mph taking 2.5 hours plus a nice coffee and cake.

The hope would also be that we would see less instances of riders being blown out the back of groups because they have stepped up to quickly or have not got the legs on that day. Not to mention more happy campers.

It is not my idea (don't give me the credit) but I think the proposal has some merit and is worth discussion.

Dave

Oh and 1 more item I have seen mentioned on the forum which may be good to discuss is Helmets.

I think especially as we are looking to be a "go ride club" encouraging young riders to take up the sport.

I think the club should become ambassadors and make Helmets mandatory at club events (incl club rides)

Rather than discuss the perceived pro's/con's of Helmets, I think it may be best to focus on whether the club with increased visibility want to become an ambassador for "safer riding".

Accidents happen and it is good idea to be prepared as best as possible.

I for one am very passionate about wearing helmets. Maybe the committee would consider a survey from club member's if it needs guidance from its peers.

David

Hi,

As a newbie this year, I really appreciate what SNCC does in terms of organising rides on a Sunday (and other days too). I have really enjoyed my riding this year and can safely say that i have increased my speed, distance and staying power significantly and thats due in no small part to group rides with SNCC and the advice i have received from other members, both new and old, during this time.

In addition to these quantifiable improvements, i have also massively increased my enjoyment of riding and this has also been due to the organised group rides. There are too many people to name on this post who i have ridden with this summer and thoroughly loved every minute (even on bad rides in wind/rain/crashes/mechanicals etc) with all of them. Obviously not Paul Haynes but thats a given becos he smells and stole my shoe:P

I think its important that the committee do canvass opinions and i would be happy to help in any way i can with the group rides even if that means riding in "slower groups" because on the whole i think they are fantastic for both better and fun riding. Nothing is perfect and never will be and I hope people remember that "throwing stones in glasshouses" is not helpful and will find other ways to air their issues.

I do not believe that any member of the club deliberately goes out to drop people but things sometimes happen. Having been both a dropper and droppee, both have happened to me and whilst not ideal, you just have to live with the outcomes and anyone who has walked 10+miles home with a mechanical will soon learn a lot of songs to hum along too. I have and its cathartic...

Sorry if this reads formally but i wanted to show my support for SNCC and will be signing up gleefully next year and helping out on the sportive as well which will please my pregnant wife when i tell her.......

Discussion points for me are

1. Ride leaders list - sign me up
2. Mid-ride coffee stops (if you are "hanging" in a too? faster grp this might help) - Time on a sunday morning would be a problem here which is why i would prefer the final cafe stop only. Included as a discussion point.
3. Helmets - Emotive issue and can only go on my preference without "legal" guidelines and would ask for it to be addressed
4. Legal enforcement of everyone to wear a smile whilst riding


etcetc
toodles
Olly

when is the club AGM thanks G............

I thought I'd add my two penneth to the debate.

In general, I agree with most of the points that have been raised above.

As someone who's only started cycling "properly" in the last 18 months (some might disagree), I sympathise with how difficult it can be advancing from an entry level to longer distances and a faster pace. The weekly short route, which was added this year, is a fantastic edition and Colin & Andy should be praised for leading the rides week in week out. To enable riders to progress beyond this level, the longer/faster groups need to state what pace they intend to ride at and STICK TO IT. For some reason, this rarely seems to happen.

Ride leaders are a great concept, but I wonder whether riders are prepared to do this on a regular basis. Perhaps the club could offer ride leaders an incentive, since they are providing a service to the club - how about free membership for those who lead a certain number of rides (and that means sticking to the agreed pace and making sure everyone's happy). The club already has some great ride leaders, so why not recognise them as such (label badges and gold stars optional).

Helmets are an emotive subject so apologies if I upset anyone. As someone who's taken a tumble this year, I can say with confidence that I'd be in a far worse state if I hadn't been wearing a helmet. I was also unfortunate enough to witness Jonathan Pang's crash at the TT and I think it's fair to say he'd no longer be with us if he hadn't been wearing a helmet. So we're not messing around here. We all like to cycle fast, tarmac is very unforgiving and the club ought to take a stance and mandate wearing helmets as an essential safety precaution. If you still think it's a personal choice, spare a thought for your co-riders who have to scrape you off the tarmac.

Mike

thanks all, keep it coming...........or via PMs if you don't want to post on the forum

Would it be possible to provide a brief summary of discussions held at the committee meeting? I don't want to read a full set of minutes, and I dare say relevant discussion will circulate by word of mouth, but it would be useful to see a brief summary of events- maybe you do this as a matter of course, I just haven't noticed previously.

Simon is this a committee meeting or a the annual AGM thanks Geoff...

It's a committee meeting, Geoff. The AGM will be in November, date to be announced soon.

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Andy Mc