Post by max on Apr 23, 2014 14:34:32 GMT
Hi All
The increasing size of Sunday turnouts with consequent wider range of abilities and desires and the increased complexity of routes is creating some problems. The group becomes spread out a long way down the road leading to difficulties in communicating route direction, considerable periods of waiting to regroup, individuals becoming isolated/left behind and creating a nuisance to traffic. From my own selfish point of view, I am having to race up and down the road to try and link the front and back. I have discussed this issue with Steve and Niall and have the following proposals to make for future Sunday route organisation
1 We will set up a pool of group leaders, ideally volunteers plus a bit of pressganging from me !
2 Group leaders would be responsible for
a) Guiding groups around the set route, observing hold points (where all individuals in a group re-gather or all groups wait and join up again to progress together) and split points (where groups take differing routes)
b) Speeding up or slowing down group as required and ensuring everyone is keeping up and not becoming separated from group.
c) Overseeing group etiquette/safety and formation. e.g. Giving training on safe peloton practice where required especially with newcomers. Advising areas where single file or a man up front is desirable and encouraging group to work together as a team in rotating peloton as is currently practised in A group.
3 Ideally I will agree group leaders in advance otherwise if not possible on the day at Brennans. I will provide the route on Garmin with a summary of route plus the hold and split points and any potentially hazardous sections for them to familiarise. Obviously on the magical mystery parts , complicated and totally new bits, I will be at the front to map read. If group leaders have pre-cycled route with me in midweek that would be a bonus but not essential. I do this starting around 9 am generally on a Tuesday or Thursday with one or two others, so let me know if you are interested in joining me.
4 Depending on route and turnout on day, we would have up to 3 groups, roughly as follows
A Strong cyclists who like challenging runs at a fast/steady pace and 60+ miles
B Like a challenge but at steady pace and around 40-60 miles
C Prefer leisurely ride or are newcomers and go at easy pace and around 30 to 45 miles.
Set routes are normally around 40 to 60 miles Brennans to Brennans, allowing extra miles to be done before or after set route.
5 In addition to my current advance posting on club forum and Facebook , I will try and send members an email of route and include a bit more detail of degree of difficulty. Will classify Black for Hard, Red for Medium and Blue for Easy. I wil suggest which sections are suitable for the 3 groups. Sometimes a route may not be suitable for C,s at all and then the leader would use a different route altogether e.g. Ardglass etc.
I hope this does not seem too bureaucratic but it is actually only formalising what we do on an ad hoc basis at present and hopefully leads to safer and more enjoyable riding. Obviously individuals can swap groups during a run depending on how they are feeling, as long as leaders know. Also groups can go off and completely do their own thing as long as when pre-ordering scones, I am aware you will not be at coffee stop. Propose starting the week after the forthcoming one when I will be doing the Downpatrick Charity Run. Planning Spelga S bends for 4th May !! Trust we can try this out for a week or two and then review to judge its success and amend accordingly. If you would like to volunteer for a group leader let me know especially for C’s where Robin has done a great job in getting them going, but only fair on him that we operate a rota. Pleased to receive feed back on further suggestions or whether you think its a good or bad idea.
Kind Regards Max
The increasing size of Sunday turnouts with consequent wider range of abilities and desires and the increased complexity of routes is creating some problems. The group becomes spread out a long way down the road leading to difficulties in communicating route direction, considerable periods of waiting to regroup, individuals becoming isolated/left behind and creating a nuisance to traffic. From my own selfish point of view, I am having to race up and down the road to try and link the front and back. I have discussed this issue with Steve and Niall and have the following proposals to make for future Sunday route organisation
1 We will set up a pool of group leaders, ideally volunteers plus a bit of pressganging from me !
2 Group leaders would be responsible for
a) Guiding groups around the set route, observing hold points (where all individuals in a group re-gather or all groups wait and join up again to progress together) and split points (where groups take differing routes)
b) Speeding up or slowing down group as required and ensuring everyone is keeping up and not becoming separated from group.
c) Overseeing group etiquette/safety and formation. e.g. Giving training on safe peloton practice where required especially with newcomers. Advising areas where single file or a man up front is desirable and encouraging group to work together as a team in rotating peloton as is currently practised in A group.
3 Ideally I will agree group leaders in advance otherwise if not possible on the day at Brennans. I will provide the route on Garmin with a summary of route plus the hold and split points and any potentially hazardous sections for them to familiarise. Obviously on the magical mystery parts , complicated and totally new bits, I will be at the front to map read. If group leaders have pre-cycled route with me in midweek that would be a bonus but not essential. I do this starting around 9 am generally on a Tuesday or Thursday with one or two others, so let me know if you are interested in joining me.
4 Depending on route and turnout on day, we would have up to 3 groups, roughly as follows
A Strong cyclists who like challenging runs at a fast/steady pace and 60+ miles
B Like a challenge but at steady pace and around 40-60 miles
C Prefer leisurely ride or are newcomers and go at easy pace and around 30 to 45 miles.
Set routes are normally around 40 to 60 miles Brennans to Brennans, allowing extra miles to be done before or after set route.
5 In addition to my current advance posting on club forum and Facebook , I will try and send members an email of route and include a bit more detail of degree of difficulty. Will classify Black for Hard, Red for Medium and Blue for Easy. I wil suggest which sections are suitable for the 3 groups. Sometimes a route may not be suitable for C,s at all and then the leader would use a different route altogether e.g. Ardglass etc.
I hope this does not seem too bureaucratic but it is actually only formalising what we do on an ad hoc basis at present and hopefully leads to safer and more enjoyable riding. Obviously individuals can swap groups during a run depending on how they are feeling, as long as leaders know. Also groups can go off and completely do their own thing as long as when pre-ordering scones, I am aware you will not be at coffee stop. Propose starting the week after the forthcoming one when I will be doing the Downpatrick Charity Run. Planning Spelga S bends for 4th May !! Trust we can try this out for a week or two and then review to judge its success and amend accordingly. If you would like to volunteer for a group leader let me know especially for C’s where Robin has done a great job in getting them going, but only fair on him that we operate a rota. Pleased to receive feed back on further suggestions or whether you think its a good or bad idea.
Kind Regards Max