Yo
BBTC!
I
have something for everyone to chew on (high fiber). About out of state rides,
I think that we are all actually a lot closer to the same mindset then we
might think. Take a deep breath
and lets have a group hug. Now,
don’t you feel better? (Boy, am I full of crap or
what!)
We have a club mileage contest. This is a competition, and for all competitions
we must have rules to keep it fair.
But I think we are trying too hard to guard against one scenario, and
in doing so, reduce the opportunities for us to explore some unique riding
experiences. After all, our goal
is to provide opportunities to ride together. Can you say “Knee
jerk”.
What
the rule is intended to do, is to keep one of us from taking the winter months
off, going to Bermuda, and riding 10,000 miles and claiming club credit. This wouldn’t be fair to those like
me, who are stuck with my miserable life in SLC. I also agree with what was said at the
last board meeting, you shouldn’t be able to plan a week long vacation tour of
the west coast, knowing no one else could go, and put it in the ride schedule
just to get mileage credit. I also can’t schedule a ride every day that goes
from my house to where I work, that’s silly. I think Saturday rides shouldn’t count
since I work. I’m kidding, to make a point. The point is we all have
constraints as to where, and how much we can, or want to
ride.
I
think that the geographic state line may not be the best criteria to determine
if a ride is acceptable for the ride schedule. Maybe some out of state rides should
count, but only if they satisfy a certain set of guidelines. As it is now, maybe LOTOJA should
count because it is in state. After all, it is Utah’s premier
bicycle event. But the upcoming
Death Valley rides don’t count, but maybe they should as many club members are
going to ride together. Some club
members are going to great lengths to plan this event, and provide it to
members. If LOTOJA doesn’t count, maybe Cycle Salt Lake Century shouldn’t
count either. My point is, maybe
they all should count. It was
pointed out to me that more BBTCrs went to do LOTOJA then did the club ride
that same day. Also, we had more
in Tucson then did the club ride last month. We are in the business of promoting
bicycling. We should allow as
many rides to count as possible, short of the absurd, like “my daily commute
ride”, or “Tour of my grandma’s house on
thanksgiving”.
This
is my suggestion-
Out
of state, or event rides, or tours should count if they meet these
guidelines.
1.
It
is listed in the ride schedule. (Obviously)
2.
Because
it may take more planning for clubbies to participate, it should be listed in
the newsletter two months in advance.
3.
Someone
should step up as a designated “ride leader”. Someone who can organize
rendezvous points and times, help with sign up info and so
forth.
4.
Maybe
a ride should be either a fee ride, put on by another club, or recognized by
an official cycling organization like LAB, UMCA, or USCF. Not just “I’ve always wanted to ride
around Minot, North Dakota”.
5.
Lastly,
and maybe a little far out, Maybe we could get jerseys, “team BBTC” for
members to buy so we can represent!!!
Maybe “BBTC century / Ultra distance team” or “BBTC ULTRA tandem team”.
Any excuse to buy more gear! (Yes clubbies would buy it, no cost to the
club)
Here
is an example, our fictitious Club member “Lance Lemond” is going to ride
RAGBRI. He wants to make it a
club event, so he sends info about his plans, inviting everyone who is
interested, to that goof ball that does the newsletter. He provides info about signup,
transport, ride descriptions, and so forth to any members who e-mail or
calls. Mr. Lemond lists it in the
ride schedule. Our boy Lance
handles the signup sheet just like a regular BBTC ride. This would provide a great opportunity
for us to maybe go on a great new adventure! Maybe someone has always wanted to do
that ride, but didn’t want to go it alone. We should go, as a club to the LAB
Rally, and the Tandem Rally, and so on.
At one of the hikes, we even talked about planning a club adventure to
Europe. Sound
fun?
I
am glad that so many of us went to Tucson because it is one of my two favorite
rides of all time. The experience
was made better by sharing it with friends. I would also love to share my other
favorite rides with BBTC folks as much as I look forward to going on
adventures that someone else plans.
Count me in, mileage credit or not. That’s my two cents, no matter what,
BBTC ROCKS! Group hug. Ride
on!
John
Andrew McCool