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

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