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Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/
Thanks for posting up this thread Robin. I'm very interested in what responses we get, especially from people who have thought about joining a ride but for whatever reason haven't yet done so.
As the Retrobike National Events Coordinator for the past couple of years (not nearly as glamorous as it sounds) I try to keep an eye on what's happening under the RB umbrella.
But just to give a bit context to the whole ethos and intention of Retrobike rides here's a bit of history...
The first organised rides date back to 2007 when Mr Kawasaki organised the now legendary Peak District ride in September. This set a template for an annual return visit.
Rides continued to be organised in other locations by a few individuals on an ad-hoc basis over the following few years until the local area groups were first launched in 2010. Forum members took on the roles as Area Event Coordinators (AECs) for their patch with MrK overseeing it all as National Coordinator. These volunteers could contribute as much as they wanted, but agreed to organise, coordinate and lead/guide rides in their vicinity. This resulted in a more organised approach with more consistency to rides and less date clashes.
Of course local terrain had a lot to do with the nature of the rides, and of course different people have different ideas on what is hard or easy.
Sinnett177 took over the NC role in 2011 and introduced the National MTB Series. 6 or 7 rides spread out across the UK.
In general , a formula has evolved which means Retrobike MTB rides are generally between 20 and 30 miles and last about 6 or 7 hours including a mid ride stop at a cafe or pub. The focus has always been on being sociable events which are more about the bikes ridden than the abilities of riders.
Of course in order to participate it helps if you and your bike can last for that distance, no matter how long it takes...
Organised road rides on Retrobike are still very much in their infancy. The RetroRoadRide series made it's debut last year and, unlike the MTB series, didn't have pre existing foundations to build upon.
So there is an element of experimentation still.
Feedback is of course essential.
It can be a bit irksome when negative comments are made without some form of rationale or suggestions for improvements. It's easier to criticise than it is to put your neck on the line and organise a ride especially in the knowledge that you will never please everyone...
Anyway, back to the ethos of Retrobike rides. The whole point of organising rides is to try and encourage more people to come out and join in with their old bikes.
For that reason the National Series rides at least are designed to be sociable and manageable to a good range of riders, their fitness and their ability. Routes are also configured with easy to follow short-cuts and escape routes wherever possible.
This is generally easier to achieve with MTB routes because they don't cover huge distances and there are usually enough people riding to allow for one or more of the ride organisers to accompany any stragglers.
Local MTB rides are a bit more varied, some easier and some more challenging.
You should always be able to find out what's happening locally by visiting the Area groups sub forums here: --> viewforum.php?f=72
There is also the national and local rides calendar here: --> viewtopic.php?f=1&t=283254
Most rides are publicised at least two or three weeks before they occur, with finer details posted up on 'Announcement' threads.
The road rides have proved a bit more difficult to organise, largely due to the nature of road rides. That is they cover greater distances, at a faster pace, with fewer riders, and fewer gates to stop and chat at.
It would be great to be able to organise all road rides with a long and a short route with a fast and slow group of riders.
Until more people turn up, or we are able to start putting up route markers and directions then that may never happen.
One thing that should always be remembered though is that riding on Retrobike rides is completely free and that the ride organisers have given up their own time, energy and resources completely voluntarily. It's understandable that we get a bit disenchanted with it every now and then.
The National MTB Series has evolved as it now enters it's fifth year. For some rides participation has dropped a bit for which I am neither surprised or disappointed. (HawMaw summarises things neatly in his post)
Besides which guiding 58 riders in the Peak District is a bit of a handful...
Looking at the statistics from the ride sign in sheets over the past three years we are still getting between 120 and 180 individuals joining the national rides each year. More could be added if I were to gather in information from all the local rides too.
There are many regular riders to catch up with at National rides and I've always met new people on all the many rides I've attended too.
Back to the ethos: The series was meant to be a catalyst for encouraging people to get out, meet up and ride the bikes they have been building up, restoring, renovating or whatever.
It was and still is about energising the local area groups, which in most areas, has been a real success.
This is largely thanks to enthusiastic individuals who keep at it despite the rain, mud and whingers.
Finally to quote the aforementioned Mr Kawasaki, "Ask not what your forum can do for you, but what you can do for your forum."
If anyone would like to get involved in organising rides for Retrobike then please PM me.
Thanks for posting up this thread Robin. I'm very interested in what responses we get, especially from people who have thought about joining a ride but for whatever reason haven't yet done so.
As the Retrobike National Events Coordinator for the past couple of years (not nearly as glamorous as it sounds) I try to keep an eye on what's happening under the RB umbrella.
But just to give a bit context to the whole ethos and intention of Retrobike rides here's a bit of history...
The first organised rides date back to 2007 when Mr Kawasaki organised the now legendary Peak District ride in September. This set a template for an annual return visit.
Rides continued to be organised in other locations by a few individuals on an ad-hoc basis over the following few years until the local area groups were first launched in 2010. Forum members took on the roles as Area Event Coordinators (AECs) for their patch with MrK overseeing it all as National Coordinator. These volunteers could contribute as much as they wanted, but agreed to organise, coordinate and lead/guide rides in their vicinity. This resulted in a more organised approach with more consistency to rides and less date clashes.
Of course local terrain had a lot to do with the nature of the rides, and of course different people have different ideas on what is hard or easy.
Sinnett177 took over the NC role in 2011 and introduced the National MTB Series. 6 or 7 rides spread out across the UK.
In general , a formula has evolved which means Retrobike MTB rides are generally between 20 and 30 miles and last about 6 or 7 hours including a mid ride stop at a cafe or pub. The focus has always been on being sociable events which are more about the bikes ridden than the abilities of riders.
Of course in order to participate it helps if you and your bike can last for that distance, no matter how long it takes...
Organised road rides on Retrobike are still very much in their infancy. The RetroRoadRide series made it's debut last year and, unlike the MTB series, didn't have pre existing foundations to build upon.
So there is an element of experimentation still.
Feedback is of course essential.
It can be a bit irksome when negative comments are made without some form of rationale or suggestions for improvements. It's easier to criticise than it is to put your neck on the line and organise a ride especially in the knowledge that you will never please everyone...
Anyway, back to the ethos of Retrobike rides. The whole point of organising rides is to try and encourage more people to come out and join in with their old bikes.
For that reason the National Series rides at least are designed to be sociable and manageable to a good range of riders, their fitness and their ability. Routes are also configured with easy to follow short-cuts and escape routes wherever possible.
This is generally easier to achieve with MTB routes because they don't cover huge distances and there are usually enough people riding to allow for one or more of the ride organisers to accompany any stragglers.
Local MTB rides are a bit more varied, some easier and some more challenging.
You should always be able to find out what's happening locally by visiting the Area groups sub forums here: --> viewforum.php?f=72
There is also the national and local rides calendar here: --> viewtopic.php?f=1&t=283254
Most rides are publicised at least two or three weeks before they occur, with finer details posted up on 'Announcement' threads.
The road rides have proved a bit more difficult to organise, largely due to the nature of road rides. That is they cover greater distances, at a faster pace, with fewer riders, and fewer gates to stop and chat at.
It would be great to be able to organise all road rides with a long and a short route with a fast and slow group of riders.
Until more people turn up, or we are able to start putting up route markers and directions then that may never happen.
One thing that should always be remembered though is that riding on Retrobike rides is completely free and that the ride organisers have given up their own time, energy and resources completely voluntarily. It's understandable that we get a bit disenchanted with it every now and then.
The National MTB Series has evolved as it now enters it's fifth year. For some rides participation has dropped a bit for which I am neither surprised or disappointed. (HawMaw summarises things neatly in his post)
Besides which guiding 58 riders in the Peak District is a bit of a handful...
Looking at the statistics from the ride sign in sheets over the past three years we are still getting between 120 and 180 individuals joining the national rides each year. More could be added if I were to gather in information from all the local rides too.
There are many regular riders to catch up with at National rides and I've always met new people on all the many rides I've attended too.
Back to the ethos: The series was meant to be a catalyst for encouraging people to get out, meet up and ride the bikes they have been building up, restoring, renovating or whatever.
It was and still is about energising the local area groups, which in most areas, has been a real success.
This is largely thanks to enthusiastic individuals who keep at it despite the rain, mud and whingers.
Finally to quote the aforementioned Mr Kawasaki, "Ask not what your forum can do for you, but what you can do for your forum."
If anyone would like to get involved in organising rides for Retrobike then please PM me.
