Future of MacRetro rides?

[DynaCol]

Re:

Clubby, I totally disagree ......................................................... I Really need to get fitter!!

But seriously, I'm not in favour of making the rides easier or shorter because I or anyone else isn't fit enough. None of the rides I've attended have been too strenuous so I'd say leave that as it is.

It seems like we need some locked in structure to when the main rides are and spread them throughout the year a bit better rather than having the rides concentrated in the first half of the year. We're never going to get a consensus as to which weekend everyone is free but if we had a set of four weekends picked at the start of the year which people can pencil in their diary then there'd hopefully be a better attendance. I don't think that the argument that "I don't know what I'll be doing in six months time " is really a reason to not pick a date at the start of the year to aim for at least. If we stick to a set number of rides each year, roughly at the same time, give or take a weekend or two (to suit who's organising it), then there's more chance of us being able to attend.

I definitely think we need to try and attract a few more members out on these rides though. There has been a couple of new folk posting about coming along but not many following through unfortunately. Not sure how we change that though.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Its a common and recurring problem regards attendance. some years its up and some years its down.
Most riders and most rides accordingly these days are down in the central belt or Fife way. A northern ride is regarded as Aviemore type area. So does restrict to the southern half of the country generally with the majority of rides, it seems, and I am probably going to be corrected on this, are to trail centres in the south of the country. These are for anyone to the north, a good drive to get to and generally, for myself at least, require a night away to be able to get to for the reasonable timed starts.
You would also think that with the boom in cycling that there would be a percentage getting back into the older mtb machines as well, but alas new members are few and far between.
Its quite hard to manage when there are so many rides happening these days, for me due to the distance it was also getting harder to commit to some when a few were getting cancelled at the last minute. I realise that this is a self perpetuating situation as well, as due to no commitment things were getting cancelled. The Glentress type meets have been great for the 1 or 2 I attended, even though I am not a trail park type guy, but they are a long way and a major weekend for a day ride. Its sometimes becomes a 500 or 600 mile weekend and all the expense that entails, so as time goes on I had to try and cherry pick the rides/events I went to as it wasn't just a day run.

For myself, I have not ridden macretro for a while now, and did certainly miss the annual Dunkeld run, I think I only missed one since 2008 or 2009, something like that.
Now for me I have had several things going on with regards to retro and macretro. My Stumpies have just about all but gone with just a couple of frames tucked away and most of my riding shared between my 1X1 and my Pugsley. My 1X1 is practically the same steel frame as my 94 Stumpy and I can fit slightly wider tyres. So basically I have only two machines built up and my retro road bikes. Neither of my off roaders have been retro, regardless of design, for a couple of years now and rightly so this has been pointed out to me more than once on macretro runs. This has been pointed out, privately and in person, and several times this year that I should be riding retro on macretro runs, hence, not really getting as involved lately, this as well as posting road runs with the Trucker, which isn't retro either. For me I ride my others and will get back to my retro's at some point but when I am enjoying riding the others and would have to build up a machine for the odd ride out down south its just not doable at the moment. I must admit I didn't think too much about it at the runs and just looked forward to riding with the macretro clan, but understand that some don't think it's in the spirit of it.
I will try and organise a retro road ride and/or a sort of retro gravel ride that I have been working on. Though while I don't have a retro rig up and running I will refrain from macretro rides for now and not post anymore non retro's in macretro threads.

Cheers
Jamie

 

[RobMac]

Re:

I don't give a monkeys what anybody rides but 'if' its Retro that's just a bonus.
I go along for the craic, rides that are free from attitude and not overly competitive.

 

[old_coyote_pedaller]

Re:

Jamie, I'm with Rob, it's the rider not the bike I'm riding with. Don't care what they ride.
Can't understand why anybody would want to point out to you, several times WTF, either privately(PM?) or to your face that you should be riding a Retro bike, just really bad manners in my opinion. I'd like to say how sorry I am that this has happened to you and you've been made to feel as you do.

When it comes to rides like the annual GT ride, I've got no problem going if I've not been there for a while but I've been there twice already, a MacRetro night ride and a midweek ride with MacRetro riders, so didnae fancy another ride there.

For me as well the riding a Retro bike is it's every time I ride though as the only bikes I have are the 2 Cannondales, a Super V 1000SL and the F800, both with Leftys so reasonably capable. So the need for me to get out on my retro bike on a MacRetro ride isn't there so much. I think the idea for most of you other MacRetro guys is riding a retro bike 2 or 3 times a year on MacRetro rides so it's the organised MacRetro rides that are a focus. Get the feeling though that enthusiasm for this waxes and wains, which is normal, so fewer folk feel like going on organised rides quite as often.

The regular rides I do with Keith and Aaron and Rob can't be classed as Retro rides, just retro luvin guys oot on a ride. But we would welcome others joining us, most of the time we only know a week, or even a few days, in advance where or if we are going for a ride. Bring any bike ye like or just turn up and shout abuse.

I feel guilty that we tend to be too local in where we ride, seldom outwith Fife or Central belt. Tried to stay away from my usual haunt of Kelty Wids, once now in nearly 2 months :shock: , by exploring Benarty and surrounding woods/trails this last month.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi mate
Please don't get me wrong, nothing was said to me in a bad way or anything like that. Just I hadn't really thought too much about it and didn't think it was an issue for anyone but it's true it is Macretro and the runs are for retro machines. So no bad manners or anything like that. Nobodies offended me or warned me off, just took a while for me to click
Its hard not to ride your local trails more often than not, especially as everyone has less and less time these days so you don't want to waste it on travelling time when you have something nice local to you.

Jamie

 

[dyna-ti]

Re: Re:

I don't give a monkeys what anybody rides but 'if' its Retro that's just a bonus.

:shock: Hark at who's talking Mr new Ti,fox and discs

 

[RobMac]

Re:

Yeah but I ride my '95' S-Works and '97' Bonty on a regular basis

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re:

Jamie,

Your threads are always interesting and the rides you do with Epi are, for me, the real spirit of Retrobiking, regardless of the machines involved. This whole site reminded me of the good old days when you went out with your mates for a ride.

That is what it is about for me, and I have almost been encouraged to actually join in a couple of times.

The people I have met from this site are generally bike enthusiasts, with a decent sense of humour,

Nothing ought to be so serious.

If I was to go on one of the Retro rides, I would be on the lightest modern I could lay my hands on, just to try to keep up!

 

[clubby]

I'm really disappointed you've been made to feel this way. Retrobike rides are about getting out and enjoying the bikes, whether you have one at the time or not. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a fleet of bikes to pick and choose from and my position as AEC has always been VERY clear. I'd rather seem riders attending on any (suitable) bike than not come. This year we have been trying to push retro only rides, but have always said anyone can come along even if they don't have one. The hope with this was to encourage new riders in the ways of retro, but as we all know, we do have a problem attracting new riders along to meets.

Also, please keep posting your rides and especially the pictures. Lots of enjoys seeing what you and Epicyclo get up to way up there in the far north. Anyone that complains is just jealous that you have such an amazing looking area to ride in.

That goes for everyone. The "What I did" and "Show us" threads are there to keep us up to date with what's going on in your lives. Macretro has evolved into a group of far flung friends, who may have met over old bikes, but also have other common interests. These posts keep us connected.

 

[DynaCol]

Re: Re:

I don't give a monkeys what anybody rides but 'if' its Retro that's just a bonus.
I go along for the craic, rides that are free from attitude and not overly competitive.

Rob's hit the nail on the head. Anyway this thread was about discussing ways of improving the attendance at rides and stopping the last minute cancellations. The last thing we want is to discourage people from attending any of the rides.
I know I'm not the most vocal of members but I feel strongly about keeping these rides going so that's why I've been suggesting what I have. I'd gladly organise a ride but want get fitter so I can, it's difficult to lead from the back