Future of MacRetro rides?

[firedfromthecircus]

Glad there is some discussion going on.

I split this topic off from the GT thread so we could have this. It's not a crisis or anything, or an attack on anyone. It's just an attempt to find out what folk want to do so we can plan it accordingly.
It is disappointing that for the first time since 2008 there will not be an anniversary ride. I understand what folk are saying about GT, and obviously for folk in the north like Jim, Jamie and Epi, GT is always going to be too far away to be worth it. But for the rest of us? Perhaps we should limit GT visits. I know Clubby has been saying this for a while. So once a year at GT? Summer or winter? Our anniversary is there, but it's also a known quantity for Festive frolics whatever the weather had been like. :?:

Regarding the retro thing. I am the most vociferous of the current crop of AEC/DAECs for riding of retro. It's what this site is all about, and I think it's important we realise that and try to honour that. But as most of you well know I have turned up to rides on moderns. A lot of the time for me that is because I'm not sure of my ability to manage the rides planned and I know that I'll get on better with a disc braked 29er than a retro. I fully understand why Jamie would prefer his 1x1 over a retro for most rides, and it's a lovely bike. We agreed that only one ride per year would be advertised as Retro Only, with the rest being advertised as 'The riding of retro is strongly encouraged'. But if Jamie wanted to come along on his 1x1 to anything I'd be glad to see him, even a 'Retro Only' ride. Though I think it would only be fair that those riding retro would reserve the right to a bit of leg pulling!
But overall I agree with Jimo. We can all ride modern any day of the week (except OCP!) so a MacRetro ride should be a special occasion to get an old steed out the shed. I think the rides should be set at a level that are suitable for this. Should we perhaps try to make more of a thing of the retro? A ride along with a show and shine? An opportunity to line the bikes up, have a good drool at the retro loveliness? A vote on Retrobike of the meet? Those of us lucky enough to own more than one showing more bikes but just picking one to ride? Make a weekend of it somewhere like Aviemore? Maybe even make the show and shine the main event with the ride an add on so folk who couldn't ride could still come for the bikes and the banter? Just throwing the ideas out there.

Now for the new blood bit. We have a problem attracting new riders. I think Jim and Col are probably the most recent additions, and they have been around for a good while now. One of the reasons I have tried to have some guaranteed easy rides is to encourage those new riders out of the woodwork. It didn't work! Perhaps the meet-up discussion will haunt me as a missed opportunity to get new blood, but I stand by the argument I made then. We would like more folk, but they need to be retro loving folk IMHO. (Sorry if that still offends you Velo :cry: )

As far as the MacRetro section on the site is concerned I am happy to see any rides posted, retro or modern, road or dirt or track. We have been given a lot of latitude with this board. No other section has this, but until the site owners decides to change things I am happy for it to continue as it has, so please keep posting your trucker rides Jamie. I know I'm not the only one who enjoys them. And anyone else who feels like 'blogging' a ride, please do. I should maybe do more of my own.

So just to reiterate, no crisis, no blame. Just think it's worth putting up a wee fight to try and halt the decline of MacRetro. It's our section and it needs to do what we want it to do, so what is that?

 

[Jamiedyer]

Guys, don't worry, nobody has wronged me or anything like that. Things weren't said in a bad way or pushed, its just after realising that hey, it has been a while since I have been on a mtb meet on a retro ride, a few years actually. I realised that its not helpful to recruiting new members if people are showing up on non retro machines. We did have one run last year where I think six out of eight were on modern rides. I understand how off putting that could be if you just joined and showed up expecting a retro ride.
Macretro's are my friends, hence why I come to rides, modern or retro.

So back to the task at hand. Focus people

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi Barry
Your post happened while I was still slowly typing mine
I agree with it all, and as I said before, nobody has been unwelcoming to me, I just got the message after a while. and as mentioned, I agree. I just need to get my retro mojo back.
I don't know what the answer to dwindling numbers is really, do you try and do a macretro facebook page that you can mention on all the retro type pages. I am on a couple of pages and other forums and to be honest I don't see the numbers of people getting into retro mtb's like you do with the road stuff. They are obviously out there as competition for some of the nice machines that come up for sale shows but I think the scene in Scotland is pretty small. I don't see that many old machines out and about wherever I go riding, see plenty on forums and posts, so maybe people just have their old machine in the shed but don't really want to drag it to the trails in a group. I think a lot of older guys find it more of a daunting thing to come and join up to a group ride, quite often thinking 'I'm too slow' 'unfit' 'too old' . I think the only way to counter that is to get them looking at the forum or a facebook page showing that while its about the ride, its a good social thing with everyone being older, not as fast as they were, etc.
Macretro is a great bunch of mates, there is banter, mickey taking etc and I can't imagine anyone not feeling welcome on a ride, but its getting them to that first ride.


Jamie

 

[keithyr]

Maybe we need a referendum?....................ah'll get ma jaicket.

I like the idea of the NSEW ldea as its a chance for us to visit other folks local trails but as folk say life does get in the way sometimes. Clubbys macduro is also a refreshing change.

Personally the aviemore rides with the overnight stays have been my favourites as it gives us a chance to catch up over a few beers. One of my best memories is sitting in a tent with Tk and god knows who else sipping some whiskey that Tk brought for the occasion. But for folk wi families that's a fair commitment to gain a pass for.

I would love to take a bike up a munro and hoping to plan that next year.

Most weekends we all stay local as its back to the family balance thing.

If we all get some ideas for rides, then put them in the mix for discussion and see which ones get the most interest mibbee.

 

[epicyclo]

A short notice ride for people who like retrobikes, retrobike optional.

Inverness: Sunday 26th June mainly on road - probably all - it won't be fast.

Start time of 10:30, meet in Tiso's car park*. Aim is to amble around the Beauly Firth (taking a few diversions ) and finishing back at Tiso for coffee, but probably stopping in Beauly as well.

Any bike will do, age immaterial. However I suggest not with 1" tyres unless you're a masochist.

We all love bikes, so bring something we can admire or drool over, or simply be amazed it hasn't fallen apart, or even whatever in your fleet still has air in its tyres. I'll take something interesting or "wrong".


*(but Jamie can change this to later if it's inconvenient for him travelling from Thurso)

 

[Jamiedyer]

I'll fit with the allotted time.
I better get of this computer and get the Mercian built.

Jamie

 

[kaiser]

Re:

Why not postpone any GT annual ride till the 10th anniversary? Make the anniversary ride a different venue each year, could be the retro only or strongly suggested one. Also we've done the bike of the ride and show and shine stuff before and it was always a great part of it, people building specifically for the ride and wotnot. Everything else could be run what you brung, the bikes are getting older and so are we , skill and age compensators should be welcomed! At least to try to keep the accident quotient down.

Another thing that seems to be missing is the general chat from the proposed rides threads. Threads used to run to many pages with a bit of banter and chat about builds and what you were bringing. Now it seems mostly to be about folks not coming. I can see how it would dampen enthusiasm.

I'm not sure how much it helped but we also used to send invites out to everyone (one of the reasons for having the MacRetro roll call). I think it helped generate a bit of interest, maybe something to consider?

 

[velomaniac]

Re:

I dont get the sorry to offend you Velo comment but hey thats a lot of type to read and I may have missed something.

I recommend signing up for a cycling event and bringing the retro to it.

I was at Mountain Mayhem this year, it was an absolute blast and as a result I've signed up for next years retrobike ten man team. The 10UTB event we did a few years back was brilliant fun and brought us all together at a structured organised event. We brought the retro to that event. Find an event with a purpose like a race and all go to that.

My tuppence worth, keep on retrobiking.

 

[jimihendrix]

Re:

Guys, sorry i've been a stranger on here, still love bikes but i'm more into cars these days and i've committed myself to a big project so spending a lot of time in the garage, when i do get on line i'm looking for parts or on car forums.
Also as others have mentioned life sometimes gets in the way, our Bernese Mountain dog is recovering from an operation so i'm tied up looking after her tomorrow (so she doesn't attack her stitches), normally my sister would be able but she's working so that's why i cant make GT tomorrow, if i cant make a ride i wont post in the thread, have done before and had to then post that i had to drop out and i hate doing that.
So still into bikes and MacRetro, will be out for rides again, just have other stuff on the go at the moment.

 

[clubby]

Re: Future of MacRetro ride

What mad project you worked on now Jimi?