What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/MTB

[FluffyChicken]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Shame MTB and Road are getting muddled up in this thread. It would have been nice to keep them separate, I know with MTB it is more ATB. We do hills, urban, flat, road, local, up in quite moors blah blah blah, etc none are silly long, well not intentionally ;-)

 

[ededwards]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Ed, thanks for you comment; the "85 miles and 4000ft of climbing" is a quote from a recent thread, but you remind me of another reason I don't attend. I do not have the time, skill or inclination to organise a ride, at least not a road ride. Your comment repeats those you have made in the past that amount to, if you don't like what we do, put up, or shut up. My inclination is to shut up, and ride somewhere else.

The title of the thread asks what would make me turn up at a retro event, I have made a reply and I have received exactly the response I expected.

I suspect that responding is not going to move this forward but I feel compelled to do so given the above misrepresentation (although you'll doubtless find an out of context quote to support your point).

It is not, and never has been, a case of "put up or shut up". However it has been really wearing over the past year to continually butt up against a misplaced sense of entitlement in the West Midlands that rides should be tailored to individual preference and eventually, particularly when it appears that the only purpose of posting up on a ride thread is to carp about exclusivity, responses have become more terse. If that makes you feel unwelcome then that's a shame especially as I got the impression you enjoyed the Cotswold Spring Classic Ride (and at 40 miles and 2,500 feet or so of climbing, it was fairly typical of the road rides).

You say that you have no inclination to organise a ride - that's obviously fine as there is clearly no obligation - but you mention riding elsewhere; why not simply let others know where you are riding and invite them to join you if they fancy it? That's the way many rides have started and organising doesn't need to be any more complicated that that. Again, no need to do that if you don't fancy it.

As I started, I'm not sure this is really adding to the thread so best to reiterate "ask not what your forum can do for you but what you can do for your forum" and go for a ride (on my own!).

 

[bobbinogs]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

OK, I have collated the responses (and paraphrased where approp). Many thanks for everyone who has contributed:

Reasons that restrict interest:
The inclusion of hills/too many hills and the distance of the rides being too long
Too far from home (cost of travel, travel options and time taken to travel)
Other outside factors of time/work/family/expense
Horror stories of road ride speeds, inclines and distances
Breaking that ‘getting out’ barrier - including fears of fitness, meeting people etc.
It's not easy to find this forum from the Road section
A poor turnout puts off a few from turning out to the next one
The element of competition
A lot of rides seem to be one specific day at the w/e, e.g., always Saturday/Sunday
The ‘no helmet, no ride’ rule

Features that are positive and would may encourage more interest
If the area looks nice in piccies posted up in the ride thread
Knowledge that the weather will be good
The road ride being a two tiered affair so riders can pick the right speed for their level
A weekend of riding should be made of them so that riders got more bang for their buck by there being more rides offered, which would also mean more segregation
A post ride jumble sale
Could every ride be announced on the Facebook site so people are aware of them?
A few introductory rides for those of us who have never ridden in groups before would be a good idea.
Themed rides might attract more interest? Make, country of manufacture, material, etc.

 

[marc two tone]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Yep,i largely concur with the above.

I have taken fibre from it myself. Two points i've noted.

The weather being advised as good, also if it's to be bad/unpredictable as there is little worse that cycling through cold rain But it can happen. "Be prepared"- bear grylls.

The helmet thing....I have been yards from two riders on rides that have done the old evil knievel stunt and are with us now purely because they wore a helmet, pure and simple. When you are actually there bearing witness, it puts thing into a certain perspective. I.e "Now i see why".

They weight nowt and you almost forget you have one your head (unless you have a beard then the strap can be itchy)

From my memoirs, it is fairly easy to spot a rider that is struggling or if you have some familiar faces in the pack, they kind of help with that too. "Have you seen *****, He/she has burnt out.
On that knowledge it is then the right time to hang with them at the back and/or determine the problem, if any.
My fitness can nose dive easily too. The first couple of rides of the year make me feel around 89 years with a chest infection. It's the 'stick at it' that gets you there or atleast gets you to your best.

Also i've seen first hand that some non-retro ride outfits tend to 'beat the clock' and appear to take it all too seriously, i won't rattle on but, i've seen it all.
The one thing that AEC's on here do is take organisation and safety far more seriously than anything else, even if it isn't so obvious on the day. That can only be a good thing.
As far as ATB riding goes, I don't know of any other riding setups that get the numbers we do?! Answers on a postcard.
There are some trail blazing quality outfits out there but are few and far between.

cheers.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Very nice I'm sure and I really don't want to fall out with anyone on this. There is no law saying you must wear a helmet in this country. I don't want to get into an endless debate about he wore a helmet, banged his head and only survived because of it. This can be countered by he wore a helmet, banged his head and is worse now because his head was 3 inches bigger which massively increased the rotational damage to the brain stem.

I always wear a helmet when I mountain bike. I am more likely to have the sort of accident where it might help. They are only tested to 12mph single direction of fall anyway.

That is my decision to wear it. I would rather not bother on the road. I do not want to think of my hobby as overtly dangerous. I really don't want to dress like a power ranger to ride a bike.

As to the routes. I am old and fat. Folk generally wait. With this in mind I cordially invite the more nervous road riders on a ride with me. It'll be short (35 ish miles) and slow. This is to accommodate me and my slow return to "form".

The roads of staffordshire are flat and you will more than likely be waiting for me!

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

The helmet
It's not for you, it's for the ride leaders who may have to sort you out, be it a fall, a branch to the head or something else. If 'insurance reasons' are needed I believe the AEC's are not covered if it is not insisted in their ride. Remember you are riding under the Retrobike website banner at rides organised by AEC's as major rides or national. Do what the hell you like on local no-official rides as far as I'm concerned. Official rides, just follow the simple rules they need.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Always helmet.
Might not save you from a tipper truck, but after many experiences (myself & others), I would rather always wear one.
Better to be undead, rather than looking like a bike thief tryin' to outrun the Law, on a hot date with Darwin's theory of natural selection.
There's possibly event insurance criteria, etc, to satisfy these days.
Besides, there's so many styles of hat to try!

 

[Charlieboy28]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/MTB

Simple , ladies with nice bottoms, cant believe its been missed :roll:

 

[grumpycommuter]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/MTB

Simple , ladies with nice bottoms, cant believe its been missed :roll:

I'm pretty pert you know. Been known to crack walnuts in mine...

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/MTB

Simple , ladies with nice bottoms, cant believe its been missed :roll:

I'm pretty pert you know. Been known to crack walnuts in mine...

So you've followed ededwards into the woods too?