Tuesday Night MM Ride Experiment

[Scott Baker]

Starting on 4/10/07, we are going to try and depart Motion Makers in two smaller groups instead of one big group. The plan will be for the B Group (those that prefer to ride slower or easier) will depart MM at 6PM SHARP. The A Group (those that prefer to ride faster/harder) will depart at 6:05PM. This should help with the traffic situation in the early part of the ride and make for a more enjoyable experience for all. I am not trying create a bunch of rules for the ride, but if we all follow these basic guidelines and riding etiquette, then the cyclists and the mototrist should have a better experience.

Each group will ride together along Chipper Curve then Skyland Drive. Each group will be mindful of traffic and ride single file upon any traffic approaching from the rear. Those in the back of each group will be keen on watching from rear-approaching traffic and signal "car back!", which will be echoed to the front of the group. If you happen to be two abreast (and no more than that), immediately form a single line and let anyone to your left merge in front of you pronto. If you are in the front and need to pull off, move slightly left and then fade back to the rear of the pack. As you pull off the front, flick your right elbow out a few times signaling to the next rider to pull through.

This split departure should allow us to regroup around the lumberyard/The Hub hill or thereabouts, beyond heavy traffic flow. The pace usually picks up after that point , so if you want to hammer, go for it. If not, keep on truckin'. Feedback, suggestions, and constructive ideas are welcome.

[Wrenchmeister]

I think this is a good idea. My only concern is that 5 minutes apart may not be enough. I think the B group may end up getting caught earlier than the Hub. I say this because as a B (or C) rider myself these days, I sometimes find the starting pace on Skyland to be a little fast. I think the B group may end up riding slower than they used to in the larger group. I also think the A group may push it a little faster since they'll have rabbits to catch, and no guilt about dropping people early. Great idea overall though, and one whose time has come.

[YellowLemondTed]

I can see this concern being a legitimate one. I know personally that I can ride at a little stronger pace when I've got the A riders in front of me. Lets give this a try, and improve on what needs to be improved.

On a note not much different than this current topic of discussion, coming from charlotte, our weekly group rides sometimes reached 90+ riders. This was not a race format, it was cyclists of every level riding together. We never staggered the start, though we did have riders that would be in charge of directing traffic at intersections and making sure the rear of the group (usually the newest most unexperienced riders) were riding safe and keeping the least traffic disturbance as possible.

Once the route reached the less traveled country roads, two things would happen.
1) The ride would naturally split up between riding abilities. This would help ease the stress on the drivers and riders from a traffic stand point.

2) The people who ran the ride and were in charge of traffic control etc would remain with certain riders one would bring up the rear and provide training advice etc to those new riders to help them become better.

With our ride, being the terrain and format that it is could benefit possibly from an alteration of this setup. In the beginning ride out we should have a few riders who are leaders of the group that can hold traffic at intersections (turning left across the left off of main street). Also to voice the traffic reports from behind the group. These riders should be able to easily accelerate to the front of the group along side and herd people into a single file line when needed. This should only be an issue until we get out to the hill at the hub. I think once we get to that area it starts splitting up to safer smaller groups.

An adaptation of these ideas combined with those from Scott and others may work out to be the best run tuesday night rides yet. Only trial and error will make this successful.

I'm in for the long run.