FNRttC - could it be a club?

[theclaud]

Whatever happens people are going to be filling in forms. Not least your ob'd'nt s'v'nt..

Let's be fair. I've got away with it so far, but, insurance being insurance it would be unreasonable to expect that you could get it with no effort for ever. And Rob is intent on helping because (the veil of modesty is about to slip, peeps) There is no question about the high standards with which you run the FNRttC. I can honestly say that the rides are as well run as any I have seen or taken part in both within and external to, CTC. Equally your drive and commitment to sign up new members via the rides are well recognised.

It's simply this - the insurance is arranged around the traditional club run. We're a bit different.

Who'd have thought it?

Once you get them on the ride, as far as I'm concerned you can corner them in the Madeira and threaten that unless they join the CTC immediately, Rich will repeat the toilet story ad nauseam. You can even march them to the cashpoint. It's the slight barrier to getting them there in the first place I'm thinking about. People have either not heard of the CTC, or they think it's weird/don't really get it. You used the word "carefree" somewhere else about the ride - I think that's part of its attraction.

 

[redjedi]

I would have no problem with paying £13 a year to attend the FNRs as I try to make as many as possible, for me it would work out at less than £1 a ride.

I'm not a member of CTC/LCC but I do have personal and third party cycle insurance which also covers racing events.

But I can see that it would then be a problem trying to get new riders joined up. Paying £13 for possibly going on only one ride could be a big turn off for a lot of beginners.
I know a couple of people who are eager to give it a try next year, but I doubt they would be a regular and having to pay may put them off altogether.

 

[Origamist]

I'd not want to join any club that would accept Rich P as member.

 

[theclaud]

I'd not want to join any club that would accept Rich P as member.

Oi! I was going to say that. That's two obvious gags I've been beaten to.

 

[rich p]

I'd not want to join any club that would accept Rich P as member.

Grouchy Matts if I'm not mistaken

 

[frank9755]

The club idea sounds best to me.

Getting 70-odd disclaimers signed and filed away on a dark, wet, windy night at HPC sounds dull and fraught with potential for omissions (and you would need a saddlebag to put them all in).

The problem with the club is, as others point out, that it raises the entry barriers for new joiners. But many clubs, including of course CTC sections, allow people to do a couple of rides before they are then obliged to join. Could we/you do that? If so, I think that removes the barrier. Then if new member wants to keep coming, s/he is, presumably, happy to join the club.

 

[dellzeqq]

Is it not possible to advertise the ride 3 months in advance in Cycle with a later opening date for entries? Say, about 1 month ahead of the ride.

that's what I'd do, but, trust me on this, they would be e-mailing me from the moment that the mag hits the doormat. I do the four week thing for a reason - people try to block book in advance in a way that makes one fear for the admissions tutor at Eton.

 

[dellzeqq]

The club idea sounds best to me.

Getting 70-odd disclaimers signed and filed away on a dark, wet, windy night at HPC sounds dull and fraught with potential for omissions (and you would need a saddlebag to put them all in).

The problem with the club is, as others point out, that it raises the entry barriers for new joiners. But many clubs, including of course CTC sections, allow people to do a couple of rides before they are then obliged to join. Could we/you do that? If so, I think that removes the barrier. Then if new member wants to keep coming, s/he is, presumably, happy to join the club.

I see where you and TC are coming from. First time, just give me the thing on the basics. The day after the ride, e-mail asking if they've enjoyed themselves, and, if you want to come a second time, it's a quid to join and why don't you go for the affiliate membership while you're about it (I genuinely think that you're nuts if you ride out without third party insurance). It's a possibility. I would have to limit this to five first timers, but most non-CTC first timers are brought in on personal recommendations, amd I take TC's point about the quid not being too big a deal in that case.

Thanks, Frank and TC. That's a pretty buff team effort!

By the way, I have asked Rob if each rider could just sign one disclaimer at the beginning of the year, which would save aggravation, and I imagine he's having to go back to the underwriters.....

 

[ChrisKH]

it would mean that if I screwed up and you died your grieving relatives could sue me but they would have to make do with the proceeds of my selling Legg Villas. And I'd have to move in with RichP

That really is above and beyond. What with all the used crisp packets and the subscription to 'Titanium Hip Joint Weekly' (unabridged audio version) coming through the post.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Right now I'd rather eat worms than renew my CTC membership. I'll be sourcing my own 3rd party insurance via another route in future.

I'd happily pay £25-a-year to keep Dell in talc for his tubes. I'd even chuck some beer tokens such a clubs way, if asked nicely by a Susie or a Claud, to subsidise a keep it free for noobs fund. Which could be a charitable endeavour and eligible for gift aid btw.

Such largesse is one of the benefits of middle age middle income ism!

My local club has a simple rule for noobs 5 rides and you join or don't ride with us again.

 

[dellzeqq]

hhhmmm....talcum powder...(ruminates)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

got to be some perks for the club president surely?

 

[Wobblers]

that's what I'd do, but, trust me on this, they would be e-mailing me from the moment that the mag hits the doormat. I do the four week thing for a reason - people try to block book in advance in a way that makes one fear for the admissions tutor at Eton.

You could always set up an email address exclusively for FNRttC registrations and have it automatically reply to such emails with a standard "come back when registrations are open message" such as:

Thank you for your interest. Please note the date for registration is still in the future, you unobservant clot. Kindly email me then. In the meantime, your message has been redirected to electronic oblivion.

Only perhaps with less politeness

 

[Wobblers]

Actually, I like the idea of a FNRttC club. Especially if it gets its own FNRttC jersey! Most clubs allow non-members to join their club runs on a trial basis so it could still be free to try for new riders. A quid is a nominal sum and, well, the third party insurance is the reason I'm a CTC member anyway. But the admin would doubtless take up an incredible amount of time.

 

[clivedb]

I see where you and TC are coming from. First time, just give me the thing on the basics. The day after the ride, e-mail asking if they've enjoyed themselves, and, if you want to come a second time, it's a quid to join and why don't you go for the affiliate membership while you're about it (I genuinely think that you're nuts if you ride out without third party insurance). It's a possibility. I would have to limit this to five first timers, but most non-CTC first timers are brought in on personal recommendations, amd I take TC's point about the quid not being too big a deal in that case.

Thanks, Frank and TC. That's a pretty buff team effort!

Sorry that you're faced with this, Simon. However, if it's not possible to carry on as before, then this version of the club seems the best option. It should avoid losing the openness of the ride, which is crucial to the ambience you have fostered. However, to take up your point about managing yet more lists, and so on, if there is a club then you could surely recruit some help to deal with the admin in the same way as you have for the actual rides. I would offer myself, but you would need someone a bit more efficient and competent with spreadsheets than I am.