Open Question for dellzeqq ...
What would need to be done by someone to organize a FNRttC under the umbrella of the existing FNRttC, but in areas of the country outside the range from London?
In particular I would like to try something starting in either Edinburgh or Glasgow, but there is no reason this could not include starts from other major towns/cities like Manchester, Newcastle, ...
call it something else
there is nowhere outside the range. We've done Manchester to Blackpool, and we're going to do it again next year. We've done York to Cleethorpes and York to Hull, and we'll do York to Hull again next year. We've done Cardiff to Swansea and we'll do it again next year. We might yet do HPCJoG - if we don't do Barcelona to Nice. I took a look at Glasgow to Oban (I have a daughter in Glasgow) but was dissuaded by people who knew the turf better than I. I've looked at starting in Birmingham, but can't see a destination within reach, and I've given some thought to starts in Sheffield, Leeds and Edinburgh, all following suggestions from these very boards.
I'm always open to suggestion if someone has a good idea (train connections are paramount, halfway stops are difficult but necessary, the start should have some urban significance and the finish should be by the coast with beer on tap before ten in the morning). The route should have something to say about the area - Manchester to Blackpool had towns, hills and flatlands, while York to Hull had to be flat and had to include the Humber Bridge. Views are good, but simplicity is really good - Manchester to Blackpool had seventeen miles without a discretionary turn and London to Brighton has had as few as six discretionary turns.
Suggestions should be backed up by a push from someone in the area - TC gave the South Wales ride the most almighty push, and we got over 60 people. The Manchester to Blackpool ride was a great night out, and I'm hoping that next year's will get a bigger crowd, but if I thought it was never going to get past 35 (with over half coming from London and the southeast) I'd probably give up, simply because the expense of three trips is so great and it's difficult to maintain a halfway stop for only 35 riders - and perhaps try Carlisle to Newcastle instead, by way of a thankyou to McShroom
Beyond that there's a pretty rigid QA system, which encompasses every rider having 3rd party insurance, the route being safe (I usually do two recce rides, but one route needed five or six), all the junctions being ironed out, proven TECs, proven wayfinders, the pace being moderated to suit the ride, collecting points worked out and so on and so forth.
2012 isn't set in stone, but it's close. If someone comes up with a really whizzo idea, then I might drop a ride to bring it in.
this isn't the only way to do night rides, but it's the FNRttC way. If you want to organise a night ride off your own bat, then the very best of luck to you - if there's anything I can do to help I will - but, like I said, call it something else.
Naughty Stuart, who'll fold his bike up and jump on board...
