Frustruck said:I think you are being unfair, limiting this ride to an elite (for the moment). In any case, how exactly can you say who can and cannot come on your rides, seeing as it is on public roads? The only thing I can think of is limiting the numbers of people who turn up at cafes that have agreed to open specially for the ride.
several reasons
it's a question of safety. I've let the ride grow little by little because I don't know what the safe limit is. This is a new route, and I'll probably be a little conservative and learn from the experience.
the number of people who know the routine also makes a difference to the route. The more people we have the greater the need to keep the route simple. Turns (and hazards) need wayfinders, who, having waited for the tail end Charlies then zoom to the front again. Fewer wayfinders mean fewer turns. I'm speculating, but Mike and I might have a very gentle tussle about bits of the route, where, on the one hand, he wants to go the most interesting way, and I'll want to keep it simple.
speed. Bigger rides are generally slower - the risk of punctures is higher, and there may be a greater spread of natural riding speeds, and a greater spread in endurance. Whitstable probably has an upper limit of about 80, and, to be straight about it, there will be people who I won't register until I know that they can get the trip. Southend is right for just about anybody - we had a rider in her 60s on a clunker who had never ridden more than 25 miles before, and, at one point, her moving speed dropped to seven miles an hour, but we got her there! We've got target times which are generous (4.30 for the midway point on the Bridge and 7.30 for Cleethorpes) and allow for a wide range of ability, but increasing the number of new riders, especially if there are not so many experienced riders, increases the risk of the ride over-running. As it did last November when I failed to pick up on the fact that Katarzyna really hadn't ever cycled more than seven miles before. It's a fine line between being inclusive and messing up...
queues. This month's stop at Junction 31 will be a patience tester (I'm going over there tomorrow to see if they are willing to take on extra staff for the night, which they've done before). Very few places are willing to open at 3 in the morning, and we have to avoid overloading them.
as Stu says - when you register you give me your mobile number (along with your CTC/LCC/BC number if you have one, and confirmation that you've read 'the basics'). If we're leaving the start and you're not there I can call you and see if you're on your way. If I ever had to cancel the ride I'd send e-mails, and phone those who didn't confirm back, as I had to for the 2009 Hilly 50.
it's a CTC ride. Without the cover offered by the CTC I wouldn't dream of organising a ride of 115 people to Brighton. I owe it to the CTC to run the ride as best I can
despite his protestations, Stu is part of an elite. He's a constant source of help and encouragement. The ride wouldn't work without Stu and the others who contribute. Every month I search my conscience before lumbering the same people with the same jobs, and every month they turn up trumps. Stu, Martin and a couple of dozen others make it possible for people who would never make the trip to have a carefree time. People join me on recce rides, or report potholes, or make arrangements with the Scout Hut. There's the text of an e-mail from one of the Martlets riders on the last ride that heaps praise on Stu and it's deserved (there's no way I'm going to spare you any blushes, matey). Not only was he at some obscure junction pointing the way at half past four in the morning, but at half past five he was ensuring that a first time rider with a bent derailleur got to Brighton.
oh - and Harwich. Limit 24. Unless you fancy swimming....
