getting our act together

[carelesschucca]

Hey, I've organised a few runs too, i get no credit around here... Last one I did no one got left behind cause all the stops were within 20 miles of each other Directions were given and everything was sorted...

I've a ride out, lets just go to the Dukes Pass, we can go back and forward all day, fun and a little excercise!!! Wonder why I don't get to organise them anymore!!!

Got my SV in july last year for commuting and my missus. That was the first and last proper run I went. THE DUKES PASS .

I swear I could not walk right for a week after going back and forth , hanging off like a complete goon

My GSX14 seat is bigger than my sofa and the only time I "hang orf" is when I'm falling off.

Definetly a Kilmahog- Aberfoyle man me'sel!

You get my vote if there is a pretty osteopath in Aberfoyle


Andy

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

I've a ride out, lets just go to the Dukes Pass, we can go back and forward all day, fun and a little excercise!!! Wonder why I don't get to organise them anymore!!!

Like the sound of that one

not been out wi u guys yet but good to see good points put forward on both sides...hope to get out wi use now to see what all the fuss is about and hope as many people turn up as have had views on this.... should be busy with PLENTY to squabble about!!!!!!

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Like the sound of that one

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

not for me thanx

[Blue Flame]

Wow,

Loads of posts since i was last online. apologies for not posting reply to your post Tigerrrrr but I've been down south yesterday and today....

Originally Posted by Tigerrrr.......

I've met you a couple of times and you seem a very decent chap, so let's not fall out over all this.

I'm not going to add a great deal as a number of replies have been made since I was last on...... however....................... please be assured that my replies to your posts were not about you as a person but about the fact fact that I disagreed with some of your comments. There is nothing to fall out over as long as a conversation remains a conversation and does not degenerate into trading insults and i do not think that that has happened. I am simply disagreeing with your point of view and suggesting that you come to another rideout now that we are a couple of years down the line and you can see if your opinion on the rideouts has changed.

If you feel it hasn't or you still do not enjoy it then fine but your current comments on SV Rideouts are based on an 'old' experience.

Originally Posted by Carelesschucca

Hey, I've organised a few runs too, i get no credit around here...

Absolutely Apart from one or two runs that I have organised the others I have just posted routes up for and I cannot take the credit for organising them. There are plenty of peeps that have organised runs.

Originally Posted by Northwind

Tigerrrr's views are as valid as anyone's though. It's easy to say that since he doesn't come out to play, he shouldn't have an opinion- but remember, he's telling us the reason he doesn't come out to play.

I have never said that he shouldn't have an opinion. Of course everybody is entitled to an opinion. I have only expressed my opinion that his opinion on SV Ecosse rideouts is potentially outdated and that he should come and test his opinion on another rideout now that we are two years down the line from his last experience. (phew !! I know there are two many 'opinions' in that sentence)

Then if his opinion still stands......then and only then......well he is not entitled to his opinion anymore. (Only joking Tigerrr!!)

[Tigerrrr.......]

Hi, Grant.

Glad we've not fallen out and you're certainly entitled to your opinion as I am.

You say my rideout views are based on old experiences. That's certainly true, but can you expand on how the rideouts have changed since the Moffat/Glencoe ones I was on in 2004 and if any of the points from the policeman's quote above have been implemented. For example, is a running order agreed, is overtaking done only by prior arrangement or do riders ride to the person behind? All golden rules according to the expert.

Cheers.

Tigerrrr.......

[Blue Flame]

I think that, as indeed others have alluded to in earlier posts, the pointers that are in the posts are fairly well adhered to:-

As with everything in life there is always areas that could be improved on for the next ride. (not bringing enough maps is one example that occasionally happens, and when that occurs the riding to the bike behind becomes particularily important).

Sometimes riding to the bike behind does not work due to other traffic / roadworks traffic lights etc etc (as the writer himself acknowledges) however key changes in route direction have been generally well managed in these situations with the rider in front pausing at the offending junction to ensure that the rider behind can see that there is a deviation.

Running orders are sorted at the start and there is not any overtaking to write home about (where there is overtaking it tends to be early on as some riders settle to their natural pace, and this is fine and done in safe straight sections of road and is minimised due to the start off positions).

Their is certainly no racing/jostling for position to see who will arrive at the next checkpoint first. So as far as overtaking by prior arrangement is concerned I think that this is generally well managed.

There is always a leader although there have been sometimes a lack of a sweeper although I don't view that as particularily critical item if the other rules are being followed however its something to think about.

Hope this helps

[northwind]

TBH I don't see any merit in "no overtakes unless agreed" for us. I think that the agreement can be pretty much inferred, it's an essential part of finding the speed of the group and your place in it. If you're i a small group of riders with similiar experience and pace who know each other then yes, I can certainly see why it would be good.

Not really too convinced by "ride to the pace of the person behind" either, I really think the absolute golden rule for most people on our rideouts is to ride to no pace but your own. It prevents frustration and spoiling the ride of the fast rider who wants to push on, and it reduces the risk of their being a temptation to push yourself.

Also, it removes the guilt that a rider might feel in that situation- if you think you're spoiling the ride of the faster rider in front then you're more likely to speed up, and may be put off coming to future rides. How many times do you read or hear people say they're afraid to join a ride because they're too slow, or too inexperienced?

As long as the ride's well organised- people have each other's mobile numbers, and know where they're going- then getting left behind just shouldn't be a crisis. Personally I'd always rather be left behind than hold somone up.

the only further point i can make is that slower riders seem to think they should position themselves to t he rear of the ride for fear of slowing up faster riders. the further back the ride you are the faster you have to ride to catch up. maybe an idea for those slower riders to position themself behind front runner. but then not everyone thinks of themselves as a slow rider. I class myself as a middle of the road rider not the slowest but not the fastest.

so maybe the speed demons should go to the back that way they can slow down and then ride as fast as they want to catch up. maybe have a designated front runner and rear marker, lots of maps and lots of stops. many more rules and its going to be too much effort. its supposed to be fun and i usually have fun. saying that the last run - st andrews - i didnt enjoy but that was due to horrible coating of grease, diesel and **** on the roads.