Zonda
06-07-2007, 06:23 AM
This group has gone through many changes since its creation in February 2005, starting with less than ten members. Today we have 244 members who have signed up on our new forum since January 2007. We had about this same number on our old Google Group before the switch.
I continue to be amazed at the success of this group. A group that was not expected to get off the ground, much less impact the cycling community as it has. We have a great group of people who have contributed their time and skills to make this group what it is today. It’s time to make some changes again.
I have decided not to continue organizing two rides a week. Initially, I started the regular rides in Cary to build up ridership. We have done that! I started the shop rides last fall and this spring because the two bikes shops agreed to be paying sponsors. This enabled us to purchase jerseys at a lower cost because we could use the money received from them and three other sponsors to offset the high cost of the first order for jerseys. I intended to organize OMV and shop rides through the end of September. However, the growth of the group has become so large that it’s taking all of my free time to meet the demands.
I will continue organizing the Wed. ride. I will organize the Sunday shop rides through the end of June. I think my time is better spent welcoming new riders and doing other things to provide an encouraging and supportive environment for new members, which I feel is a contributing factor to our success.
I still want to ride on weekends, but want more flexibility to catch up on personal matters that I have put off for months to keep up with the demands of the group. Since we won’t be tied to riding in Cary, we can have a rotating schedule from various locations. This will be better for riders outside Cary who have been commuting a long way to ride with us each week.
Earlier in the year I suggested that others could organize rides on the same day as the Slow Spokes core rides because the group had grown so much and is spread out that it’s not realistic to expect everyone to ride in the same location each week. We have so many new riders since then who may not know this. Someone said last night others might not have done this thinking they may step on someone’s toes. I take this as a good sign that we have many other leaders waiting to step up and the group will be stronger and better with this change.
I hope others will organize rides either from Clayton, north Raleigh, Wendell, Durham, etc. or from the shops since we already have cue sheets. NCBC also has a lot of cue sheets (http://www.ncbikeclub.org/queue_sheets/ncbcqueue.htm) on their website that can be used.
I think this will be a good thing for our group and we will be stronger and better for making the change. So, this is a very heartfelt, “stick a fork in me, I’m done!!” I just can’t keep up with everything any longer. :eek:
I would like to solicit your thoughts/comments on how we can continue to offer regular weekend rides.
Who wants to be the first person to step up and organize a weekend ride so we can start planning for July?
Thank you all for your contributions to this group. It is where it is today because of you!
http://www.trianglecycling.com/images/misc/progress.gif
I continue to be amazed at the success of this group. A group that was not expected to get off the ground, much less impact the cycling community as it has. We have a great group of people who have contributed their time and skills to make this group what it is today. It’s time to make some changes again.
I have decided not to continue organizing two rides a week. Initially, I started the regular rides in Cary to build up ridership. We have done that! I started the shop rides last fall and this spring because the two bikes shops agreed to be paying sponsors. This enabled us to purchase jerseys at a lower cost because we could use the money received from them and three other sponsors to offset the high cost of the first order for jerseys. I intended to organize OMV and shop rides through the end of September. However, the growth of the group has become so large that it’s taking all of my free time to meet the demands.
I will continue organizing the Wed. ride. I will organize the Sunday shop rides through the end of June. I think my time is better spent welcoming new riders and doing other things to provide an encouraging and supportive environment for new members, which I feel is a contributing factor to our success.
I still want to ride on weekends, but want more flexibility to catch up on personal matters that I have put off for months to keep up with the demands of the group. Since we won’t be tied to riding in Cary, we can have a rotating schedule from various locations. This will be better for riders outside Cary who have been commuting a long way to ride with us each week.
Earlier in the year I suggested that others could organize rides on the same day as the Slow Spokes core rides because the group had grown so much and is spread out that it’s not realistic to expect everyone to ride in the same location each week. We have so many new riders since then who may not know this. Someone said last night others might not have done this thinking they may step on someone’s toes. I take this as a good sign that we have many other leaders waiting to step up and the group will be stronger and better with this change.
I hope others will organize rides either from Clayton, north Raleigh, Wendell, Durham, etc. or from the shops since we already have cue sheets. NCBC also has a lot of cue sheets (http://www.ncbikeclub.org/queue_sheets/ncbcqueue.htm) on their website that can be used.
I think this will be a good thing for our group and we will be stronger and better for making the change. So, this is a very heartfelt, “stick a fork in me, I’m done!!” I just can’t keep up with everything any longer. :eek:
I would like to solicit your thoughts/comments on how we can continue to offer regular weekend rides.
Who wants to be the first person to step up and organize a weekend ride so we can start planning for July?
Thank you all for your contributions to this group. It is where it is today because of you!
http://www.trianglecycling.com/images/misc/progress.gif