Cycling Club Shennanigans

[Roadtrip]

+1 on the poor move on behalf of the ride "leader" and sorry you had a bad ride.

Perhaps given you've come from a place where they had a really good club, you can help change this club, as it does seem the President is at least willing to listen to some ideas.

It really sounds like the "leadership" is ran too thin or perhaps new to being in charge. I coached Softball one summer and it was a total disaster. There was no leadership to speak of and all the things I was told coming in (recruitment) ended up being lies. The offers of help, the support system, all the things they promised me went away once the first game started, when they all turned competitive and were only out to run up the score on my team.

I finished out the season and turned in my equipment and never went back. It made me look bad to the girls I was coaching as it seemed I was the one not in control. I had a player injured on the field and actually ended up breaking her ankle, but because I was the only coach and didn't have any assistants, I was left to try and manage the entire game and didn't see all of the play and she didn't tell me she was hurt. She complained about the other team playing dirty, but never about her foot, so I left her in the game which was about over. I felt horrible when she showed up at the next practice in a cast and her parents weren't too happy with me, but I simply explained to them had I known their daughter was hurt I would have stopped and had her treated on the spot.

I could have stayed, but I honestly didn't feel that the organization was all that willing to listen, they were too busy managing the Pony League for boys that raked in more concession money then we did. Our field wasn't even properly cared for and it was a battle to even get them to turn on the lights if a game ran late, so I bailed.

If you want to continue on with this club, I'd be open and tell them how you feel about this ride, but offer to help. It sounds like you have the experience and knowledge to turn this club into a really, really good experience for everyone-- advanced riders to newbie.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!
Shannon

[Catrin]

Winding Road, I am sorry to hear that you had this experience. I had considered going, but the weather kept me home and I suspect that the ride would have been a little long for my leg right now anyway.

I agree with IndySteel that if you are really bothered by this then a letter to CIBA is in order. Especially since this is a winter ride, they really should have officially canceled it rather than the ride leaders just not showing up or disappearing. I know it was a "Grand Touring" ride, but still I am really surprised that no effort was made to assure that people stayed together, or to check on those who were left behind. It is one thing for that to happen in southern Indiana in height of summer, another thing entirely for sub-freezing temps and in bad neighborhoods to boot. This just makes me even less likely to participate in urban rides hosted by the club... (I love the rural rides though).

[indysteel]

The thing with CIBA is that each group ride is really only as good at that particular ride leader makes it. There are some really good ride leaders who go well out of there way to provide a safe and enjoyable ride. Then there are those who do the bare minimum. If there are problems, the "top brass" won't necessarily find out about them unless someone complains--which is why I think WindingRoad should.

I, personally, have had more trouble on CIBA "grand touring" rides. They simply don't offer--and aren't required too--all the typical ride support that you find on the regular weekend rides. The last one I did out of Columbus was pretty bad in that they routed us over some really chewed up roads. That wouldn't have been anything more than an irritation except that some of the bad roads had some fast downhills. While I really like the ride leaders, they are SO familar with that area that they sometimes forget that not everybody else is. Plus, the idea that people stick together on a ride that's 40 plus miles long isn't realistic. Following a map works okay, but some of the roads aren't well marked.

I feel some need, however, to defend CIBA a bit. All in all, I think it's a great club. A great club that could stand to tweak a few things. The club offers free marked and supported weekend rides almost every weekend day from March until November. It's totally volunteer driven. While a lot of effort is made to educate ride leaders as to their responsibilities, mistakes and transgressions happen. I've led a weekend ride now for several years now. Every year I swear it's my last because it takes SO much time to put it together correctly. Please don't throw the baby out with the bath water. A lot of what CIBA does is done very well.

[Catrin]

IndySteel - all good points - my aversion to the club urban rides is really more due to my aversion to urban riding in general more than CIBA. I should have been more clear.

I totally agree that it really does matter who the ride leaders are - and you and your co-leaders did a fantastic job last summer and I hope that you do it again next year! I was on the same ride out of Columbus that you were on and couldn't agree more. I think that, overall, CIBA does a great job - and it is wonderful that there are so many volunteers that are willing to give of their time and energy to support so many rides year-round

[indysteel]

I wasn't really taking issue with anything you said, Catrin. Urban group rides aren't my cup o' tea either. I also don't like riding on snow or ice, and certainly not in the dark. You didn't catch me out there last night!

Don't get me wrong. I've complained a plenty to the folks at CIBA about various things over the years. They are not above criticism or reproach.

[Crankin]

Being a ride leader is hard work that most people don't realize; it's sort of like when I was a group fitness instructor. People thought it was a "fun" part time job and didn't realize the amount of preparation and leadership skills it took. And when you're a ride leader, you are doing it on a volunteer basis, which adds in another dimension. One thing that I think holds true for both of these situations is that just being "good" at it doesn't necessarily mean that you should be leading. Sometimes people volunteer or are recruited because they seem like good riders, but... they have no group leadership skills and don't have a firm grasp on the safety issues involved. People scoff at the leadership requirements for AMC, as it's really based on hiking, where there's as much liability involved as for cycling. But, I am glad I had to go through a 6 week course and a weekend. The other club I belong to has some good leaders, but, there's more variability and also I've been in situations where I never would have taken people through, mostly due to poor roads or traffic situations. So, definitely say something, or the club won't know.
I only lead 2-3 rides a year now, as I got kind of burned out. And I am happy to be the sweep, quite frankly.

[Desert Tortoise]

Sorry about the crummy ride. That was awful and I hope you never go through something like that again. The others have offered some really good ideas on how to make things better.

What struck me about your story was, yes the awful situation, but that in the midst of all that, a very kind person went out his way to help you through it. You went to see Christmas lights and ended with a gift of Christmas.

I know that doesn't change what all happened, but in that mess there was a shinning moment.