Cycling Club Shennanigans

[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.