Saturday January 5, 2013

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind
Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com

Organiser's Mobile No: 0417 934 502
Ride style: Social

Terrain: Mainly Flat

Estimated Distance: 55 kms

Start Time: 7:00 am & 7:30 am

Start Place: Narrows North & Maylands Railway Station

We'll meet at Narrows North (7:00 am) and Maylands Railway Station (7:30 am) and ride through Guildford to Middle Swan and back. The route will vary a little compared to our normal middle swan ride and we'll stop for coffee / breakfast at the road house suggested by Francis.

Saturday December 29, 2012 - Pt Walter Ride

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind
Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0417 934 502
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Fairly Flat
Estimated Distance: 40 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - South Side
Start Time: Maylands 7:00, Narrows 7:30

We'll have the usual starts (Maylands and Narrows South) and coffee stop on the way back in Ardross (this will hopefully offer some alternative cafes in case some are closed).

Let me know if you're planning to join us.

Supporting the Ride_Group and its vote

It is at times like this that I realise how unforgiving politics must be, when those who are genuinely interested in looking after the best interests do everything they can to gauge what is right and acceptable (giving people the opportunity to vote) and then find what they put in place is either no longer acceptable or continually "white anted" by the more vocal.

Let me re-cap on what we've done and why we did it.

Some time ago (before many of our current riders joined us) a number of our members formed a splinter group. There were perhaps a few reasons for that ...one of which was the fact that a number of members wanted to get their ride out of the way earlier and before it got too hot.

When we started approaching the warmer months this year there was some talk of more people who were not so happy to be out in the heat.

We were keen to avoid further splintering of the group so it seemed the only fair way to gauge consensus was to ask Ride_Group members to vote on their preference. The vote was taken, the results were clear and the change was made ....and that really should have been the end of it.

Unfortunately some of our members didn't like the fact that the vote didn't go their way. This hasn't been helped by circumstances in the last couple of weeks where we've had:- 1) A Rider who hadn't bothered to vote re-join us then complain the ride is too early, 2) those who've actually been able to ride preferring the later start.

From those who didn't like the vote result (and even from someone who voted for the 7:30 start and has now changed his mind) we're seeing requests for additional part ways hook up points, to join along the way or arrangements to  meet at the coffee stop instead. This is completely contrary to intent of making a group arrangement and riding together as a group (which is the reason we had the vote in the first place).

Frankly this is a little akin to voting in a political party (that actually delivers on its promises) then white anting it because you've changed your mind or the popular vote doesn't match your own view.

My personal preference would have been to ride even earlier but had the vote been for an 8:00 start I would have accepted the popular vote and supported it.

I've managed the Ride_Group blog from the start and I do my best to gauge opinion and reflect the choices of the group and I normally don't begrudge the time I spend each week trying to keep people informed especially since it gives me the chance to spend time with people I call friends and have high regard for.

If you're going to be part of the group then respect, stand by and support the decisions made by the group. Don't expect my support if you selfishly decide to weaken the group to suit your own differing preference.

Saturday December 22, 2012 - Friendly Freo

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind
Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0417 934 502
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Mainly Flat
Estimated Distance: 65 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - North Side
Start Time: Maylands 7:00, Narrows 7:30

We'll do the old familiar "Friendly Freo" with the usual obligatory coffee stop (in Fremantle). We'll have the usual Maylands Railway Station start at 7:00 am then hook up at the Narrows. The ride will start from the Narrows Bridge (North Side - where the bike path goes under the freeway bridge) at 7:30 am.

Saturday December 15 - Ellenbrook Loop

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind
Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0417 934 502
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Mainly Flat
Estimated Distance: 65 kms+
Start Point: Narrows - North Side
Start Time: Narrows 7:30

John has suggested a new ride for this Saturday.

Narrows to vines using Swan Valley route then through vines to Dome at Ellenbrook. Follow Lord Street to Reid Highway, turn right ahead to Beechboro, turn left and head through to Bayswater train station then retrace cycle path back to start.

[Editor's note - I understand that there has been some discussion about reverting to an 8am start and that there have been some misunderstandings about who preferred the 8am start. Recent votes showed a clear preference for a 7:30 start, so we'll stay with that for now]

Saturday December 8, 2012 - Mediocrity Ride

Ride Organiser: Alan Perkins

Organiser's email:  alanperkins2000@yahoo.com

Organisers mobile tel: 0401 303 283
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Mainly Flat
Estimated Distance: 50 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - South Side
Start Time: Maylands 7:00, Narrows 7:30

Alan Perkins introduced to the "Mediocrity Ride" in April. It was, well "ok" (according to half the group). Some said the ride was really good ...but that was thanks only to the weather. Some said the ride was perhaps, "possibly repeatable". So we've decided to repeat it.

The "Mediocrity Ride" features ideas carefully pilfered from other people, and offers something to most. It is the ride rated "OK" by 5 out of 10 people! If you're excited about this ride ...DON'T BE ...you've missed the point!

Starting at Narrows - Southside, the "Mediocrity Ride" is a leisurely 50 km tour. The terrain is mainly flat with some gentle hills (ie "Ken friendly"); uses a mixture of cycle paths and roads,and intersperses faster stretches with slower, more technical sections.

Alan tells me that this time around he is thinking of re-routing the "Mediocrity Ride" to run it in the reverse direction. It will have a different coffee stop and everything: but don't worry - it'll still be really average!

Alan anticipates an 7:30 am start from the Narrows (South side), with the "over achievers" having the option of a 7:00 departure from Maylands.

Summer Time Start - Voting Results

Here are the results of the "Summer Time Start" votes.

Note: Where a voter something like they preferred a 7:30 am start but could live with an 8:00 am start, 7:30 was shown as 1st preference and 8:00 as second preference. Where there was no mention of a second time 1st and 2nd preference showed the same time.

The result is 6 to 3 in favour of a 7:30 am start at the Narrows (with Maylands being 30 minutes earlier when there is also a Maylands start).