A reflection

The festive season is often a time of reflection, usually over personal and family matters.

I've also found myself reflecting on the Ride_Group and the changes we've seen, and will no doubt continue to see, in the group dynamics. 

While we've got quite a number of members, some we see regularly and others ranging from infrequent to rarely and for a wide variety of reasons.

I think it is fair to say (maybe a case of the bleeding obvious) that members ride with us so long as they enjoy the ride and the company of those riding. Of course people derive enjoyment from  different aspects. Is the ride slow / easy enough? Is it fast / challenging enough? Is it early enough or late enough? Does joining in the ride fit in with other life / family priorities? Did riding with the Ride_Group help achieve a level of riding fitness but you felt the need to move on to remain challenged? Have your circumstances changed?

The Ride_Group will, of course, never be all things to all members all the time but we continue to strive for consensus.

If I have a regret over this past year especially it is that I'm uncertain why some of our regulars are no longer riding with us and have lost contact with them: Ross Kyrwood and Dave introduced through Mark Esvelt certainly fall into this category. Ross / Dave ..if you've got a chance to drop us a line it would be good to know how you're going ..and even better to see you on a ride.

Lisa Dobrin has had a busy year with new career challenges and hasn't had so many opportunities to join us. Similarly we know that Yuen is limited by his work rosters. We look forward to having you both join us again whenever the chance presents itself.

Helmuth. We know you've been busy with house building and haven't been on the bike for awhile and Eugenie I expect you've been getting in early rides with Paul Kittler and Mark Esvelt. We fully understand respect your collective reasons for doing separate rides...but we still miss you all.

It has been some time since we've seen Nana and Jim, who recently got married (we send our congratulations).

Quite a number of our current riders were introduced to the Ride_Group through John Neville and through John we hear from time to time how the power house Rob Neumann is going even though we don't see him very often these days.

Keith LaBrooy is a longer standing member of the group who we haven't seen so often this year. Keith lost his father following a long illness in recent months and Keith and his family have our best wishes. Keith is a valued member of our group and happens to be one of the most kind hearted and caring people you'll ever meet. Keith tells me that despite having the need to take his daughters to weekend jobs he'll do his best to join us on rides in the new year.

Vera spent quite a bit of time overseas this year but hopefully, now that you're back, you'll join us from time to time.

We haven't seen so much of our good friend, Ken, since he got back from holidays this year. Having been away myself I recognise that it is often difficult to get back into the riding routine.
Ken, we're fond of your "mystery" rides and of you. We need to see you more often!

While this post has focused on those we don't see so often ....we appreciate our more regular riders: - Jenny, Terry, John, Graham, Alan, Nigel, Brendan and Dawn. 

Graham. It is great that you've been able to join us more often this year. I particularly appreciate your calm, practical nature.

Terry. I've got the greatest of admiration for you and your steadying influence. Thank you for your ongoing friendship and support.

To Ride_Group members past and present and guest riders I wish you all the best happiness and success for this New Year.