P.O. Box 7424 ● North Port, FL 34290

From the Prez,  January 22, 2012

Thanks much to Judy Jarvis for running our “No Snow” party Jan 12. A great time was had by all, to include Frank Lentz doing his unique version of the electric slide!

If you haven’t gotten your dues and signed form in by now, you are late.

On the Topic of Pace.

o   I have received a few complaints that some rides do not keep to the advertized pace. Something to work on, but let’s first insure we all mean the same thing by pace. 

o   I’ll use 15 MPH as an example. A 15 MPH ride does not mean the ride will average 15. Because of turns and lights, it would have to stay at 16 + in order to average 15. It also does not mean the leader will go no higher or lower than 15 MPH. That is near impossible. It means the leader will try to keep that big number on the speedometer as much as possible, which translates to 15.0 to 15.9. For most of us there needs to be some margin of error, so please expect an announced ride of 15 MPH will go up into the 16’s and down into the 14’s. Also as you all know, The Wayward Wind can have a huge impact. A ride leader can be exerting a 15 MPH effort to keep it at 12 into the wind and coast along at 18 with the wind at the back.

o   Having tried to clear up what pace means, let me now suggest that this complaint comes typically from those in the back struggling to keep up. What often happens is the ride leader slows down to make a turn at a corner and immediately pedals up to the desired pace. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in quantum mechanics to figure out that this causes each rider to accelerate to catch up. In the back, it will create what is called the yo-yo or accordion effect which will require riders to go well above the ride leader’s speed just to stay with the group.

o   Bottom line: Riders: Know what is meant by an announced pace and pick one you can do. Ride leaders: You can help by focusing your attention on this issue.

Ride safely,

Bob 

    Do you have I.C.E. ? Always carry your cell phone on a ride. Make sure you have entered one or more phone numbers under "In Case of Emergency"

 
Want to try a tandem bike? The Club has one for members to use.
Call Gary Bryant, (941) 223-5226, to make arrangements.  It's fun!