Club,

The usual ride descriptions are below, but this week is kind of special. It marks the end of the first full season of group riding for many of you. We lost count at 50 new riders who have learned to ride on our Developers (and MS150) group rides this year. Special thanks to the many of you A riders, Gliders, and fellow Developers/MS150 folk who took time "on the back" to teach a new rider the ropes. You've contributed not only to the growth of the club, but the safety of our sport.

This is not goodbye. We will settle on new ride times for the Fall/Winter during the rides this week. No details yet, but we've got the kinks worked out and _both_ rides will continue, probably just as "Tioga" rides.

Looking forward to seeing you out there this week, and thanks for a great Spring/Summer season.

Cheers,
James Thompson
Developer's Ride Captain
MS150 Ride Leader

Wednesday--Developer’s Ride (Bike Works Parking Lot, Tioga Town Center)

6:00 p.m. meet, 6:10 leave, for 23 miles (always same course) at 18 m.p.h.  No drop.  This ride teaches new and fit riders how to draft, practice paceline etiquette, and be safe in a group at speed.  Experienced riders are expected to mentor new riders and to avoid shenanigans during the teaching portions of the ride.  Junior riders are encouraged, and should meet with the Ride Captain to indicate who will be their guardian on the ride.  This portion of the ride is advertised as ego and testosterone free.  If you can ride 17.5 m.p.h. for one hour by yourself comfortably, you can do this ride.  Road bikes only except by Captain’s approval.

Leopards/Easy Leopards (not an official ride group, just a sub-set of the Developers).  Same time, same ride, different rules.  The Ls (A riders) and Easy Ls (Gliders, fast but not race speed) will participate in advanced racing tactics and paceline formations including sprint leadouts, team time trials, rotating pacelines, etc . . . Riders who do not obey the rules and regroup with the main field properly will be asked to sit out the next week’s ride.   


Thursday--MS150 Ride/Advanced Developers (Bike Works Parking Lot, Tioga Town Center)

6:00 p.m. meet, 6:10 leave, for ride until dusk (about 35 miles as of this writing) at 18-19 m.p.h. no drop.  This is for advancing Developers (see above), Gliders, and others who want a longer slightly faster challenge than the Wednesday ride and who are training for the MS150 in October.  While this is “no drop,” riders are expected to be able to clip in fast after stops, and regroup quickly after corners so we make it in before dark.  The Leopard and Easy Leopard portion of this ride typically involves long chases back up to the main group, but again all rules of riding together at appropriate times must be obeyed.  Bootleg breakaways, riding off the front, and other shenanigans disrupt the main field and create an unsafe line of gassed riders on the road.

 

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