Mark,

last year Skinny Phil and I worked out some basic rules to help keep the Hipp training rides competetive and fun but also civilized and somewhat predicable.

 

Tuesday rides are meant to be  long, hard, hilly group rotations with no attacks or antics allowed so that new or off-peak cyclists can maintain pack skills and fitness without fear of being unfairly jacked and subsequently dropped.  Work the rotation as hard as you like then sit on when you have to knowing that the effort will be fairly steady throughout the ride and that you can rejoin the rotation when you recover.  The front of the rotation may occasionally thin out to just one or two strong riders taking longer pulls.  This is acceptable.

 

There are three allowable sprint zones that starting approximately 1 k out.  Look for marks on the road or ask somebody.  Please do not start your attack earlier. Once the sprint is over we try to regroup everybody who is still more or less in the game.  If you are way off the back you are on your own. Do not sprint at all if you have been sitting on a long time.  This so the players don't have to worry about being swarmed by unfairly fresh riders. (See Thursday rules)

 

Thursday rides are meant to be shorter, more race-like events with virtually no rules except safety first.  There are three sprint zones but you can attack at will (once we are out of town) at any place or time.  Sit on and sprint your heart out or go for a long breakaway effort.  Nobody should yell at you-although if you ride exceptionally selfishly you may fall victim to silent revenge tactics.  No work-no respect.

 

Another thing.   Lately at the end of the Dungarvin Road sprint people who don't need to are cutting the course on that sketchy little short cut road down to Hwy 441. We purposely avoid that short cut due to several accidents and near accidents from riders sliding out into 60 mph blind traffic in their panic to avoid being left behind after the sprint.  Skinny Phil and I agreed that most riders should avoid that shortcut and continue on the main double yellow line road to the safer crossing of 441.

Now, if you are way behind everybody then sure.... use the shortcut to rejoin.....but not to get a jump on the field or to make sure you get a longer recovery zone than those who stayed on the agreed upon route.  Lately a few perfectly fit riders have cut the course for whatever reason and created a mob panic chase up Orange Lake hill and some justifiably angry people. If you cut the course and find yourself ahead of the chasing pack you are obligated to soft pedal until you are assimilated.  Everybody not way off the back should stay the course, regroup and recover all together before the inevitable and gradual acceleration up Orange Lake hill. 

 

Thank you and lets keep it safe but fun out there. 

 

Kerry

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Kiester <mkeurope@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: kerry <warmhearth@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Sat, Jul 17, 2010 6:30 pm
Subject: FW: the rules