We did the Weedon Loop this morning, heading out from the Shellron, aka Shell station that used to be a Chevron at Highway 6 and Highway 30 across from the mall, out Elmo Weedon and then around.
One of our riders spotted a dead snake on the way out, and another is a herpetologist.
How many bike rides do you know that will reroute and then stop to investigate a dead snake? It was a nonpoisonous one, a king snake, if I remember correctly. Pretty dried out.
I will spare you photographic evidence.
A friend was over tonight, and the topic of what do you have to do to lead a ride showed up. What does it mean to take responsibility for a group?
It means this:
Though, goodness knows, sometimes I forget to mention some of these things.
I generally try not to drop people, but that said, if I’m planning a 15 mph ride and say so and someone can’t keep up, I’ll let them know early so they can head home, or go off on their own ride.
The most common thing to go wrong is mechanical issues. It’s good to know how to change a flat, if nothing else. But even if you don’t, if you’ve got a plan for dealing with these everyday emergencies, that should work with a group too.
In the last 12 years of riding, I’ve seen a few crashes and accidents. Most of the time, it has been minor injuries and all parties have ridden home. Let me give some advice here. If someone does have a crash, do keep an eagle eye on them, and I think someone should ride home with them to make sure they arrive safely. That’s just human decency, isn’t it?
I think maybe once someone was injured and that person him/herself called for a ride home.
I remember one time that someone got hurt at the Flagpole ride. This was a new rider, unknown to all of us. I volunteered to help. I had to call a friend to come get me and the injured rider, because his wife didn’t pick up the phone. I wasn’t going to leave him sitting alone in urgent care, and so I stayed with the injured rider. We got ahold of his wife before he was released, and she came and picked him up. I did miss my ride that day, and that doesn’t bother me a bit. I think I had a more important job to do.
Another common minor emergency is that someone forgets something like money or food. $5 has been passed around on many a ride.
Being a ride leader really isn’t tough. It does take some planning, but beyond that, it’s about being a human being to the other human beings around you. Surely we are all capable of doing that.
The Monday Social Ride has been going strong for at least 12 years, since I moved to College Station in 2002. I still remember my first social ride. This was before the days of Google Maps on the phone, and I was terrified of getting lost and separated from the group. I stuck behind the group leader like a burr, and I paid careful attention to how we’d gone in case I needed to retrace my steps.
I didn’t need to fear, I wasn’t dropped, but the next week the previous ride leader couldn’t make it. Someone else needed to take over. I said I thought I could remember most of the route if someone would help me. I’ve been the unofficial “Fearless Leader” ever since. 🙂 It’s been an awesome Monday night journey; I’ve met a lot of people on the ride.
Happy Cyclists at the Monday Social ride
If you get a chance, come out and join us. Beginners welcome, faster people will need to slow down to make the pace comfortable for everyone to ride and talk. Think: recovery ride. No fancy bike is required.
Here are the ride details.
Departure: 6 pm Monday
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5881835 or http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4684741
Distance: ~20 usually, but the short route is ~15 if needed.
Meeting place: TAMUs Research Park, on Technology Loop, nearest shade to the south bridge by the duck pond. Free car parking available.
Pace: Suitable for beginners, no-drop.
Required items: helmets, flat change kit, water; lights when it gets dark earlier
Strongly suggested: headlights, taillights, food, cell phone
Best,
Jean Marie