Brazos Valley Cyclists

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The Past, the Present and the Future

The Past

Once upon a time, I was the featured cyclist in the B/CS Bike to Work Day article. Remember when I worked at Stata? Remember when I had long hair? Not that you can tell in the photo! I still commute on that very same bike. This article is from the Sunday, April 24, 2005 edition of The Eagle.

Jean Marie is featured in this 2005 Bike to Work Day article.

Jean Marie is featured in this 2005 Bike to Work Day article.

Part 2 of the April 2005 Bike to Work Day Article.

Part 2 of the April 2005 Bike to Work Day Article.

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The Present

Tonight was my penultimate social ride — on July 28, I relocate to Washington State. It was the first day of the year over 100F, and only 2 other riders showed up. One of my big fears starting out as a Social Ride Leader was that no one would show up. It’s happened a few times. The worst was one night when one person showed up and rode about a mile then decided to just go home! That time I really wondered if it was something I did or said. But it was fine; if you want to lead, you have to grow thick skin for those moments. Life went on.

I’m pretty convinced that on the most part, making sure the ride happened every week got a lot of people out on bicycles. Even if it is only 3 of us at a time, it is still a bike ride! I think I’ve been a good bicycling friend to many.

Tonight, after the ride, a young lady who saw that I had “bike stuff” to give away came by to see what I had. I dug out a few things I might have otherwise kept, but that I honestly didn’t need. I so enjoyed her enthusiasm. Some things are so worth the price of admission. I hope the “stuff” that I don’t need brings her many miles and many smiles.

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The Future

Next week, Monday July 21, after the social ride, my friend Karen has generously arranged a picnic to send me off to Washington. Everyone is invited, new riders, old friends, friends who don’t ride, if you want to be there, just come. Karen asks “It would help if I could get an RSVP (to vierow@verizon.net) on the number of people in your party. If you don’t RSVP, please show up anyways as I will bring more than what seems appropriate.” If you are planning on bringing a potluck item (which is NOT required, especially not for those doing the ride), please mention that too.

The picnic will be in Steeplechase Park (click for map), and will start at about 7:30 pm. There are picnic tables near the playscape and dog run area where we will gather. Social Riders should arrive around 7:30 and certainly by 7:45.

If you want to join for the bike ride:

Departure time: Mondays, 6 pm from Technology Loop in TAMUs Research Park
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
Pace: Suitable for beginners, no-drop.
Required items: helmets, flat change kit, water
Strongly suggested: headlights, taillights, food, cell phone

Some notes: Beginners welcome, faster people will need to slow down to make the pace comfortable for everyone to ride and talk. No fancy bike is required.

When someone has a fall

In my post on Leading a Ride, I mentioned you should keep an eagle eye on someone who’s taken a fall and see to it that they get home safely.

I wrote that remembering an organized ride in which I was injured, then separated from my friends. I made my way to a rest stop and medical area safely, then managed to faint in front of the medical guy. I got sent back to the ride start on SAG support.

We hadn’t planned out what to do if someone had an accident in advance. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that I got separated. But it was scary to be separated from my friends when I was feeling shaky.

Today, another friend posted this story of tragic consequences when someone was hurt on a ride and went off by himself.

Be a friend. Be a leader. If someone is hurt, stay with them and make sure they get home safely.

Leading a Ride

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:

  1. You make an informative post about your ride. Include
    • Distance and speed
    • equipment requirements like a helmet, flat change kit, lights.

    Though, goodness knows, sometimes I forget to mention some of these things.

  2. If you can’t handle minor emergencies like flat tires yourself and help others to do so, you state this up front and have a plan B.
  3. You show up for the ride….
  4. On time or close.
  5. You have some route ideas in mind.
  6. You say hello to people.
  7. You encourage others to do the same.
  8. You will extend normal assistance and courtesies to the other riders.

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.