That all looks great Roland. A true Tripleshot effort: I got myself dropped with the high school league scramble these last couple of weeks, and you and Ryan came back for me. Thanks.
My turn to do a pull. What can I do? I will send a note and the link to my list.
It's an attractive poster, Roland. Featuring a great photograph (props to Duane). Unfortunately, I think it might work against the goal of the series: to attract novices.
Speaking as a perennial novice, if I had never raced my bike but was curious about doing so, I probably wouldn't identify with the lycra'd-up, intense-looking bunch of dudes portrayed here. I'd instead identify with an image of some guy with flappy shorts on a commuter bike who looks like he wants to go faster.
I might have the psychology all wrong and the target market of this poster is actually a rider who aspires to be a fine, Europro-looking killer, as pictured here (check Adam's shades!) Regardless, I think the overwhelming message should be "Everyone Welcome!" So perhaps simply adding that as a tagline would get the message across.
I'm getting the registration forms, the numbers, and calling the various club presdients to get them to talk it up. Roland is getting the lap numbers and bell.
We chatted tonight and think the format should be a supervised warm-up pace line, then a five lap heat for half the group, another for the other half, then a top-half final for those who finish in the top half of their heat, and bottom half final for the others. Followed by team pursuits if they want more. How's that sound?
We can use lots of riders to come and just be steadying packfill. Not race to win, just ride smoothly to give a good example.
Maybe bring out a friend and then ride to fill gaps, trade some pulls, or push someone just figuring out the draft, back on?
I can't volunteer. Certainly would if I could, but I just wanted to note that Andrew is really keen. I haven't heard much talk about kids participating recently. Is this something that a 9 yr old can enter? I know Hugh has a young-gun that's keen too. Are you interested in promoting this in middle and elementary schools, or am I wrong about your target audience?
re kids. My approach so far has been to avoid competition in elementary, and introduce it very gradually in middle school. And I am just discovering (on the drive home from the school race last night), some students don't like the term bike "club" (seems to be a source of mockery), and would prefer "team". I'm a relative newb to high school coaching (1 year and a bit) , and am a bit surprised by the unsolicited suggestion for 'more competitive' from high school kids, but will adjust, assuming the rest feel the same.
But at elementary, the successful formula at Margaret Jenkins school bike program seemed to be "club", with groups of similar ability going for rides together with a coach, with a large social component. MTB and dirt jumping/bmx seemed to be favourites as kids could be intermittant, try stuff (show off?) and chat, then try again. Certainly lots of heavy breathing, but not the 'workout' most of us think of. This is also consistant with Long Term Athlete Development theory that kids sport in elementary school need to be about skill development and agility, and not power, strength and endurance.
I just started a middle school girls group and they seem to be firmly in the middle. They seem to want it social, but want go a little harder, but not chomping at the bit to race. But most also don't want a long steady ride (Farisha may be different because of her competitive focus.) . Una and I rode back from Sidney Sunday, and she was a little bored with the Lochside trail, and commented on all the "old" people on it. I think the successful road formula for middle school will be more like narrower, windy (ie not straight), mildly hilly rides for lots of variety. Maybe mild cross riding too, with sections of trail (like Interurban/Camosun trail).
The series was referred to as C because it was under B, which is pretty undefined. So I wouldn't turn away a kid on Monday, but I'm not sure it's a good way to turn them on to road riding. Maybe let's see how Monday goes?
Sonya Reuter from Oak Bay/Wheels has offered to coach TS on registration at tonight's VCL race. But I'm tied up coaching. Can someone go and get the lesson, and then come Monday to lead the registration process? There are some intricacies of licenses, one-day memberships and waivers that we should try to comply with VCL conventions. Call me on my cell to discuss 250 882 5420
Roland wrote:I'll be out there, so I can learn about registration.
Thanks Roland!
(PS Thanks also to for the bike for Liam last night. 2nd in gr 9-12 about 30 seconds down on Phillipe Janicki (gr 12, Aviawest). (In fairness Logan Simonson was sick, tho he bravely rode anyway.)
Who wants to ride out to Western Speedway? I need to be there a bit early, so am thinking of leaving the usual meeting spot at 4:30, 1/2 hour ride out, get us there an hour before the start to figure out registration and check out any sweeping that needs doing.
Both riders and rider-coaches welcome. All you need to do is ride in the pack and fill gaps, offer the odd bit of advice to help them get the idea.
