At the start, I was a little slow working out a C group; partly because we haven't had riders that wanted it for a week or two and partly because I didn't want Alex and Brenna choosing that when they are now strong enough to ride B, and should be.
But it would still be a good idea to have a C ride Tuesdays and Fridays, I think. Not only will it encourage newcomers, but it's a chance to be more than cannon fodder for the strong riders in your normal group, and learn about group dynamics from the stronger rider's perspective. Sooner or later you will be in a breakaway with someone weaker than you, but who you need to help you stay away. This is good for figuring how to pull hard, but still shelter someone to give you a break now and then.
6 is a good minimum size, so there are three pairs, and one can sit-on if tired and two to trade pulls. There are several riders who have offered to do C rides on their easy days. Can I ask if those riders could post or speak up at the start so we can offer this? I'd like to be able to ride with the juniors (at least those I can keep up with (not Adam), and if that means moving up to B, that can leave the C ride leaderless or too small.
C rides can be arranged so you get a workout. For real newcomers, they can use a push now and then, when they mis-read the pace changes. Which can certainly give you a workout as well as build your madison skils for when the velodrome re-opens.
Another example was when Ian has been the locomotive on C ride trains for the final jam. He certainly got a good workout, while the C riders fought to stay in the draft and went faster than they thought they could.
A good arrangement is one experienced rider at the front of the jam and another, at the back to keep mistakes from taking someone off the back before their time, with the odd push or fillng a gap. And if it splits, the tail rider can pick up riders and have their own personal challenge to see how close they can tow them up before coffee.
