Monday, May 5, 2014

Feedback on the TNR

I want to start by congratulating Tony and KJ on their successful ½ Ironman Triathlon in St. George on Saturday. Over the course of most weeks, I get quite a bit of feedback from the Tuesday rides as well as my own observations. For the most part, the season is off to a pretty successful start with big groups in spite of cold, wind, and bad weather generally. On that note, the forecast does not look great for tomorrow, but a lot can change in 24 hours.

     But, there is always room for improvement. This year, I have gotten one consistent complaint, mostly from the long time participants. When we have big groups, say of thirty people, even if we start together, everyone is not going to finish together. However, it is probably a reasonable goal to complete most of the ride with two or three groups of ten to fifteen. This year, it seems like we are spending a lot of time scattered over miles of road in groups of one, two, or three.

     Learning to ride well with a group makes everyone a better cyclist. Together, a cooperative group moves faster and more efficiently than random individuals, especially in windy conditions. Sometimes, being in that group means pushing to hang with faster riders. Often it means having a little patience with someone who is just a little slower, providing some support to someone who is struggling, or making a modest effort to keep the group together.

No comments:

Post a Comment