Team Rides and Volunteer Call out
Hello everyone,
I wanted to start this thread to get things going. We currently to a Tuesday night training session (weather has been bad the past few weeks) for club members. I want to get a weekly easy ride going as well. What day should we do it?
My idea is this, whomever is leading the ride that particular week decides were and what we are doing. I think it could be mtn or road rides. The idea is to have fun, not drop people and socialize, hang, etc while we ride.
The other issue I would like to talk about is race volunteers. As most of you know our club puts on a few races each year. This year we will be promoting the Mtn Harrison Hill Climb on August 9th down in Albion Idaho. We also will be doing 3 cross races this fall (dates to be determined still). I would like the club members to lead one ride this year as well as volunteer for at least one race. This would require a few hours on a Saturday. I want to keep doing these events (we have to do at least one to keep our club status) but need some help. I/we do not make any money at this, and I am hoping that I will at least break even one of these years. I think the last year for cross I finally did. This year's Mtn Harrison Hill Climb is the day before the Ride Idaho event kicks off I believe. Therefore we have quite a few people heading that direction anyway :)
Please contact me regarding what we need to make these events happen, and hopefully to keep improving them. I want to keep these going but do not want to have to keep begging for help or do the large majority of the work by myself. There are a few individuals in the club that always help out, and I greatly appreciate it but I do not want to have to lean to heavily on them either. We do not have club dues that you have to pay, I think helping at one event, and leading one ride isn't too much to ask in return.
Thanks again and see you on the road (or trail).
I would appreciate your thoughts on this all. Please discuss.
Volunteer
I am able of course help on all the cross races. I will do what I normally do and could help out a little more since I will be doing the A race this year.
I think an easy ride during the week would be a good idea. Starting next week I will be more available to ride and hoping to get down there every Tuesday and ride also on Thursday.
I will check and see about Mt Harrison. I am planning on doing it so I could get their early and help with Registration or whatever.
I agree with the members of the club need to help with the events. It doesn't take much time and it helps those who already put a lot of time and energy into the club.
That is my 2 cents on the matter.
IN!
I'll plan on at least one cyclocross race and maybe mt harrison too. Will we be able to race harrison and still help out Brad? I'm going to be there for sure on the way to Ride Idaho so if I can do something before I warm up, etc then count me in for that too.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Thursday has been discussed in the past as being the best evening for club rides. I'm going to look at the calendar and pick out a Thursday ride date to lead right now.
If everybody steps up and does a couple things we'll be more then set!!
Mt. Harrison on the 9th...
Like Eric, we'll be heading to Idaho Falls for Ride Idaho. I'll talk to Dan and Jenny (we're all driving together) but we should be able to help out on the Mt. Harrison race.
I can help
As Ladd mentioned, I'll be heading to Ride Idaho which starts the day after the Mt. Harrison event, so I'd be happy to help out with that as well.
Sure
I'm not sure about Mt. Harrison but would gladly help at the cyclocross events. Flagging the course, putting up barriers, tearing down the course, etc. I feel the cross races were run very professionally and smoothly. Let me know how I can help. I echo Eric's comment.....Can we still race while helping out? Brian
Volunteers
Great! Thank you for your offers. For Mtn Harrison I will need 2 people to do registration from around 8:45-11:00 am. I think it would be difficult for those people to ride as well unless they don't care if they get more than a 15 minute warm-up. On the other hand it does have a build up to the actual climb sort of... I will need someone to help put up some signs on the road before the race start to warn drivers. I also need someone to drive their car/truck behind the last rider up the hill. (I think I have used up my family cards here) This is a slow job but offers great scenery. Typically the slowest rider takes around 2 + hours or so but I suppose it depends on the weather conditions and who shows up. I will pay for any fuel used while following the peleton.
I will be driving my car at the lead of the event along with the race official as well to form the rolling caravan that I have to do for the riders safety. I will also most likely be helping with the timing as well.
I know everyone who offers to help wants to do the races too, I do as well :) Sometimes you can volunteer and race, sometimes it might not be as practical.
For the cross races it would be nice to get 1-2 people besides Harris and myself to help set up the course before the races start. I will need 2 people to do registration throughout the first 2 races and up until the start of the last race. People can swap around to allow them to race here fairly easily I believe if we end up with racer only volunteers. It would be great to get another 2-3 people to help take the course down after the events finish as well.
Basically I just do not want to always feel like the events are under supported and it would be nice to not stress out as much prior and during. The last thing I ever want a participant to feel is that we didn't give them their moneys worth, that we are unprepared or anything resembling that atmosphere.
I really do appreciate the help, I pretty much feel that if things hadn't gotten better and I couldn't get more people to help I wasn't sure how much longer I would be willing to do them. I would also love to be able to participate in these events as well but I can't do that if I don't have enough people helping.
Here is the info for the hill climb, thanks Nate for helping me get this posted.
http://treasurevalleycycling.com/mtharrison
I should be able to help
I am planning on helping with whatever you need Brad. We talked about me driving the sage wagon and that is fine. You have a truck that I can use? Also I was curious when people are heading out there so I can try to find a ride. Then if i can can catch a ride with who ever is heading back that same day that would be great. Let me know who is heading up when and I will get that all coordinated. I guess if I am there early enough I can also help with registration. I am not planning on doing the ride unless it is possible but no big deal if not.
volunteers
Brad:
I am not available to help with the Mountain Harrison Hill climb but would like to help out with other events. Let me know when those events are scheduled and I'll do my best to make myself available.
Steve Olsen
Thanks!
Thanks Steve. Last I heard here are our planned cyclocross race dates:
Sept 27th
Oct 18th
Nov 22nd
They could probably still get changed by a weekend or two if other races or scheduling doesn't line up though.
my plans just got a bit trickier
Instead of flying my mom-in-law to watch our kids that week, we're now driving them down to SLC area. So I should still be able to help, but I may need to catch a ride down there with someone, and then I could meet my family there to drive down the rest of the way. Or something like that. Anyway, I'll need to talk with whoever else is headed down to come up with a plan.