It’s just a short time now until the big election then. I don’t mean the vote to choose the least appropriate leader of the free world there’s ever been – I mean the keenly awaited vote for our organising committee at the AGM. We’ll put out the full agenda shortly, but remember we plan to show off some kit design options so please make it if you can. Details of how to join the Teams call will also follow and we plan to run a test to get over any teething problems for those not used to life on Teams.
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Wednesday 28th October at 8pm.
Sign up to attend the AGM on RiderHQ.
Riding Etiquette
I think you probably guessed this was coming after the discussion on Facebook last weekend, which followed the now traditional Penge format. Thoughtful and well intentioned comment, followed by varying degrees of agreemeent and then a quick detour into terse exchange of forthright views. I did hope we might improve our online manners.
As to our on-road manners, here’s my view. We have come on in leaps and bounds in our general road-sense and group riding. Given the number of relatively inexperienced riders we have, we get remarkably few complaints, and some of those would be people who complain when the sun rises and again when it sets. Being restricted to groups of 6 has helped in that we cause much less interference in smaller groups, but it has meant that we haven’t had the opportunties we’d planned to develop our group riding skills this year.
The truth is, we need reminding occasionally and Winnie’s note was timely and painfully accurate. We’ll have a look at some of the things we can do as a club to address this, and bring along ideas to the AGM.
However, you are all grown-ups. If you ride with a club, you are expected to take responsibity for your own actions and to find out about riding etiquette. You should come to rides having read up on the subject, spoken to people and even watched You Tube videos on it. You can even look at our own, comprehensive guidelines on the website. But most of all, you must use your common sense.
One of the reasons many of us joined Penge is that we are not at all stuffy and you will find fellow members very helpful and understanding. Rock up at one of the more ‘racy’ bike clubs and ride like a muppett and see the sort of reception you get. We’re more gentle, but we must absolutely remain focused on good, safe, considerate riding.
I am also going to be slightly controversial now. This 2-abreast thing? I think if you want to ride like that, you’d better be good at it. We all know it’s safer if we do it right. But, it unquestionably attracts a higher level of abuse from drivers. If we are still strung out, staggered so we look like a scrum rather than a lineout and we’re looking around chatting, we’ll get abuse. When we ride 2-up, we’re being assertive, so keep it tight, pay attention and be ready to single out on command.
Sunday Rides
For this Sunday, sign up on RiderHQ for the ride of your choice. It is open for booking at 6pm Friday. Don’t panic if you don’t get on a ride, we are putting on extra groups each week and please put your hand up if you’re okay to lead an extra group. Just let me know. More detailed instructions on the website.
| Ride | Leader | Departure location | Departure time | Distannce (Miles) | Speed (MPH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long 4 | Gareth Wall | SE20 Cycles | 7:15 | 45-55 | 17+ |
| Long 3 | James Hanscomb | Crooked Billet | 7:30 | 45-55 | 15-16 |
| Long 3 (2) | Mike Bottomley | Crooked Billet | 9:15 | 45-55 | 15-16 |
| Long 2 | Lynsey Rowe | SE20 Cycles | 7:45 | 45-55 | 13-14 |
| Long 2 (2) | Alwyn Gosford | Corner of Kent House Road / Beckenham Road | 9:00 | 60 | 13-14 |
| Long 1 | Rachel Hutchings | Crooked Billet | 8:00 | 50 | 11-12 |
| Short 4 | Matt Burney | SE20 Cycles | 8:15 | 30-35 | 15-16 |
| Short 3 | Simon Wilkins | Crooked Billet | 8:30 | 30-35 | 13-14 |
| Short 2 | TBC | SE20 Cycles | 8:45 | 30-35 | 12-13 |
| Short 1 | Barry Graham | Crooked Billet | 9:00 | 30-35 | 11-12 |
| Steady | Andrew Stroud | SE20 Cycles | 9:15 | 24-27 | 10-11 |
Kit for sale
With new kit on the way for next year, we are selling off the last few remaining items of kit at bargain prices. These could be collectors pieces in years to come. We have 3 short sleeved jerseys left:
- 1 x mens XXXL
- 1 x female Large
- 1 x female XL
Reply to me or message Kate to snag a bargain.
Strava Privacy Settings
Most of us use Strava and you may already have a ‘privacy zone’ set up around your home. I don’t know if the low-lives who steal bikes are smart enough to select decent bikes to pinch from your Strava feed, but it’s plausible and it’s easy to set up such a zone so they can’t see where you live via the privacy settings.
Strava Leaderboard
It is curiously satisfying to make the leaderboard, even sweeter for being rare. Did anyone see John’s extraordinary turbo epic? Man is made of stern stuff. Good to see Alison out-distancing her ride partners. She has learnt such cunning tricks from the master.
Closing Thoughts
Have a great weekend.
James Hanscomb, Chair of Penge Cycle Club.