FNRttC PROVISIONAL 2012 dates

[TimO]

We could have a special edition FNRttC shirt made with the legend 'I'm riding for free, FNRttC' on the back. The shirt would be cheaper than an entry to the Moonlighter gig anyway.

And perhaps Freecycle could join us to see free people cycling free at first hand.

Be fair chaps, it's not free. Next year with twenty rides, if you do all of them, it'll be costing you 5p a ride, and it'll be even more expensive if you do less rides.

 

[martint235]

I am reliably informed that there is little in life more encouraging than struggling up Turners Hill or Ditchling Beacon with a succession of people passing you giving a cheery cry of "on your right" as they go.

FNRttCers are nicer than that. Surely it's "on your right. And don't worry you're nearly there"

 

[Flying Dodo]

I just say something cheery, along the lines of what I've got in my sig line below (except not the last bit).........

 

[Tim Hall]

I'll see your Kings Cross and raise you Hilltop Lane southwest of Chaldon. Who was it that wwas always trying to get me to take the ride that way? Before he broke his hip?

But to be fair, the massive pothole which was his downfall has been filled now. Rather nasty crash, when all's said and done.

 

[dellzeqq]

Be fair chaps, it's not free. Next year with twenty rides, if you do all of them, it'll be costing you 5p a ride, and it'll be even more expensive if you do less rides.

10p - subs are going up to £2 next year.

 

[dellzeqq]

But to be fair, the massive pothole which was his downfall has been filled now. Rather nasty crash, when all's said and done.

Sorry - I didn't realise it was a pothole.

It's still not suitable for a charity ride, though. CTCers can do that kind of stuff because they all know each other (although I have seen some foolishness from the over-70s). Big rides full of people you can't be sure about should stick to the simpler stuff. Reigate Hill is about as adventurous as is sensible.

 

[Wobblers]

Well, the Moonriders would like us to change the date of the Genteel Ride. Any thoughts?

Well... it would mean I could do both the Genteel and the DD...

But... NO. Why should you move it? You've always had it the day before Dunwich, and made no secret of that fact. It's rather unfortunate that they don't appear to have made any effort to check that they wouldn't clash with anything else: most riders that they hope to attract will probably do the DD instead. After all, the people who would be interested in doing both the DD and Moonriders will come from the same pool of riders. It would be in their interest to move it, they'd get more people signing up. I wonder if they'll consider it?

 

[Wobblers]

10p - subs are going up to £2 next year.

But surely you'll need panniers to cart all that loot around with you??

 

[dellzeqq]

But surely you'll need panniers to cart all that loot around with you??

you forget - I always collect at the end of the ride!

 

[mmmmartin]

well if subs are going to double next year I intend to partake in double the number of rides. So there.

 

[martint235]

It's a variant on Grandmother's footsteps and pocket picking combined. All riders with subs to pay have to attempt to sneak up, whilst in motion,and drop two Maggies in Dell's jersey pocket undetected. Prizes to be determined. People with quiet chains and breathing are at an advantage for this one.

That's the Campag lot out then!!

 

[mmmmartin]

Maggies

Ah yes, i remember Neil Kinnock's joke at the Labour party conference:
Why is it called a Maggie?
Because it's thick, brassy, and thinks its a sovereign.
they don't make 'em like that any more.

 

[frank9755]

After all, the people who would be interested in doing both the DD and Moonriders will come from the same pool of riders. It would be in their interest to move it, they'd get more people signing up. I wonder if they'll consider it?

A good point which of course they should have perhaps considered. To be fair (as I referenced above) young Ed did indeed research the DD but came to the conclusion that it went to Dulwich. An easy mistake to make, but a revealing one for a person who is in the business of organising mass-participation overnight bike rides from London to the coast during July!

However, I'm not sure I agree that the Moonriders and the Dunwich Dynamo have such a similar target segment. As you will discover when you come on one, McW (ideally on a double-header weekend

), the DD is very much an amateur, unorganised and unsupported affair, which starts off in a pub, and which was created by London cycle couriers - not the sort of crowd I'd associate with my impression of Ed and his Moonies!

 

[dellzeqq]

we don't know, do we? The staggered start thing tells us that, sensibly, they're aiming for a cross-section of cyclists. The DD has a pretty broad constituency these days, with, so I'm told, sufficient privateer back up vehicles to cause Southwark Cyclists some concern.

the Moonriders are really about charity referrals. The BHF is unleashing its blunderbus 8500 ride, and it will swallow up a vast number of charity riders - their recruitment pitch, which offers a space on the much over-subscribed day ride to anybody who does the night ride will guarantee a huge turnout. Whether the Moonriders can gather sufficient riders from the other charities before the BHF night ride becomes the unstoppable market leader is open to question - I'd have thought that the price tag wasn't going to help, but, then again, how many £59 tickets to you have to sell to turn a decent profit?

I haven't heard back, but I'm not bothered. Our ride can turn on a sixpence if need be.

 

[mmmmartin]

I imagine that for the moment he has other fish to fry and isn't worried about what he'll see as a small, not-for-profit cycling club starting from somewhere well away from his start and taking a largely different route to a different destination. I suspect when he gets a bit closer to the time and realises he has set a public target of 5,000 riders and a turnover target of £300,000 and has committed himself to spending on the concomitant expensive back-up and logistics, he might be off to the shops for a nice new pair of brown trousers. I know I would.