Comments on: Yeah Tweed Ride, Boo Tweed Ride

By: kat

kat — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:31:11 +0000

I saw this ride go by as I was sitting in my car, totally frustrated that I’d missed a chance to cruise around on my ’69 Schwinn in my tweed jacket! Slower paced rides have always been more my style; I hope this one keeps up, tweed or no tweed.

By: elliott

elliott — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:49:00 +0000

AJ,
Thanks for the comments. I’d say on a social ride when in doubt, slow down the pace. Again, the purpose is not a workout but to enjoy each others company so there shouldn’t be any pressure to speed up. In fact, ride leaders should probably actively try to slow the ride often since rides with men at the front tend to gradually get faster (I’m guilty of that myself.) As for sweepers, if you have a ride and don’t provide a map of the route to everyone involved, I think it is your duty to have a caboose. I think its just good form.

By: aj

aj — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:41:17 +0000

Yep that’s about right. Like you said one mans slow another man’s fast. So I guess I felt pressured to keep what I thought was a moderate pace, not to say that I was the pace driver but I just happened to ride near the front for most of the ride. Moderation being generally good and all I hoped it wouldn’t be too rough on anyone. I’d like to personally apologize if it was. Next time we will need to make a better effort to allocate responsibilities to “ride leaders”. I’m not even sure that we had a “sweeper” and I know we know better than not have one. Even with the shortcomings that we did have I think most everyone had a good time (at least I really hope so). And I would like to thank you all for coming out and joining in on it!

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:26:39 +0000

Nice to see a bit of tweed on your side of the pond. We have our own ‘Dapper Dan’ in our cycle team; he extols the virtues of self-wicking tweed (?). Apparently you can also get it with interwoven reflective fibres.

He also spent £40 GBP on having his beard shaped and waxed at some exlusive venue in London…

By: Toni

Toni — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:13:18 +0000

That’s what happens when the Bowery Boys lead the way! (jk) I’m sorry y’all were discouraged from continuing, but totally understand how Nicole felt. If anything, the pace got more hectic on the Draught House leg; OTOH, the spirit of community got stronger with the crowd cheering every arrival – even the last fat old lady (me)! I hope we do this again soon, and Melissa, I hope you join us. Next time more of us will be aware and watch out for each other.

By: Melissa G.

Melissa G. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:26:57 +0000

I was not in attendance for the ride but did ride my bike to Flight Path on Sunday around 1:45pm which was 15 mins til the Tweed ride was scheduled to depart from The Peddler. I read about the event early last week but was discouraged to attend the ride because I feared the pace was going to be similar to the Social Cycling ATX NYE event.

The NYE ride, although very coordinated & had EXCELLENT ride leaders, was fast paced (for me) with an unknown route but given a clear destination for what I thought was going to be a ‘social ride’. I translate a social ride to be a slow to moderate pace where riders are given the opportunity (not to mention the breath!) to have and maintain a conversation with other bike riders, drink a few at stops or pubs, and enjoy the scenery while meeting new/reuniting w/other Austin cyclists. I felt rushed, frustrated that the pace was hurried & rushed (even though we departed 3 hrs before we were scheduled to be at the Coop) and basically discouraged me to attend a bike ride anytime soon for fear I will get left behind. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun (when we were stopped) chatting w/other riders & getting my butt kicked with one final workout for my year. I just wish that a route was established & shared, a slower more comfortable pace that doesn’t feel rushed, and encouragement to attend other rides throughout the yr.

I was disappointed I did not attend the Tweed ride and do hope there are more in the future. After reading your post about the pace I feel almost relieved I couldn’t make it.
Let’s hope to see more rides in Austin that are more social and less of a workout. I work out everyday and the last thing I want to do is haul some serious butt on my heavy cruiser.

By: Dapper Dan

Dapper Dan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:09:47 +0000

Elliott –

Many thanks for the comments. I would like to apologize to you and to your ride mates for your less-than-favorable experience, and will take your good words to heart.