Hello
Time to let someone else take over and feel the gratitude and appreciation of our group for the time effort and work you will put in for
the rides! You have a month until the May rides are due so have fun!!!
Diana,
THANK YOU for leading Saturday or Sunday rides every fricking weekend since I've been riding with NCCC the past ten years (and we all know your tenure began years before that). I've learned lots of great routes from you, met lots of new friends, and enjoyed you and Tony being there every single Saturday and Sunday (Tony only Sundays now). I've learned that some people even brake on downhills. I hope that will continue - the riding, not the braking (only if you must).
Long riders... I think it's time to give Diana a breather as she is requesting. We have a good crew of long riders. There is one thing in particular that we've all learned from Diana: keeping the group together makes the rides more enjoyable, giving people free rein who want to hammer and climb a bit harder, yet managing to pull everyone together at points along the way to continue as a group. I think several of the long riders are capable of taking over, designating routes, and keeping the group together on our rides. I and Diana will be happy to help anyone get off the ground planning long rides to mesh with the Sunday rides.
Thanks again, Diana - you will only be missed as a leader, not a rider - because you'll be out there riding with us!
Karl
I also wanted to chime in and thank Diana for all her time and dedication to our Saturday rides. She was there from the very first ride I attended, and I always remember that when I was exhausted she told me, "you don't even know what you are capable of; you have reserves untapped". Thanks Diana! Once my hand is healed I'll lead a Saturday and do 1/100th of the effort you've done
Diana,
Ride leader is one of those jobs I know I didn't appreciate enough until I saw your post. My first thought was darn, I sure don't have the time and wherewithall to do that. So belatedly, thank you for your week-in-week-out efforts.
Clearly a thankless job that Diana has made look easy for years. She has been the heart and soul of the NCCC Saturday ride for nearly ever Saturday that I have had the pleasure to ride with the club. She is the mother hen, the motivator, the enforcer, the teacher, the leader. She is good spirited and can take a joke. You will be missed. But, I think we all understand the time and emotional commitment it takes week in and week out. Listening to the whining, trying to keep everyone happy, making sure we had nice weather and great routes.
Please re-consider.....
As an alternative, if no single person has the time or desire to step up to be the ride leader, I suggest a team of ride leaders. Say 4-8 people willing to lead a ride once a month or every other month. I know I am willing to lead Saturday rides no more than monthly, Bill seems to be willing, I think Ursula could be convinced, Jeff knows his way around a good route. I think Anthony S would do it but I am not sure we want him to be the leader given his sense of direction and he has lots going on at home. And while Wade suggested he does not have the time I think he could be convinced to lead a few rides a year. I think Steve could jump in, Jim would be an awesome ride leader but be warned we would be required to STOP at all stop signs.
If there is anyone I did not suggest, please take no offense and feel free to offer up your services.
I would be happy to coordinate the team of Saturday rider leaders collecting routes and collaborating on routes for consistency and consideration of Karl's Sunday route.
Now I am not sure how this would work from a legal/insurance/compliance/audit standpoint just one suggestion for an alternative.
Diana, I'd like to add my name to the list of those who are (belatedly) letting you how much I appreciated your leadership and spirit. As I said in another post, starting up with this group 15 months ago and been one of the best things I've added to my life in years. The outpouring of support and well wishes for my wife and I has been especially touching. All of you were welcoming and I was always appreciative of your leadership, I am sorry those feelings - by both word and action weren't more obvious.
Now, for yesterday, I was just ahead of you coming down Highland and I should have waited. I thought we had done a good job during the prior points of the ride on the aspects that both you and Bill raised. In the end we didn't and since I was closest to you, I bear the brunt of that inexcusable action and I am sorry!!!
Sean, I will have some limitations in time, not to mention my sense of direction (I tried to take Wade the wrong way yesterday) but if the team idea you propose (presuming no one steps up for full ride leader) works out from the caveats you listed, I'd help out where and how possible.
I will volunteer to lead the Saturday rides. This is of course after approval by the majority of the Long Riders. Feel free to continue to comment on this post. I am 58 years old and have already been called every name in the book by my loving wife, although if Sean starts referring to me as some sort of unimaginable creature I will probably be offended.
I approve! Also, when Diana gave up the ghost on Sunday rides, it started out as a team effort between me and Bill Kamm. It was fun, but the coordination with just two was sometimes a bit awkward when it came in to turning in the monthly routes for the website/newsletter (the old days). Having a single person in charge is easiest. Plus, Jim knows all the routes, has the experience and strength to keep us together, and we can all practice our stops (followed by trying to keep up with Jim's acceleration :o). I am impressed by so many have stepped up to volunteer as a team effort in this thread. I think that shows, that if Jim is "elected," it's still a great idea to continue with guest ride leaders which have been so successful this year.
Thanks, Jim! - Karl
Yes Karl, awesome to see members step up if needed, but with Jim at the helm I think we are in good hands.
Still sorry to see Diana go and I sure hope she will still be joining us on Saturday rides.
But no worries Jim, you in no way resemble any mythical creatures that would dictate a nickname. I think it is obvious that, as Wade pointed out, someone with unusually large feet just begs the name sasquatch.
Then again, every good leader should have a nickname.........seems we should consult your wife on that topic.
i too want to thank diana. she has always been supportive of me as i trailed along trying to catch up. i have always been impressed at her willingness to have done this for so many years. i too hope that this only means she won't be leading and will still feel good about coming to the rides. i think it is great that someone is willing to lead and would enjoy that role because you need both. having jim do it is great by me. i can't because i'm still lost half the time and i wouldn't want to lead the group on a wild goose chase....riding with burt on wednesdays has confused my sense of direction even more.
I do like the idea of "Guest Leader" on an occasional Saturday, if it is OK with Jim. I think the feeling is unanimous is support of Jim H. for our leader, and i, for one support an effort to be more diligent in obeying all traffic laws! It'll give us a chance to practice our track stands.
Who will claim the Sasquatch award?
I second and third the complements to Diana. She has been incredibly consistent and a real trooper. I have been putting together our Wednesday rides temporarily and I know the good and bad of this endeavor. Count me in as a guest leader sometime. I have a few routes that the group might like....
Can we take back our votes? Ouch, Jim....summer hours start at 8AM and then straight out to Twin Oaks which isn't enough, so Double peaks to start a total of just under 7K of climbing for the day. My legs hurt already.
As I was trying to cast you in my theme of comedians, I realize now that I'll need to focus on those mean cruel comedians for you. You know, the sadistic ones! :o
I'll see you Saturday........just look behind you as I hurry and hurt to keep up.
Anthony this is just a little steep part in the beginning to take the edge off the fast guys who will kill themselves to be at the top first. The rest of the day will be more of a group ride since they will be partially reduced in top speed for the rest of the day. All the Saturday rides start at 8:00AM. Summer hours.