Editorial: Ride Start Times

By Allan Edmonds

It's time to firm up our policy on the time that regularly scheduled club rides actually start. I suggest that the club's regular Saturday rides should start with announcements by the ride leader at the scheduled time, currently 10 am, with a mass start no later that five minutes after that. Try to arrive a little early, by the announced start time for sure. Catch the announcements. Make any desired special arrangements with your ride buddies. Then let's be off.

Somehow the actual start times have been gradually slipping. Why bother getting there by 10 if you know the ride won't actually leave before 10:10 or maybe even 10:15?

Of course this doesn't apply to informal rides where participants have to decide the route and other details.

The OWLS are taking this a step further. Currently our announced start time is 5:45 pm. We are trying to have routes announced in advance on the calendar, with a designated ride leader. Our goal then is to be riding across the start line at the designated time or as soon as possible after that.

It is a courtesy to everyone to show up on time. Let's get the show on the road!