March 2001

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU

From Ruaraidh Gillies

At the February monthly meeting, the club’s secretary Colin Gray had to regretfully step down from his duties within the club for personal reasons. Prior to the meeting, Chairman John Burgess had approached Les Kennedy, the previous secretary, to ask if he could act as interim secretary until someone else took over. Les agreed. Unfortunately, as is becoming the norm these days, no-one present on the night wanted to take up the reins, and Les reluctantly volunteered to continue in the post. The post of Time Trial Secretary has still not been filled either, two months after Danny McDonough vacated it, and so John Burgess has agreed to perform those duties in the interim. But the current situation is symptomatic of the way we seem to run as a club. Most people just want to ride their bike, not enough want to do anything to help the club function. Requests for someone to fill a post are met with embarrassing silences as people shuffle their feet and stare at the floor. "Avoid eye contact" is the primary objective. There are a few core people who do most of the work, the rest just wait until the next race. But without people to fill these posts, there will be no ‘next race’. So what is the purpose of this letter? Rather than to ask, "Can you help out?" it is to get you to ask yourself, "Why can I not help out?" A common answer is "I don’t have the time." Les’ job frequently makes him work 10-hour days or more, and he has the demands of a two-year-old son when he gets home, as well as his training. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, "Yes, my job and life are more demanding than that," then fine. But if not, then why not put yourself forward next time a vacancy arises? Les will not aim to stand beyond the end of this year, and my three-year tenure as Treasurer will run out next year. Will you fill these posts, when they become available?

 Last year over 100 people chose to be a member of the Birkenhead North End. I would estimate that possibly half of those people, through reasons of age, location or inexperience, should not be expected to sign up right now. To the rest of you, it may sound trite and clichéd, but, to borrow a phrase, "Ask not what your club can do for you, ask what you can do for your club."

FURTHER NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

Congratulations BNE on reaching a century.  I'm not far behind!! Reluctant to open another sack of snakes, I nevertheless claim to being the Circular's most distant correspondent.  (Did someone say stay there?)

Our cycling is different from Syd's.  I have two panniers on the front, two on the rear plus our tent. Marina has two on the rear plus a bag.  I dare not have our bikes weighed and if we cruise at evens (20kph) we reckon we are speeding.  My 27 gears have all been well used and I have a pb on 30x27 with a head wind.

In the four months we have been here we have had the full range of weather: snow and hailstones in the middle of summer, winds so strong that Marina has been blown off, rain and scorching sunshine.  To cap it all, three nights ago we had an earthquake. There are no distance stones. Distances are sometimes given on signposts and they are guesses.  Yesterday a signpost read "Waiora 30km', 2km further down the road another read 'Waiora 33km'.  Yes, we were going towards Waora. Gradients are not given.  Some times there will be a sign 'Steep hill', but that precedes a steep hill. And it means steep hill. For someone fit and fortunate enough to be here, the cycling is awesome, scenery breathtaking, people friendly, traffic levels low, camping facilities first rate, lifestyle laid back. We cannot stay but we will be back.

AJ & Marina

MARSHALLING ROTA

The Rota has now been drawn up. You can view it by clicking on the Events page.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Looks like an interesting ad for a hotel in Scotland in Strathyre near Stirling. Offers 3 nights B&B for £41 and 7 nights for £95.

Very suited to cyclists apparently, and they even have a bar, gym, and sauna.  Telephone is 01877 384 263.

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