Re: RE: $20 Fee for National Championship Ride

["Heidi Smith" <heidi@sagehillcmk.com>]

Title: RE: RC: RE: $20 Fee for National Championship Ride

Kathy, you've hit the nail on the head here.  While I have no objection to the concept of the ride, to me this is not "THE" AERC champion and never will be.  And as such (in reply to Steph's post) it would make no difference to me if it was in my backyard, and I was younger and fitter, and I was qualified to compete 10 times over.

 

I don't recall the vote as being "overwhelming" in support of it--just a majority.  Someone quote me actual numbers if I am wrong.  And some of that "support" was due to a hope that the format would quit changing every year (with all the bickering that went along with it, not to mention the inability to plan ahead) as well as an attitude of "I-don't-care--it's-ok-with-me-if-that-is-what-some-people-want-to-do".  What I hear traveling to rides and talking to riders is a great deal of apathy about the concept in general.  So in response to both Jim and Steph, no, this isn't a concept that "is" for everyone, nor will it have meaning to everyone in a different place or circumstance.  It is simply one more form of competition offered by AERC.  In that vein, I have no problems with it.  But it is no more everyone's cup of tea than is family or stallion competition.

 

Heidi

----- Original Message -----

From: Kathy Mayeda

To: Jim Holland

Cc: Ridecamp

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 12:52 PM

Subject: RC: RE: $20 Fee for National Championship Ride

I wasn’t an AERC member when they first start talking about the NC.  All I know is that I was incredibly surprised that I qualified to compete in it with only 200 miles.  I suppose if I really felt that the Championship was really a Championship, I would give a lot more support to the concept.