Ridecamp: [RC] XP starts

The ride manager of the XP Rides (for that matter ALL rides) should have 
reported all the starters.  No question.  And yes, everybody knows what 
"start" means.

That said, I think it is obvious from Dr. Nicholson's post (I don't know 
him well enough to call him "Dave" or "Duck"--in fact I don't know him at 
all) what happened.  There is hardly a day that goes by that I am not 
astonished by what some other person got 'bent out of shape' over that was 
totally inconsequential to me.

Considering the large amount of money that XP must send to AERC (all those 
riders entering 4-5 rides in one week), ride management didn't consider the 
couple of bucks for the early pulls to be a big deal.  Obviously, they were 
mistaken.  Similarly, considering the number of high mileage riders 
amassing even more miles at these rides, they didn't consider documenting 
the odd early pull to be important.  Again, wrong.

Part of the problem, I think, is that 'old time' ride managers, who have 
been involved in the sport since its inception, have not necessarily kept 
up with its evolution.  RMs like the Nicholson's were doing this before the 
CRI, before "fit to continue", before "gates into holds"--and long before 
computers.  I imagine they just don't "get" what all the fuss is about, and 
why other people consider these issues important.

But they ARE  important.  Perhaps less in this case than in many others 
(overtime riders getting completions?  really?).  AERC is still 
fundamentally a point-keeping organization; the accuracy of the records it 
keeps matters.  Personally, I have never in my life bothered to look up 
another rider's records, but that is beside the point.  All rules need to 
be adhered to--to the best of our ability.  I can only imagine the 
paperwork generated by a large multiday ride;  I would not be at all 
surprised to learn that mistakes occur.  However, ride management should do 
its best to accurately report all riders' performance.

I am sure Dr. Nicholson is getting that message.

Terre


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