KS Swigart wrote: I wouldn't
want anybody to think that I want the AERC to redefine endurance ride to only
include those that are 100 miles long, because, make no mistake, if the AERC
were to do this then ride managers would start putting on 100 mile
endurance rides that were only 80 miles long and calling it 100
miles.
What makes you think that??
So that more riders would be able
to finish them and fewer riders would complain that they were too hard to do
or because 100 miles of trail is hard to find.....much the way many ride
managers do this today with the 50 mile distance.
What?? When a RM
measure the trail and it is 49.5 so therefore is a 50, that is a far cry from 80
equaling a 100 mile ride. Don't you think so? We have quite a few 30 and 35
miles rides here in the SE, including my ride. If you think anything over 25 is
closer to endurance, why would you think that 30 miles so much "more"
endurance than 25?
"Mileage over 50 must be
a multiple of 5 ending in a 0 or 5, whichever is the nearest whole number to the
actual ride mileage." Ride length 1.1.1. I can't remember ever seeing a 50
that was so short (44 instead of 50) in our area. (SE) To imply that RM's don't
take the distance measuring seriously is a tad obnoxious.
Do tell, what RM in their
right mind, wants to deal with a rider who is going to bitch about the
length or the conditions of the trail? There is always someone who says it
was too long, or too short according to their GPS, time or pace, the distance of
the sun to the parking lot or the way the grass color changed from loop to loop.
Never mind that we, (RM'S) use car odometers, mileage wheels, aerial
maps, county records, whatever we can find to accurately mark the trails for the
riders. I doubt a RM looks at the trails and says, "Oh well, close
enough." if it is 6 miles off.
No one has to pretend a
thing. Unless you want to pretend you went to the
ride, but didn't. Then you could also pretend it was a great ride and you had a
great time.
I would say that a RM
would rather put on a 50 that is accurate and not have to listen to the members
of the Official Piss, Bitch and Moan club than to put on a 75 or 100 that might
be 6 miles (?) short and deal with those members for the rest of the
weekend. Even if you don't have one drink after all is said and done, all
that whining after putting on a weekend of activities for OTHER people is enough
to make you cuss like a sailor and look for your boxing gloves.
Luckily my mom was there
and told me to watch my mouth and settle down. Wait, that is another story.
My guess it that RM's
work real hard to accurately measure ALL distances just to make riders like
you.......happy. However, some people are never happy, no matter what.
For anybody going
on a ride this weekend, try to enjoy it for what it is to you. Whatever
distance you go, pace you set, breed you ride or truck you drive to get
there. If your not going to a ride, get out and ride anyway. We all spend to
much time on this damn computer.
Lisa Salas, the odd fArm
and Corona Ranch signing off so I can paint my daughter's room before she goes
off to college. I have three years but that is cutting it close.
;)
