LD rides

[terre <tobytrot@bigfoot.com>]

	Well, you guys absolutely amaze me!  A couple of days ago, Randy Eiland
made a statement on ridecamp that I considered to be an absolutely
bombshell--and only one person commented on it!

Randy Eiland wrote:
<<<<Where I believe many people are missing the real point of this issue
is by looking at our LD Rides in the old traditional way.. as "novice rides"
used only as an introduction to "real endurance".  I think what we are
actually seeing is an evolution, like it or not, of recognizing and
accepting the "25 to 35" mile distance as *just another sanctioned
endurance distance, lumped together with 50's, 75's & 100's as sanctioned
AERC distances*.  I know many of our more traditional members don't like
this, but that is the reality of the issue.  One more reason I was and am
against the proposed LD Bylaws change.  If I am right in the above
analysis, then the "fun rides" become a very important adjunct to
sanctioned endurance rides...especially in areas with few riders.  These
"fun rides" will be the new form of our old LD rides.>>>>>

	Clearly, Randy is foreseeing the change (evolution?) of the definition of
"endurance" to "25 miles or more" instead of "50 miles or more".  This
would mean, presumably, merging the mileage records, and eliminating any
different rules for LD (such as finishing time being when pulsed down).
Also, presumably, now "fun rides" would become the new LD, and probably
need to be sanctioned (and in a year or two, along would come that ol'
non-member fee...).
I was expecting an explosion! but only one person picked up on this (Louise
Burton).  I think Randy was expecting to get you guys going, too, because
the next day he posted a follow-up clearly spelling it out:

>To more clearly explain where I am coming from with no guaranty you will
like this any better.  The Board passed a new rule that now requires all
LD Riders to either be members of AERC or pay a non-member fee, just like
the requirements of any other AERC sanctioned distance.   This is a fact
and to me that means :"25 to 35 miles" (assuming the LD Bylaws change
failed - I hope) is truly a sanctioned AERC Event that only AERC Members
or "Day Members" may enter.  It is shorter than 50 miles, but 50 is
shorter than 100.  The only major difference I see in any of these rides
is the distance.  Additionally, I believe there are more and more
"professional LD Riders" than ever...people who only wish to ride in LD's
and will probably never enter a longer distance...and with AERC adding
Regional LD Awards to the existing National LD Award, these people
justifiably are on equal footing with any other AERC member.  The only
real difference I can see between LD and longer distances is the 60 Pulse
requirement for completion and placing.  These are all facts, call it
what you want but any way you shake it out, these rides and their
participants share full membership rights with all other AERC members,
AERC events, and AERC Awards.

Again, no response from you guys!  How can you bicker heatedly for four
days about the financial/ethical issues involved in "turning out" a
racehorse, and then let this pass unremarked?

Terre (bewildered!)