Re: 1,570 Voted!!!

[Connie Hoge <connieh@aa.net>]

Randy,

Should we start a "list" of problems with the new bylaw now - - - & see if we
can get it changed to work better for all distance riders???  The Bully Wully
was measured with a wheel this year, & if you looked at finishing times, it
gives you an idea of how tough it was!  I've always felt that the "actual"
length is probably between the ride manager & God! <g>
Connie H.

Randy H Eiland wrote:

> About 5,000 ballots were sent out and 1,570 ballots were returned!!  30%
> voter turnout...Well, that 30% really surprised and disappointed me by
> approving the Bylaws Change making 0 to 49 miles Limited Distance.  Joe,
> tell me more about CTR..just kidding.
>
>  I hope I am wrong, but a true Pandora box of potential problems may
> occur because of this change.  Remember, since it is now a Bylaw , the
> only way
> we can change it is with another membership vote...not quite as easy as
> changing a bad rule.    I am concerned with both ends of this change..the
> less
> than 25 miles and the more than 35 miles.  Here is why:
>
> Although I have defended the $10.00 non member fee for LD,  in no way did
> I
> support defining less than 25 miles nor more than 35 miles as a LD ride.
>  This
> new Bylaw can dramatically effect the 10 to 15 mile fun rides that some
> RM's
> need to help the ride event break even or, as is often the case, to be a
> charitable
> community fund raiser.  The additional fees which will be required could
> be a
> death knell for these rides.....and the real victim may be our members
> who live in
> less populated areas and attend small entry endurance rides that die off
> because their profit margin has disappeared.
>
> I have given thought as to ways to circumvent the economic impact of the
> new
> Bylaw and  I believe that since the $10.00 non member fee is purely a
> policy, not a Bylaw or rule, the Board can further define this policy to
> exclude certain distances.  I think the $4.00 rider/drug fee may fall
> under similar
> exclusion since these fees are a "policy" and not a rule.   Perhaps the
> Board can
> consider lifting these fees from the newly ordained LD Ride of 15 miles
> or less.
>
> Another ominous possibility is the potential increase in protests that
> may arise
> over the large percentage of our "50 mile rides" that are actually 48.6
> to 49.5
> miles - now that they must be labeled LD Rides.  Remember, you don't get
> points or regional-national mileage credit on a LD ride.  Already we see
> many
> riders carrying GPS units and I feel certain someone in the near future
> will
> dispute/protest the distance, especially if they have the wherewithal and
> are
> competing for National or Regional Mileage Awards.  Over the years I
> can't
> count how many really tough rides I entered where the management has
> stated
> the trail was measured by "wheel and it is actually slightly less than 50
> miles".
> The Los Alamos 50 had over 10,000 feet of vertical climb and was known
> as one of the toughest ride in the country and it was slightly less than
> 50 miles in
> length..it is a good thing it died out after its 20th year because it
> would be a
> travesty to call Los Alamos a Limited Distance Ride.  Actually,  many of
> the
> toughest rides in many different regions are slightly less than 50.  If
> you don't
> believe this, then you have not ridden enough.   A friend of mine who
> used a
> GPS this last year has stated that less than 20% of the 1200+ miles he
> rode
> were 50 miles or longer, and he rode in several different regions.
>
>  Now that our Bylaws will define a ride of less than 49 miles as a
> Limited
> Distance  we may be seeing some traumatic events occur.  As an example,
> we have seen in the last few years  *emergency trail changes* due to
> weather, fire,
> flood, etc.   These emergency changes resulted in both longer and shorter
> trails
> being ridden...now the shorter trail becomes a LD ride by definition
> rather than
> falling into a 50 mile category!!   Will Ride Management  take Pulse
> Criteria of
> 60 for a completion?  Is there placing or completion only, or no
> completions if the
> Pulse was not taken at the finish?   What about points?  Will the riders
> get mileage only,  as is mandated in LD?  I don't see how we can make a
> rule to circumvent this occurrence since the Bylaws take precedent over
> rules.  I realize this seems far fetched, but we all know stranger things
> have happened.
>
> Randy Eiland
>
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