[SFRandon] RUSA club affiliation and SFR

[Rob Hawks]

Late last October, I sent mail to a friend in the club noting that SFR was the 9th largest brevet club in terms of RUSA members listing SFR as their club. I hadn't realized that SFR was that big of a club, so at the time I was surprised. This was out of over 280 clubs. Here we are six months later and if you take a look at the RUSA demographics, SFR is now the 3rd largest club within RUSA, only one behind the DC Randonneurs (we have 103, DCR has 104). Both the DC Randonneurs and SF Randonneurs together would still be smaller than the largest club (SIR has 227), but why should that be out of reach?

BTW, welcome Peter Iannuzzi, RUSA No. 6244, the newest RUSA Member listing SFR as his brevet club.

Within SFR, the database includes 385 riders that have signed up for at least one brevet since 2007. There are 184 riders selecting membership in SFR.

This year we've had fantastic turnout for our events, and it's hard to miss the enthusiasm and interest in riding brevets in 2010. If you were considering joining RUSA and/or SFR, what will it take to convince you to follow through (and list SFR as your club)?

rob hawks
sfr rba

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[mike biswell]

Sorry, not willing to call the 2010 turnout fantastic - still all male, and we don't do any outreach so we don't really know what would be  'fantastic'. Putting our rides on the local ride calendars (currently not on any??) and making our permanents available to bike clubs/boy scouts/velogirls/church groups is how to increase the population up to 'fantastic.' The main series has been popular for several years, and the other rides are not really taking off in any uniform sense. Lucas Valley ride is not drawing much interest for whatever reason, 'everyone' has already done it 2/3 times already - maybe this is the ride that should finish 'at the brewbub,' or at least somewhere where there is a bathroom. SFR was already the 3rd-4th 'biggest' in like 2003/2004. Regards! Mike

[Greg Merritt]

On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 7:37 AM, mike biswell <rubesa...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Sorry, not willing to call the 2010 turnout fantastic - still all male, and we don't do any
> outreach so we don't really know what would be 'fantastic'.

With the supported 100-mile century ride being the reference standard
for a difficult endurance event for most recreational cyclists, an
unsupported 200km ride is an incredibly daunting proposition.

The SFR ~100km populaire event is the perfect gateway dru.... er,
introduction. The distance is "sub-century" and many
non-randonneuring recreational cyclists are already riding similar
routes.

In addition to whatever other forms of outreach may or may not go on,
I encourage anyone who's interesting in growing our ranks to invite
newbies to this year's populaire, with an offer to ride with them and
show them the ropes. It's really fun!

Oh -- Rob, I don't think your original e-mail message reminded folks
that SFR membership is free (I thought it was a mistake on the sign-up
form where it said $0!), and that RUSA membership includes a very cool
handbook and the periodical publications. I'm not sure of the last
time combined membership in two cycling clubs cost so little and
offered so much physical stuff. :)

-Greg

[Bill Bryant]

Hi Rob--
The recent growth of the SF Randonneurs has been a very good
development for California randonneuring and everyone in the club
should be proud. The rich ride calendar now covers much of the year
instead of just the spring months, and the turnout for the 2010
brevets and fleche have all been very encouraging. Another winning
characteristic is the friendly atmosphere at SFR events that welcomes
all types of cyclists who want to try their hand at unsupported long
distance cycling. The club's method of sharing the organizational
chores is a good formula to follow and I'm hopeful that the SFR will
prosper for many years to come. "Hats off" to everyone who has
volunteered for the SFR and its events; you've all made a meaningful
contribution to the growth of the Bay Area randonneuring.

Bill Bryant

[mike biswell]

--- On Sat, 5/1/10, Bill Bryant <bill.b...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Another winning characteristic is the friendly atmosphere at SFR events that welcomes >all types of cyclists who want to try their hand at unsupported long >distance cycling.

Bill, thanks - how would you know? You regularly attend other area brevets but never here in SF. Ever.  Thanks encouragement and input. Mike

[mike biswell]

--- On Sat, 5/1/10, Greg Merritt <greg.m...@gmail.com> wrote

>With the supported 100-mile century ride being the reference standard >for a difficult endurance event for most recreational cyclists, an >unsupported 200km ride is an incredibly daunting proposition.

Our rides are not unsupported. We just pretend they are.

>The SFR ~100km populaire event is the perfect gateway dru.... er, >introduction.  The distance is "sub-century" and many >non-randonneuring recreational cyclists are already riding similar r>outes.

Yes. But we need to get on some calendars and there is no other forum for me to express this but here - not trying to strike a bad note, but it is time to expand a little and this fear/prudence thing about not being on any calendars is worth discussing, not just asking. Many more riders than 5 year ago filling the streets. It's happening and where are we but riding off into the sunset by ourselves? Regards! Mike

[Don Bennett]

What is this support to which you refer?

Have we recruited someone in the  spirit of Lee Mitchell to cruise the course looking for riders in distress?

Or are you simply referring to the fact that we're not riding across the Mojave past a sign that says "No services, next 200 Km" ?

Don

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 7:59 AM, mike biswell <rubesa...@yahoo.com> wrote:

--- On Sat, 5/1/10, Greg Merritt <greg.m...@gmail.com> wrote >With the supported 100-mile century ride being the reference standard >for a difficult endurance event for most recreational cyclists, an >unsupported 200km ride is an incredibly daunting proposition. Our rides are not unsupported. We just pretend they are.

[Aaron Little]

With the large turnouts this year it sure has felt like there has been more support.  No SAG service or food spreads, but always having a group ahead and not too far behind you might give one more mental comfort.

---

From: Don Bennett <d...@donbennett.org>
To: rubesa...@yahoo.com
Cc: San Francisco Randonneurs <sfra...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 8:42:04 AM
Subject: Re: [SFRandon] RUSA club affiliation and SFR