Shaker Cycling - Overview

[mowheeler]

For those of you unfamiliar with the group here is an Overview and some clarifications.

Shaker Cycling is a (very) loosely organized group of avid cyclists.  Because of the looseness of our organization, no generalizations can fully describe our group, our members or our rides.  In fact, the group has no real leaders, just 9 people who try at various times to help facilitate our members in organizing rides.  Those people include, but are not limited to:  Tony Thomas, Chuck Lawrence, Chris Pierce, Suneel Apte, Ed Fine, Dan Feinstein, Dan Mesh, Susan Rabiah and myself.  We do this because somebody has to and nobody else wants to, not because we have been anointed as the leaders of the group.  

I have not consulted with any of our 8 other group managers in writing this e-mail, so someone will likely disagree with my views, but that is how we roll. 

• Shaker Cycling rides meet at Shaker/Courtland then proceed to the Circle at the intersection of Old Brainard and Gates Mills Boulevard
• Shaker Cycling members typically ride on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with start times set according to the time of year.  Periodically, we will announce start times for the "main" group, generally 7:30 in the early and late season, and 7:00am when light permits.  This main start time will remain the same until a new start time is announced.
• Weekend rides range from 2 to 5 hours.  Pace varies from 16.5 to 20 MPH average.  (This is fast compared to most recreational rides, but slow compared to many "real" cycling groups.)  The group often splits by pace or time early in the ride.  Ride routes are fluid and meet the needs of the riders in the group on a particular day.  If you bring a mountain bike or a hybrid, you may have trouble staying with the group unless you are really strong.
  
• During high season, a hardy group known as the Dawn Patrol, rides at 6:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This group rides for between one and 1 1/2 hours at a brisk pace.   Someone from that group will announce start times later in the season.
  
• Invariably someone will want to ride at a different time or on a different day and will solicit this list for others to join them at that time.  THESE announcements DO NOT change the start times for the main group or for the Dawn Patrol.  They are in addition to those set rides.
• If you are a new rider, or unfamiliar with the area, let someone know at the start of the ride and we will make sure you don't get dropped, or at least get home safely.
  

• Our Rules are simple:
• Helmets Required
• Obey the rules of the road, i.e. no running red lights, etc.
• Don't ride like a jerk.
• Anyone can use the list to announce a ride
• No one should use the list for non-cycling related posts or bad jokes. (Failure to follow this rule can lead to you losing your ability to post to the group)

 If you have questions, you can either post to the group, or contact one of the group of 9 listed above.

We look forward to seeing you on the road.