Super Duper Randonneur Award, Anybody ??

[Dan Driscoll]

Currently there are several very exciting Award Proposals at RUSA Headquarters, but the problem is that RUSA wants to change the rules and only allow up to one New Award per year, and if an Award is approved it will not be till late in 2018. All three of the Awards are designed to increases Camaraderie, promote members to ride different routes, and be tools for RBA’s to help keep riders engaged in the sport.

One of the Award Proposals, The Super Duper Randonneur Award, could be earned by doing a full series of 200km, 300km, 400km, and 600km in one year, but each of the four rides would need to be done with a different Rando Club. Something many Texans have been doing for years.

I’d like to propose a Beta test for this Award. I’ll work to find a suitable Physical Award, and to earn it, all you have to do is a full series in Texas and or Oklahoma, with each of the four rides with a different club.. LSR, HCR, HR, WTR, OKR or RioGrand Randonneurs. A longer ride can be substituted for shorter rides, ie you can use a 1,000km for a 600km. Unlike the ACP Super Randonneur Award, you may use RUSA Brevets.

Who’s up for the challenge ?? If we can show that a reasonable % of members have interests in an Award of this nature in 2018, maybe it could become a real RUSA Award in 2019, similar to the way RUSA asked to adopt The K-Hound Award after it became successful.

DanD

[RWC5830]

Dan, let me poll my riders. I'm finally working on our first 400K route so we don't have any of the longer riders, yet. Need to get off my butt and finish the cue sheet.

Once I get the 400K done I should be able to fold in a 600K but would like to talk some strategy and logistics on how to host such a long ride. I'll get to that.

But we have riders capable of doing the longer distances and many of them travel to different parts of the state for rides.

Riding down in far south Texas in the winter can be really nice, although the wind and humidity can be really tough.

Thanks,

Richard Cavin (RBA RGV Randos)

On Tue, Dec 5, 2017 at 7:25 AM, FREDERIC CORSIGLIA <faco...@gmail.com> wrote:

What RUSA needs is more members.  Do we think these candidate awards will attract and retain new riders?  What are the other award proposals?  I’m a (relatively) new rider.  The existing Super Randonneur award is challenging enough for me.  My 2018 plan is to achieve SR and that plan involves riding with about six different clubs.

I saw an interesting fact last week. 35% of RUSA members have never completed a ride.  A targetted poll of these riders may provide some insight on what inspired them to join, but prevented them from following through.  A similar poll of the ExxonMobil Cycling Club found that we were offering a quality product, but the barrier was time.  Creating awards that add an expectation of travel to the existing time in the saddle has a lower probability of success to attract new members.

A visible award recognizing recruitment, developing relationships with new riders (as you have done), and retention of newer riders is justified.  We worked so hard to get that 35% to join and we believe they would enjoy our product if they went the next step.  I wish I knew how to touch them and people like them.

I would be willing to pay an additional few dollars to my RUSA membership fee to have a budget for advertising to attract new riders and awareness of the existence of RUSA.

Fred

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Best Regards,

Richard

[dans...@flash.net]

Fred, I agree with most of what you say. RUSA Does Need more Members. There is two sides to this coin, one - attracting NEW members, and two - KEEPING existing members. RUSA membership is declining about 7% to 10% a year, we need to get new members as well as keep existing members engaged. About 50% of RUSA’s 2017 membership did not ride a single RUSA Ride this year, do you think they will renew their membership next year?  Much of that 50% are members that have gotten older and have “Been There Done That”, and have become board, adding a new challenge that promotes camaraderie should help that, and it’s worth a shot, cause it doesn’t really cost that much. An example might be the guy who thinks he loves Golf, he plays every weekend, but his friends have all moved on and he’s decided that it was not Golf that he loved it was the friendships and camaraderie. He gets tired of playing golf alone and decides to give it up. 

The hardest part of being an RBA is not the paper work, it’s recruiting new members. RBA’s need as many tools as possible to hook new members and keep existing members. One tool that works well for most RBA’s is the P-12 and the R-12, which brings riders back every month. For LSR the K-Hound Award has worked very well. The problem is that no one Award will appeal to everyone, so equipping RBA’s with more tools in their tool box, helps them get the job done.

RUSA is talking about doing some advertising to attract new members, and I applaud that. The Awards are more geared to keep existing members engaged once they decide that Rando Riding is for them. 

One of the other Awards that is currently proposed to RUSA that I really like is an Award that promotes members riding unique routes, rather than riding the same perm every weekend. This Award could be for Perms or for Brevets or they could be combined. Do you know how many unique perm routes you’ve ridden? Do you know how many unique Brevet routes you’ve ridden? If the Award recognized riders who bagged different Perms and Brevet routes in increments of 20, and you had 35, would you be motivated to start riding new routes, possibly with new people or new clubs, to get to the next level of 40, once at 40 would you be motivated to keep going to 60 and beyond?  Back in the old days, a perm could only be ridden once a year for credit, it was unbelievable how much this bonded LSR, every one road together on a different perm every weekend. When RUSA changed the rule allowing riders to ride the same perm every weekend, it struck a huge blow to LSR. 

Fred, I’ve watched you mature as a Rando Rider, and like your style. You’ve made it a point to enjoy the sport and make new friends, ride different routes, and ride with different clubs, your planning your first Super Randonneur and you’ll do it with at least 4 different clubs. You are already motivated in the direction that these Awards are intended to motivate, you’d just be rewarded to achieve them ;-). We cannot create more time for people, we can only create more desire.

DanD

On Dec 5, 2017, at 7:25 AM, FREDERIC CORSIGLIA <faco...@gmail.com> wrote:

What RUSA needs is more members.  Do we think these candidate awards will attract and retain new riders?  What are the other award proposals?  I’m a (relatively) new rider.  The existing Super Randonneur award is challenging enough for me.  My 2018 plan is to achieve SR and that plan involves riding with about six different clubs.

I saw an interesting fact last week. 35% of RUSA members have never completed a ride.  A targetted poll of these riders may provide some insight on what inspired them to join, but prevented them from following through.  A similar poll of the ExxonMobil Cycling Club found that we were offering a quality product, but the barrier was time.  Creating awards that add an expectation of travel to the existing time in the saddle has a lower probability of success to attract new members.

A visible award recognizing recruitment, developing relationships with new riders (as you have done), and retention of newer riders is justified.  We worked so hard to get that 35% to join and we believe they would enjoy our product if they went the next step.  I wish I knew how to touch them and people like them.

I would be willing to pay an additional few dollars to my RUSA membership fee to have a budget for advertising to attract new riders and awareness of the existence of RUSA.

Fred

On Dec 4, 2017, at 11:50 PM, Dan Driscoll <dans...@flash.net> wrote:

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[Tim Nuccio]

I am relatively new to this, so take this with a grain of salt.

For me, what we really need are more RUSA clubs.  I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and there is not a single ride within 3 hours of my house.  I plan to do a SR series in 2018 and completed my first 200k in September 2017, but it takes a lot of planning when we have to drive 3-4 hours to the destination before we can even prepare for a ride.  I am sure there are other populous areas in the USA where there isn't a RUSA presence and I can tell you that it takes quite a bit of dedication to maintain the level of fitness necessary for randonneuring when rides become a more occasional thing rather than a regular thing.

I read these emails and I see that you guys seem to know each other well and sometimes go on rides on relatively short notice.  That is great, but that is only available to those who live close enough or have a work schedule where that can happen.  For me, riding a 300k or further is going to require months of advance notice, taking a day or two of vacation time, some significant driving, etc.

As to the awards, while I probably will become a "super duper randonneur" this year, I do not care about that award or even any RUSA award.  I really only care about meeting people, going on the longer brevets, and having goals, such as finishing a SR series, doing a 1200k, etc.  I don't need attaboys; the experience is enough for me.

As to people missing the camaraderie, I agree, but the only way that is possible is to have a "home club" of people to ride with.  We need more of them where they're not so far apart.

TN

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[dans...@flash.net]

Tim, I like the way you think, for most of us, we are well past needing a physical Award for our accomplishments, but having an Award program to motivate us is quite a different thing. You may not purchase the Super Randonneur Award, but you are already planning to earn it, right ?

My very best advice to you is do as I did when I decided I did not want to have to drive to every Brevet, become and RBA and host your own series, and recruit other cyclist to join you Rando Club. Do you own any perms, if not I’d recommend that you build a few. 

Very glad to hear you’ll be one of the many that have replied to me that you’ll be a “Super Duper Randonneur”, DanD

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[Charlie Adams]

Allow me to chime in…

 

A few months back I had the good fortune to meet Tim on his first ever 200K.  He had driven from Las Cruces, NM to Ft. Davis for what became a very difficult brevet.  Tim and a friend from Cruces were determined to finish despite HEAVY rain and wind for the last 40 miles.  Neither riders were fast, but they were DETERMINED to finish.  In fact this was the first 200K for both, and sure enough, they completed the ride with time to spare.

 

Tim, you have all the ingredients to become a Super Duper Randonneur …  tough, road smart, determination and passion for cycling. 

 

As Dan suggests, a good way to promote more brevets is step forward with Perm routes and/or help organize brevets.  I recall John Mazzola hosted the New Mexico brevet series, featuring a 200K near Las Cruces (Radium Springs) plus many others across New Mexico.  However, I believe John retired and these events have dropped from RUSA’s calendar.   All are spectacular routes in need of an owner.  I feel sure John would sign-over his materials to anyone committed to Randonneuring.  Unfortuately, I  don’t have his contact, but I am certain we could run him down if this peaks your interest.

 

The table below lists New Mexico brevet routes which are all “in-active”.  Notice there is a complete series 200K thru 600K.  Some of the northern routes are difficult, but that’s the challenge.  If these get on a calendar why don’t we plan a Super Duper party in New Mexico?

 

Take good care,

charlie

 

 

Charlie

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[dans...@flash.net]

Sure if they get on the Calendar I’d be willing to make the drive. I”m already planning to visit all of the Texas and Oklahoma Rando clubs at least once next year. DD

On Dec 5, 2017, at 2:53 PM, Charlie Adams <cja...@ee-partners.com> wrote:

Allow me to chime in…

 

A few months back I had the good fortune to meet Tim on his first ever 200K.  He had driven from Las Cruces, NM to Ft. Davis for what became a very difficult brevet.  Tim and a friend from Cruces were determined to finish despite HEAVY rain and wind for the last 40 miles.  Neither riders were fast, but they were DETERMINED to finish.  In fact this was the first 200K for both, and sure enough, they completed the ride with time to spare.

 

Tim, you have all the ingredients to become a Super Duper Randonneur …  tough, road smart, determination and passion for cycling. 

 

As Dan suggests, a good way to promote more brevets is step forward with Perm routes and/or help organize brevets.  I recall John Mazzola hosted the New Mexico brevet series, featuring a 200K near Las Cruces (Radium Springs) plus many others across New Mexico.  However, I believe John retired and these events have dropped from RUSA’s calendar.   All are spectacular routes in need of an owner.  I feel sure John would sign-over his materials to anyone committed to Randonneuring.  Unfortuately, I  don’t have his contact, but I am certain we could run him down if this peaks your interest.

 

The table below lists New Mexico brevet routes which are all “in-active”.  Notice there is a complete series 200K thru 600K.  Some of the northern routes are difficult, but that’s the challenge.  If these get on a calendar why don’t we plan a Super Duper party in New Mexico? 

 

Take good care,

charlie

 

<image001.png>

[Margaret]

I am in the same boat-as Tim-I live in El Paso.  The NM brevet dissolved a few years ago-so I either drive to Midland or Tucson Phoenix.  I am not in a position to be an RBA with work and family obligations.  Although I have achieved my SR -in general awards have little meaning for me as most are simply not attainable.

I ride centuries on my own and plan on doing as much as I can in the spring to get another SR.  I missed out this year because I did not get a 300 km and when I could get away-they were 10-12 hours away driving time.  

Love the sport and wish there were other Randonneurs in El Paso.... glad to hear of one in nearby Cruces

Sent from my iPhone

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[Tim Nuccio]

Margaret, there are actually two of us!  Mary and I completed our first 200k together and we're a team from Las Cruces.  Like you, we keep our miles up and will be traveling for our SR series this year.  I have a crazy and unpredictable work schedule, so I'm not sure I can commit to a year's worth of rides in advance, so at least for right now, I can't be in charge of an entire state worth of randonneurs.  I am thinking that after I complete my SR series in 2018 that I will be willing to take a more active role in organizing rides in New Mexico in 2019, and in the meantime, I'm hoping to get some others who will be willing to help me, because I'm incapable of doing it alone with all of my other obligations. 

In response to Charlie, as an initial response, thank you so much for the kind words and letter I got from you in the mail. It would be great to resurrect the currently inactive routes and get New Mexico Brevets going again.  He's also right that I am not fast and I probably won't ever become fast.  Our 12 hour 215k turned out just fine, though, besides getting hailed on twice.  I'd be more than happy to somehow coordinate the Radium Springs 200k again; that would be a great ride with some great scenery and some climbing for those of you who enjoy that and it is only a few miles outside of Las Cruces.

On a broader note, if this sport is to grow, there should not be major cities in the United States that don't have rides.  I'm sure New Mexico isn't the only example.  It is, however, the 5th largest state by land area, and contains what most would consider two major metro areas with Albuqueque/Santa Fe and El Paso/Las Cruces.  Neither of these areas have a RUSA presence.  While I look forward to traveling to Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma etc., to ride in 2018, I do hope that in the future we can have more local rides, as I really admire those of you on these email lists who seem to be able to decide on a day's notice or less that you want to go do a brevet.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who lives in a major metro area in the United States with no organized randonneuring presence; if RUSA is to grow, that needs to be solved and there just need to be more RUSA clubs.

Hopefully in 2019, I can take a personal stake in bringing back New Mexico brevets.

I look forward to riding with all of you.

TN