Just Ok Is Not Enough
Hello stranger, yes, it is me again. A lot has transpired between now and the last time I blogged. Instead of going through a timeline of the past few months I am choosing the path of least resistance, which means I am sticking to the relevancy of today only. I have a lot of cycling material saved up to chatter about too, but for now I think it’s more important to address some local issues that are likely on your mind.
2009 Criterium Series?
There are a lot of questions coming my way concerning the 5th Annual NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Series for 2009. This is a topic I have worked on quite a bit over the last few months, but my results are falling well short of a best case scenario. It’s not important I share all the details of how and why with you, but suffice it to say yours truly is being priced out and unable to afford the cost of the Tennessee Titans facility.
There are some scenarios which would allow for the use of the parking lots, but they would require big changes to how the series operates. I am curious how you all feel about the following: 1) would you be willing to pay a $20 entry fee? 2) Can you also live without the payouts or at least a big reduction? 3) Will you give the series your devotion and commit to showing up each week? If the answer to all three questions is a big fat “Yes!” then the series is possible and affordable.
After all, we are racing for the championship belt, right?
The reality is I can neither afford to keep entry fees at $10 nor survive on a turnout on less than 70-75 riders each week. Maybe survive is a harsh word, so let’s go with “risk” instead. I may still be able to continue some type of small payout, and that would mainly be done in order to be able to award upgrade points. However, if I do that my insurance to USAC goes up dramatically. In the end what I must avoid is having a small turnout, and end up stuck with a large bill from the Titans hanging over my head. Also, any hint of rain and I would definitely have to cancel to avoid a low turnout. (The NashvilleCyclist.com Twitter account will come in handy there!)
I have looked at the potential of other venues, but right now those are not developing too quickly. I will continue to explore all my options, Titans included, and hopefully within the next few weeks come to some conclusion. I will do my very best to offer something to you, so please be patient and understanding.
Having said all that, I am curious what you think and want to hear from you. Please email me at info@nashvillecyclist.com to share your thoughts. If enough people respond favorably to my suggested changes then I am inclined to take the associated risks. I look forward to hearing from you all.
2009 Ride of Silence Nashville
This event will take place again on Wednesday, May 20th here in Nashville. I will have details soon regarding the starting spot and route, so please stay tuned for that information. Last year was our best turnout ever with well over 100 participating, and this year I suspect it will swell in numbers. Those attending in 2008 will hopefully spread the good word to more of their friends, and in the end each of us will honor those who have been injured or killed by a motor vehicle while riding their bicycle.
Moreover, this is another great opportunity to showcase cycling in a positive light. We will be able to congregate and ride together on the streets of Nashville in an honorable manner, which will help to raise awareness for our cause. We hope to once again have a Metro Police escort and attract the attention of local television stations and print media.
To learn more about the Ride of Silence please visit http://www.rideofsilence.org/.
Hammerfest is on!
Straight and to the point - it is time to ride and train hard! Back by popular demand the annual Hammerfest training ride will begin next Wednesday, April 29th! Due to sunset restrictions we will have to start this at 5:30 PM for the two hour loop.
The ride rolls out from the entrance of Percy Warner Park at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard. Hammerfest is not for the faint of heart as there are quite a few intense race pace efforts involved. There will be some instructions laid out in advance about the route, everyone’s responsibility to safety, and the general expectations of a ride of that nature. Nobody is discouraged from attending, but it is recommended you have some racing experience in your legs.
This weekly training ride will replace the criterium series on an interim basis, so hopefully don’t get too used to it! More information will be posted on the website very soon as well as an email from the BToGS list. Be there and you are guaranteed to get faster!
Twitter - Yes, follow!
I have been on the Twitter wagon for quite some time now. It's another communication tool allowing very timely and targeted messages to be sent to your intended following audience. I have found it to be very effective and can see where in many cycling situations it provides valuable info. Of course it can used to communicate non-useful things as well, which is what it's primarily doing now. However, I have used it to post "live" collegiate racing action on the weekends, which if you're a father living in Guatemala or Texas or Louisiana it's pretty cool to visit a website with updates about your son's race in real time, right?
To follow NashvilleCyclist.com on Twitter simply visit this link - http://twitter.com/nashvillcyclist
You can either go straight to that link whenever you want or you can create your own free account and then choose to "follow." I realize the name is missing an "e", but Twitter gives you only so many characters to create your name. Oh well, close enough.
Adios for a few days as I am off to Athens and Roswell for some recruiting and fast racing action!
2009 Criterium Series?
There are a lot of questions coming my way concerning the 5th Annual NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Series for 2009. This is a topic I have worked on quite a bit over the last few months, but my results are falling well short of a best case scenario. It’s not important I share all the details of how and why with you, but suffice it to say yours truly is being priced out and unable to afford the cost of the Tennessee Titans facility.
There are some scenarios which would allow for the use of the parking lots, but they would require big changes to how the series operates. I am curious how you all feel about the following: 1) would you be willing to pay a $20 entry fee? 2) Can you also live without the payouts or at least a big reduction? 3) Will you give the series your devotion and commit to showing up each week? If the answer to all three questions is a big fat “Yes!” then the series is possible and affordable.
After all, we are racing for the championship belt, right?
The reality is I can neither afford to keep entry fees at $10 nor survive on a turnout on less than 70-75 riders each week. Maybe survive is a harsh word, so let’s go with “risk” instead. I may still be able to continue some type of small payout, and that would mainly be done in order to be able to award upgrade points. However, if I do that my insurance to USAC goes up dramatically. In the end what I must avoid is having a small turnout, and end up stuck with a large bill from the Titans hanging over my head. Also, any hint of rain and I would definitely have to cancel to avoid a low turnout. (The NashvilleCyclist.com Twitter account will come in handy there!)
I have looked at the potential of other venues, but right now those are not developing too quickly. I will continue to explore all my options, Titans included, and hopefully within the next few weeks come to some conclusion. I will do my very best to offer something to you, so please be patient and understanding.
Having said all that, I am curious what you think and want to hear from you. Please email me at info@nashvillecyclist.com to share your thoughts. If enough people respond favorably to my suggested changes then I am inclined to take the associated risks. I look forward to hearing from you all.
2009 Ride of Silence Nashville
This event will take place again on Wednesday, May 20th here in Nashville. I will have details soon regarding the starting spot and route, so please stay tuned for that information. Last year was our best turnout ever with well over 100 participating, and this year I suspect it will swell in numbers. Those attending in 2008 will hopefully spread the good word to more of their friends, and in the end each of us will honor those who have been injured or killed by a motor vehicle while riding their bicycle.
Moreover, this is another great opportunity to showcase cycling in a positive light. We will be able to congregate and ride together on the streets of Nashville in an honorable manner, which will help to raise awareness for our cause. We hope to once again have a Metro Police escort and attract the attention of local television stations and print media.
To learn more about the Ride of Silence please visit http://www.rideofsilence.org/.
Hammerfest is on!
Straight and to the point - it is time to ride and train hard! Back by popular demand the annual Hammerfest training ride will begin next Wednesday, April 29th! Due to sunset restrictions we will have to start this at 5:30 PM for the two hour loop.
The ride rolls out from the entrance of Percy Warner Park at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard. Hammerfest is not for the faint of heart as there are quite a few intense race pace efforts involved. There will be some instructions laid out in advance about the route, everyone’s responsibility to safety, and the general expectations of a ride of that nature. Nobody is discouraged from attending, but it is recommended you have some racing experience in your legs.
This weekly training ride will replace the criterium series on an interim basis, so hopefully don’t get too used to it! More information will be posted on the website very soon as well as an email from the BToGS list. Be there and you are guaranteed to get faster!
Twitter - Yes, follow!
I have been on the Twitter wagon for quite some time now. It's another communication tool allowing very timely and targeted messages to be sent to your intended following audience. I have found it to be very effective and can see where in many cycling situations it provides valuable info. Of course it can used to communicate non-useful things as well, which is what it's primarily doing now. However, I have used it to post "live" collegiate racing action on the weekends, which if you're a father living in Guatemala or Texas or Louisiana it's pretty cool to visit a website with updates about your son's race in real time, right?
To follow NashvilleCyclist.com on Twitter simply visit this link - http://twitter.com/nashvillcyclist
You can either go straight to that link whenever you want or you can create your own free account and then choose to "follow." I realize the name is missing an "e", but Twitter gives you only so many characters to create your name. Oh well, close enough.
Adios for a few days as I am off to Athens and Roswell for some recruiting and fast racing action!
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 4/23/2009 11:17:00 PM
2 Comments:
Temple is currently gravel so the Hammerfest should know about this before we hit it.
Glad you brought that up Nathan. Now we will likely just go straight up the hill at Sneed over to 100 to McCrory.
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