M
Mike Vandeman
Guest
What part of "responsible" don't you understand?
Mike
From: Nancy Whyte <[email protected]> Subject: ROMP Race team thoughts Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
20:52:20 -0800
I had a few thoughts after I read some surprisingly negative messages about the potential to sponser
a race team. First of all, all irresponsible trail users are not racers. Races should be done on a
closed course, designed for such activity on a limited basis. Some of the messages are starting to
sound like the comments we hear about all mountain bikers being a threat to trail use. Secondly, I
do not see how sponsoring a race team could possibly detract from out advocacy missions, or our
standing with land management groups. In fact, I would propose that members in good standing that
want to race, be required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours of time for projects such as trail
repair, organized rides, membership drives, letter stuffing and meeting with political figures. It
also might be wise to require a race member to attend a ROMP meeting every 3 months, to stay
informed about the group activities.
I feel that as ROMP is a group of "pedalers", which to me means bicyclists, and as I see bicyclists
as being both recreation and transportation, our group already endorses the FUN of riding, and I
might go as far as to say that riding for many of us is a passion.....I suggest that we include
competitive, athletic endeavors part of what we believe in. This is a group, and therefore, a
plethora of opinions on what "Responsible", "Organized" means, exists. I am a member who rides
responsibly, promotes the ideals of working together to preserve the rights of all trail user
groups, but also supports racing mountain bikes!
Consider having race team members chosen from those who have been a part of ROMP for at least 6
months, and have met the requirements I have proposed. I do agree that racers will be ambassadors
for our cause, and I believe that racing CAN be a benefit to our club.
Nancy Whyte
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to
help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
Mike
From: Nancy Whyte <[email protected]> Subject: ROMP Race team thoughts Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
20:52:20 -0800
I had a few thoughts after I read some surprisingly negative messages about the potential to sponser
a race team. First of all, all irresponsible trail users are not racers. Races should be done on a
closed course, designed for such activity on a limited basis. Some of the messages are starting to
sound like the comments we hear about all mountain bikers being a threat to trail use. Secondly, I
do not see how sponsoring a race team could possibly detract from out advocacy missions, or our
standing with land management groups. In fact, I would propose that members in good standing that
want to race, be required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours of time for projects such as trail
repair, organized rides, membership drives, letter stuffing and meeting with political figures. It
also might be wise to require a race member to attend a ROMP meeting every 3 months, to stay
informed about the group activities.
I feel that as ROMP is a group of "pedalers", which to me means bicyclists, and as I see bicyclists
as being both recreation and transportation, our group already endorses the FUN of riding, and I
might go as far as to say that riding for many of us is a passion.....I suggest that we include
competitive, athletic endeavors part of what we believe in. This is a group, and therefore, a
plethora of opinions on what "Responsible", "Organized" means, exists. I am a member who rides
responsibly, promotes the ideals of working together to preserve the rights of all trail user
groups, but also supports racing mountain bikes!
Consider having race team members chosen from those who have been a part of ROMP for at least 6
months, and have met the requirements I have proposed. I do agree that racers will be ambassadors
for our cause, and I believe that racing CAN be a benefit to our club.
Nancy Whyte
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to
help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande