The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society November 2017, Volume 34, Issue #11
President’s Report John Pringle
Changes are a coming. As is the AGM
Inducements to tour leaders: If you’ve been following Club business affairs, you’ll know the Board has been contemplating changes to policy in an attempt to enhance tour leader numbers. The October meeting resulted in the following Board-accepted policies; each will require membership approval at the 2017 AGM. Please join the multitudes for a free lunch and a chance to bring about positive change to the Club:
- More control over tour participant selection: There are riders who spend long hours alone in the saddle. These “solitary riders” cycle Canada; they cycle the length of the Americas; they cycle around the world. There’s even a cycling club, the prestigious Audax Club Parisenne that promotes races in length from 200 km to greater than 1 000 km or more for randonneurs (so designated after completing a 200 km randoneé event) who tend to ride solo.
Randonneuring has much in common with cycle touring; the father of both styles was a French journalist, Paul de Vivie (1853 – 1930), who wrote under the pseudonym “Velocio”. He founded the classic magazine, Le Cycliste. He claimed that healthy individuals could ride 130 miles /day (>200 km) for consecutive days if they ride a good bicycle and eat properly. He rode these distances, usually as a solo rider. Victoria’s home to a champion randonneur who is frequently seen on long distant rides alone.
Most cyclists are gregarious, however. They join cycling clubs in order to enjoy the sport and make cycling friends. They cycle scheduled day rides from coffee shop to coffee shop, discuss among many topics, bicycles and routes. If they be touring club members then tours could be conceived and discussed during these rides. And would it not be logical to want to tour with these same folk you’re riding with? Indeed. And in CCCTS for most of its years this was the case. A tour leader often ended up choosing those he knew and enjoyed riding with. The Board, in its wisdom some years ago, moved to a “first come, first served” system when complaints became frequent when members were failing to be chosen for tour after tour. This move resolved this problem, but like any complex system, a twig in the protocol may have unforeseen consequences.
The Club’s struggle to recruit new tour leaders may, in part, be the result of this decision. A compromise seemed in order. Hence, the Board will present a policy change to membership at November’s AGM that will make it possible for a tour leader to choose some percentage of tour participants.
- Enhancing the tour leaders’ stipend: Conceiving, designing and organizing a Club tour is interesting and rewarding in many ways. It allows one to test their creative and leadership skills. A huge sense of satisfaction reigns down at tours end, when, by dint of the tour leaders skills and efforts, tour members coo high praise. For years this was the only payoff for tour leaders. No longer. Some years back Club policy changed; a TL was rewarded a free tour. But this may be insufficient payback?
In addition, Club contracted tours e.g. our recent “2017 Ireland – Wild Atlantic Way tour” are becoming common. Grant it, they are much simpler to organize than the latter, but they are considerably more expensive than Club organized and led tours. In an attempt to encourage Club tour leaders to design, organize and lead tours, “the whole enchilada”, the Board is recommending an increase in tour leader’s stipends to more than one tour fee.
In summary, it is hoped that these two initiatives will enhance tour leader numbers. As recently observed, over the past five years, 22 tour leaders provided tour spots for 700 Club members. The well is drying up. More tour leaders are required to meet the demand. Come join the many at the November AGM. Help support these initiatives.
Club leadership: We ponder. We cogitate. We discuss. It’s mystifying. It’s a deep concern. Our current Treasurer has admirably served the Club in this post for 17 years. He’s also covered Office Manager duties for many years. He’s been there for you when you call for help with Karelo; when you request assistance with Club and tour registrations, etc. He stepped down three years ago as Treasurer. He came back when the position became vacant a year later. He’s still in the post though his resignation is in hand. In spite of the hours, the years, the near two decades he’s served, he’s yet prepared to train an understudy. It would be such a relief for him to “retire” knowing the Club has filled his role with a most able candidate.
The Club Secretary position is vacant as well. Allan Buium (604-875-6335; abuium@telus.net ) has “beat the bushes” to round out the slate of officers for presentation at the November AGM. We’re still short positions with only weeks to go. Call Allan if you’re interested in either position.
It is with heavy heart that these concerns are brought to you, the membership. It would be much more satisfying to discuss more pleasant topics in this report. But, would it not be remiss to remain silent when, we the Board, feel a near crisis situation is eminent?
The AGM. Those of you who are within cycling/driving distance of the South Delta Baptist Church, please plan to support your Board by attending the meeting (November 27th). The business session will be carried out as quickly as possible, thereby providing more time for each of you to socialize over a free lunch.
Please note A GPS Help Session is planned for the 1.5 hours (0900h – 1030h) prior to the AGM. Bring your GPS to the South Delta Baptist Church. We’ll provide the instructors to: 1. Allow you to make better use of your instrument; and 2. to prepare you to use the Club’s membership for RideWithGPS. Plan to stay for the AGM and lunch.
See you at the AGM.
Welcome New Members
| Sheila | Palmer | Surrey | BC |
| John | Fallis | ottawa | ON |
| Ian | Blake | Surrey | BC |
| Neil | McNeill | Surrey | BC |
CCCTS Annual General Meeting at South Delta Baptist Church
GPS Help Session & More
A GPS can be an invaluable tool for bike touring. But let’s face it they are not the most user friendly devices out there. We will be hosting a GPS “help session” to be held immediately before the AGM on November 27th. The AGM will start at 11:00. We will start the help session at 9:00 a.m. and will wrap it up by about 10:30 a.m. The location for the help session will be the South Delta Baptist Church, room# 201.
Bruce Daykin will lead the discussion on route planning targeted at GPS use. In particular he will go over using RideWithGPS to assist you in planning your trips. The Club has recently purchased a RideWithGPS Club membership that will be available to our members.
Max McClanahan will handle the second part of the session that will deal with how to use your GPS. This will include acquiring and loading base maps and routes onto your device, as well has using your GPS to stay on route.
Hopefully you will be able to join us. Please bring your GPS with you. And if possible, stay for the AGM and a free lunch.
CHRISTMAS IN VICTORIA
Join your CCCTS Friends for a
Dinner & Dance
Place: Cedar Hill Golf Club
1400 Derby Rd.
Thursday 7 Dec. 2017
Happy Hour 6 PM
Dance 8 PM……….
with Gary Preston & the Kingmixers
Ticket Price $ 35
Tickets go on sale Nov. 1st.
For tickets contact:
Alex Laird 250 384 8398
email alaird212@gmail.com
Upcoming Tours
Upcoming Hub and Spoke
Two Cervelo Road Bikes looking for new homes: Pictures available upon request.
CERVELO RS Road Bike 51 cm
Nearly new condition. Triple Ultegra, Ritchey Bar Fizik Titanium seat. Purchased and serviced in Victoria. This is a beautiful bike. Asking $1800 obo. Bike located in Cordova Bay, Victoria. Contact ken1g@shaw.ca
CERVELO R3 56 cm with Sram Red
The ultimate carbon bike, light, comfortable, and in like new condition. Mavic Ksyrium SL wheel set; Sram Red components, 3T seat post and handlebar.
This bike was purchased and serviced in Victoria. Asking $2250 obo. Located in Cordova Bay, Victoria. Contact ken1g@shaw.ca
Newsbrief
Published at least ten times a year by The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society, a non – profit organization for retired people and others who enjoy recreational cycling.
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