So, another season draws to a close. The Phoenix just about continues to tick along. A regular theme that crops up at committee meetings is the question of how we can attract more members - of course it is also a theme that crops up regularly in the cycling press and amongst the sport's governing bodies as well. There is the question of why do we need more members. We seem to be just about holding the 30 member mark at the moment, but there is a turnover of members and we have dropped from the 50 mark in the last 20 years or so, thus new members are to be encouraged. The trouble is that there is a lot of work involved in attracting new members, at the last committee meeting we all came away with some homework - to think up some sort of publicity material for posters and/or an information pack to give out to prospective members. This is to be ready for a discussion at the AGM, so if anyone not on the committee has any ideas bring them along. On our own the Phoenix has nothing special to offer potential members, but combined with the Cheam & Morden Section and our attempts at an all embracing social scene, I think that we do have something to offer.
We now have a very rudimentary web site, little more than a single advertising poster on the great noticeboard that is the internet. For those with internet access the address is:
http://homepages.nationwideisp.net/~lcolombo/kprc_main.htm
I have seen a number of particularly good sites done by other clubs. The Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers have put up the results of all but two of the open events promoted by the club in it's lifetime (I'm sure they'd be eternally grateful to anyone with those missing result sheets) and we can look up the exploits of Phoenix members in their Open 100 over the years. There are also sites with full information on Club Events and details of season long points competitions - all updated as the year progresses. I hope to have the framework in place for next year to allow us to have at least some of this available, for members and friends with internet access, to follow during the year. (Can anyone with email access please email me to inform me of their current email address so I can get an idea of how many are "On-Line").
I've had an interesting year, having chosen the season when I've been the most unfit ever, to have a go at Road Racing. The Surrey League events have been fun, but after the first 4 minutes (maximum!) it's not been a lot different to Time Trialling - maybe next year…… The shorter the circuit, the more fun it's been, culminating in a brilliant event at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit where we had a women's race and a men's trundling (well I was trundling!) round the mile long circuit at the same time. The circuit being short meant that there was lots more opportunity to jump on the back of a passing group for a few seconds every couple of laps. The type of events that we have been riding do not easily conform to the appendix to the Phoenix Rules which covers road events: it is somewhat difficult to decide the winner of the trophy when all the contenders have been competing to see who will be last in the events they are riding! We think that perhaps the committee should reconsider this appendix for next season, but I don’t have the time to think it all out in time to put to the AGM.
Despite the trauma of getting from work on time for evening racing, it has all been great and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to give it a try. The down side of it all has been the cost - which is well in excess of Time Trialling - and the need to wear a helmet.
But then if the RTTC motion gets passed at the AGM we will all need to wear a helmet for Time Trialling next year. Their argument is that they are seen as irresponsible, by the outside world, for not making helmet wearing mandatory, but in Time Trialling what do we need helmets against? Your committee feels strongly that compulsory helmet wearing in Time Trials is wrong - O.K. in Road Racing there is a constant danger that a touch of wheels will provide a minor tumble: exactly what a helmet is designed for - but in Time Trialling the individual should be allowed to choose. So we have voted against it in the hope that it will not be passed. This does not mean that we are against the wearing of helmets - just against compulsion. It will be known after the National RTTC AGM on December 3rd what the rules will be for next year.
Personally, I do not consider a helmet as much of a safety accessory in TT’s. I have found in the League evening events this year that I carry a water bottle to pour over my head, which is far too hot, rather than to drink from. If helmets are mandatory as of next year I may well have ridden my last TT under RTTC regulations.
Majorca has attracted a group again for 2001, with some new faces trying out the pleasant "training" roads for the first time. This trip has lasted on and off for 15 years now, and for the last 8 or so we have been saying that each one will probably be the last!
The Phoenix Dinner will be (barring the unexpected) on the last Saturday in February once again, 24th Feb 2001. Again the venue is to be the Hotel Antoinette at Kingston. We are continually evaluating possible alternatives - the Stoneleigh Inn is possibly back in the frame again, for those who remember the place. It is under new management having staved off the threat of demolition, but at the moment the Hotel Antoinette seems to be a pretty good venue and we are reluctant to change before the inevitable hiccup forces us to look elsewhere again.
Jake Dodd is in charge of ticket sales.
Finally, all of the committee have agreed to stand again for 2001 so we are not desperately searching for replacements, but if anyone feels they have something to offer then please step forward, don’t be shy.
All the best for 2001.
Regards,
LC November 2000
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