Social Spins

Now, nobody get offended, this is not that type of rant.
Alfie, the Club Chairman came up with the once a month Social Spin, so that new members could come along, lapsed members could get back in to the swing of things.
Less experienced riders could ride along with the experienced and learn something, maybe.
Downhillers could get a spin in and not be under pressure.
There are dozens of good reasons to do them.
But its obvious to me now after 4 of them that they are not working. Considering that every Saturday I get all manner of beastie out on the spins , Saturdays seem to be doing the job that the monthly Sunday spin was doing.
There was only one rider out today who the spin should have suited. Everybody else was a very experienced fit (enough) rider.
I think the poor guy got hammered because everybody else was tearing along in a Wolf squadron Alpha bravo gallop..
Something they can't avoid because that was a slow enough pace for them.
I'm not angry ,cranky or anything remotely negative, by the way, the tail end of the spin was deadly because anybody who was left were all personal mates of mine and we were having the craic, plus I didn't feel guilty getting stuck in to the spin while people were suffering out the back.
I just think its a shame people don't take advantage of these spins. Its only once a month and whats happened now is that people who would have fitted in on a Social spin are now too savage for the social spin. A testament to their hard work over the year.
Now I would love to see people running spins for the casual rider every week, and when I say casual I mean guys and girls through work and home commitments or whatever can't make every week..
I'd like to see everybody having an EPIC spin.. Not the usual ugly bad asses I surround myself with..
And like I've said, do not take offence, this is not a slap on the wrist or a criticism. Its simply my attempt at getting more people out under the EPIC banner, having the craic ,making friends and enjoying the mountains.
Richie

i think the social spins are more succesfull in the summer also at this time of year alot of people have commitments on sat nights that are usually booze fueled which prevent them being out on the sunday morning. I know i've had something on every weekend for the last few weeks and haven't ridden my bike on a sunday in i don't know how long. So don't loose heart the social spin people will come back

thanks Al, i'm not losing heart for myself. I'm thinking of the lone guy getting murdered on these spins. there were loads of people out today, just not the ones the social spins are for.
We'll keep doing them regardless. Its Alfies idea so we have to.
And let me reiterate..this is not a criticism of people who didn't come out. Its just an observation, if things need to be changed to make it easier for people to get to them, then we'll have a look at changing the format.
I've already been accused of going soft..i'm surprised my self !! I'm also wondering when i'm going to snap..
Richie

Richie, I'm guessing that I'm the guy who you think was "hammered" today? Funny, but I don't see it like that at all! I rode up, over and down stuff today that I wouldn't have dreamt about 3 months ago. It may not be obvious to you guys but I've made great progress since I've started riding with Epic - I hadn't sat on a mountain bike for 4 years until 4 months ago!
I sort of feel that if a spin is billed "Social" it gives less able riders the right to "hold up" the rest of you guys without feeling too guilty about it and besides I think Shona enjoyed having somebody around that she was clearly better than! Having said that it would be nice to have a few slower riders around to "bridge the gap"! I suspect it's the time of year as Al says - on the October Social Spin there was a much greater mix of abilities!
Anyway I really enjoyed the spin today and I'll definately be along for the next one!!!

my apologies Rich, i obviously underestimated you. But if you feel you're benefitting then thats great !!

yeah i don't really care what they're called, the spins are Deadly and i always have a lot of fun, and occasionally learn something ;-)

the spin will always go at a level that suits the majority of the riders on it. No matter how slow you go there will always be somebody being hammered at the back. Its part of the big group spin thing. The guys being hammered don't mind too much as it makes them want to get better. They aspire to going on a spin and not being hammered or atleast have somebody else out who is suffering more than they are. I can gaurentee I would have been that bloke if i was out today. The motor skills aren't quite what they should be.

Well that was my first time out on one of the social spins and the pace was abit faster than I imagined it would be but it didn't bother me. Even though I've been going out twice a week with friends for God knows how many years, I've always been fitter and faster than them so I wasn't testing myself, but in the two months or so I've been going on spins with Epic I've noticed an improvement in my riding and my fitness because I'm being tested now to keep the pace up.

thats great, John ,because thats exactly what we are trying to do..the reason for the Social spins is simple , to get people back out on spins so they can see how they are going.
Build up some confidence and mainly get back into th swing of things. They are exactly what Rich says, nobody minds waiting for people on them.
I think the time of year might have something to do with it, but then, there was a good number of people out, just not the riders we run them for.
We'll keep running them. They are far more important during the racing season anyway.
Richie

Al is exactly right ... I spent last night trying to work out how not to be right at the back next time! Can I get out 3 times next week? Can I persuade a couple of gob****es that I know are slower than me to come on the next social spin? Can I ensure that Richie gets 3 rather than 2 punctures so he has to ride for the rest of the day on a rim? Hmm.......

well richardL , i'm sorta in the same boat as you, i was gonna come out yesterday, but events conspired against me... fingers crossed, i'll be out next sun... so i'll be the one gasping at the back

I went on my first social spin in October and I still think about it at times as it was great to talk to people and people gave me advice on where I can improve and where I was already improving, If I could have been I would have been there for sure last weekend as they are brilliant and I need them too.

This kinda spin sounds like just the thing for me! I've been going out on the trails quite a bit by myself as I went on club spins with other (remain nameless) clubs and the people were nice & that, but I just coudn't keep up, I did a few lessons with Niall Davis & felt I was much improved - still after these I haven't bothered with club spins as I'm too slow, (I do go out at least twice over the weekend - leadmines, Djouce, etc.) But, having joined Epic i think I'll really enjoy these social spins, just wating on the ole Canyon to arrive from Germany (holy sh1t they're taking their time. . .) , then I'll see you all on the trails.
Looking forward to it! Big time. Then, club races - see I've got the bug. . .