RNP 1st and 3rd Sunday????

[geoff m]

OK,

My poor performance at the Ride To Life race last Saturday made me think I am not suffering enough in my training.

I really enjoyed the suffering of the hills last Sunday in the RNP and probably need to do more of it.

Was wondering if there is any demand to do the RNP twice a month. If we get about 5 people plus each time, it will be successful.

With Grafton coming up, I'm sure there is short term demand anyway?

Any thoughts?

[weiyun]

I am keen. But the 6am start at this time of the year is getting to me. Could a 6:30am start with the regular bunch be a possibility for the winter months?

[mikesbytes]

I'm interested once I'm fixed

[weiyun]

I think you need a trainer at home for 4 weeks. Something nice and stable where you can just pedal to your heart's content...

[T-Bone]

Sounds like a good idea, though i'll probably be riding further to get some endurance in my legs for grafton.

[Adrian E]

6.30 starts for RNP in winter are much better for me now I'm living in straithfield. will finally be back this sunday.

[weiyun]

6.30 starts for RNP in winter are much better for me now I'm living in straithfield. will finally be back this sunday.

Maybe we can be the splitter group.

[mikesbytes]

What about 6am on the first and 6.30am on the third ?

[geoff m]

What about 6am on the first and 6.30am on the third ?

I'm interested in times? I prefer 6.00am, but am OK with 6.30 on the 3rd Sunday of the months outside of Daylight Savings times.

We would probably have to put times up on Website as people might get confused.

[fenn_paddler]

Sounds like a great idea but it really has to be a 6:00am start doesn't it?

The 6am start (for RNP) times in nicely with the 6:30am bunch so that everyone gets to the 7-11 at roughly the same time. There is safety in numbers (up to a point) for the ride from 7-11 to bestic st.

If you start at 6:30am & do the park you end up being in a small bunch (or on your own!) back on the busiest streets, and being half an hour later it's that much busier as well.

Cheers,
Alan W

[weiyun]

Yes, the original 6am schedule was made to coincide with the return leg. However, given the darkness at 5:30am (for people who don't live in Marrickville), the risk of riding at that time is probably equated by the later return. A bit of a personal preference I guess.

[Adrian E]

I don't think small bunches of 4 to 5 riders are a problem in terms of saftey on the ride from 7/11 to bestic st. the traffic is usally not that bad. its just a matter of staying together. I'm for the 3rd sunday at 6:30am because it allows people outside of marrickville the extra 30mins to get there. When sunrise is earlier this is not such a problem.

Here are the light hours at the moment.

# First light: 06:16 EST
# Sunrise: 06:42 EST
# Sunset: 17:20 EST
# Last light: 17:46 EST

[weiyun]

I guess the other option is to just do the RNP as a spurt of the moment thing. If there's enough interested during the ride to Waterfall, then a splitter group can form and proceed down the RNP.

[FAswad]

Will support the RNP ride whenver it takes place.

[geoff m]

I actually see it from both sides and there are pros and cons.

Safety is an issue for both. Issue is how to best mitigate.

I'm favouring going with a 6.00am start at this stage.

I agree it is getting too late to come back 30 minutes after all the Sydney groups have left the servo. My experience is after 8.50am there are no groups returning to Sydney just as the traffic starts to get busy. Also, the group being smaller, and very tired from RNP, there is a good chance one or two riders will fall off the back and be completely on their own.

With a 6.00am start, it should be reasonably light from 6.00- 6.05 in about 2 weeks time. But that still leaves about 30 minutes darkness (and diminishing every week) for people like Weiyun coming from Balmain.

I think the only alternative at this stage is to ensure a front light (which is required by law anyway). I bought a great flashing one yesterday for $40 at Bike Bug, which is light, clips on and off in seconds and is relatively bright. This means I don't have to rely on my massive rechargable light which is heavy and reduces my biddon by 1.

In fact, no one should be joining us for a ride unless they are equipped with legal lighting, where required.

When it gets lighter (including travel time to Marrickville) , I think we should go with a 5.50am start to reach the Servo at the exact time as the main bunch. That's probably some months away.

So at this stage, taking all thoughts to account, I think 6.00am will be the official time. Might not be ideal for everyone for the next month, but I think it will work best.

[weiyun]

Ok, I'll just make the extra effort for 6am starts and guess the same for Adrian from Strathfield.

My dislike of riding in the dark isn't so much with the availability of a front light. Unless one goes with one of those high intensity lights, road visibility is always that much poorer than during daylight hours.