NCBC meeting notes - January '97

The are my notes from the January 14th, 1997 meeting of the NCBC. They are terse and not necessarily complete, but capture at least some of the points of discussion during the meeting. -DLC

The meeting was convened at the home of Don Edwards (1996 president) in Cary. Approximately 16 people attended. The primary topics of discussion were the plans for the club for 1997, but the most-discussed topic was "ride types."

Meeting locations

• have agreement from REI to use their facilities at Crossroads Plaza on Monday evenings (first Monday of each month)
• Advantages:
  • good central location
  • easy parking
  • good meeting environment
• meeting place and date approved by vote

P. O. Box

• Henri Bohl accepted key to club's P.O. box at Crabtree Valley

Programs

• under control of Vice-President
• discussion deferred; anyone with ideas should contact Henri Bohl

Computer

• need to decide on what to do with club's Mac computer (about 4 years old) and laser printer
• Jim Fredley to address.

Newsletter editor

• Tim Hunter has expressed an interest in the newsletter, may be taking up for Chris O'Connor as the baby come due.

Bike Shops

• Jim Fredley has met with a variety of Local Bike Shop (LBS) owners
• have discussed adding LBS rides to NCBC calendar
• Jeff Hutchinson (of All Star) mentioned providing training on tandems at his tandem rallies
• the club may to solicit a volunteer to coordinate advertising with the bike shops
• David Cole will work with Henry Bohl to build a LBS feature section on the web page. Bicycle Outfitters in Raleigh will be the first shop featured and will serve as a template for the others.
• the club should invite the bike shops to participate in Rallies and other club events (BikesUSA already expressed interest)

Ride calendars

• should we restrict ride calendar (sampler and web page)?
  • some opinions expressed both pro and con
  • ride sampler to be left to discretion of newsletter editor
  • web page will continue to post full calendar
• do we need a brochure for the club?
  • Al Johnson says we already have one
  • Al will bring to next meeting
• David Saussy will continue distributing ride sampler, is encouraged to solicit feedback from shop owners.
• David Cole will contact Jeff Hutchinson re: including All Star rides on web page calendar

Rallies

• club has three rallies already scheduled with DOT
  • Spring Rally on Sunday, April 20th
  • Summer Rally on Sunday, July 13th
  • Fall Rally on Sunday, September 14th
• Brueggers bagels have been a consistent sponsor
• ditto for Austin foods
• ought to approach Pepsi Cola and others in Fall for next year
• need to estbalish sponsor liason/development
  • David Cole to look thru membership list
• agreed to proceed with idea of single T-shirt for all three rallies
• will solicit help with T shirt design via newsletter and web

Spring Rally

• Need rally director and other assistants
• David Cole will help with route and cue sheets

Ride types

• club really needs to offer some skills development rides
  • Joy Dempsey will do something here
• useful to discuss ride intentions/expectations prior to ride
• social aspect is important, too
• having dual routes/paces a good option
• an issue in almost every club
• ride leaders should "shepard" folks who are riding the advertised pace
• riders need understand their responsibilities
  • good topic for newsletter article
• "pick-up" rides could establish paces at start
• specific actions
  • skills development rides
  • rider responsibilities on ride calednar
  • ride characterization (e.g., are their regroup points)
  • lead rides at other times of days
• need rides for during the day
• also good to include lunchtime rides at RTP
• clear we need to have a "ride leaders responsibilities" description
• would be helpful to have cue sheet repository, too

Brevet rides

• Need to decide whether we will host Brevet series this year
• Steven Knight intends to lead '98 and '99 events

NC Fats

• NC Fats is proposing becoming a joint partner with NCBC
• club will vote in February
• topic for discussion at next NCBC meeting

NCBC racing team

• club bylaws calls for developing/sponsoring a racing team
• would offer explicit race training
• would also help with gaining sponsors
• no opposition to idea, just need someone to make it happen

NCBC Jersies

• may want to order additional NCBC jersies
• would need to arrange pre-order via newsletter and web