Hi Roz:

As I read this email from Mr. Mark, I am reminded of a very good friend of
mine who has had similar experiences with the WCC. I believe she is no
longer an active member.

I have been in the bicycle business for over twenty-five years and although
I have yet to go on an club ride, according to your scales am probably still
maybe an A rider, not by default, but by general ability. I do not wear
cycling shorts, nor do I have clipless pedals, or the most current of
equipment, just a simple non index 39-53, 12-16 straight-block. I do,
however, wear a helmet (most of the time).

Cycling is a fun activity for all ages and abilities. I would like to
discuss ways for to increase club member-ridership (if that is their goal).
Encouraging people to cycle, regardless of ability can only make them better
riders!

Let me know if you have a chance to discuss this...

andrew




-----Original Message-----
From: WCCChatAboutCycling@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WCCChatAboutCycling@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Stu
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 4:21 PM
To: WCCChatAboutCycling@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WCCChatAboutCycling] My unfortunate experience.




I'm a member of the westchester cycle club, have been for a few years
now. I ride mainly on the D rides, because I'm a C (maybe a C-) rider
who has been given attitude from some of the people on the C rides. So
I like to hang out with the D riders who so far have proven to be very
nice people.

I wanted to share a story with everybody because I believe there isn't
enough shame in the world and I like to do things to make the world a
better place in my eyes.

While cleaning up anderson hill road is a noble cause, that is not why
I joined a cycling club. I prefer to clean highways of debris so
people don't smash into it and get into accidents. This is why I
showed up for the D ride this past saturday at 9:50am.
Somehow I missed the D ride, and they left without my being aware, so
as I rolled around on my bike around the parking lot looking for a
friend's car, I came across three people chatting who looked like they
belonged to the cycling club, and I asked if they were going on a
ride.
They informed me that they had just come back from a ride and that the
B, C and D rides had left already.

If they left it at that, I would have had a much nicer day.

One of the three people, and I'm sorry I did not ask his name,
informed me, in what was unquestionably a nasty tone, that I did not
have a helmet and I was required to have a helmet and I would not be
able to ride with the club rides if I was not wearing a helmet.

Ahhh... where to begin.
I'm a member of the westchester cycle club, have been for a few years
now. I ride mainly on the D rides, because I'm a C (maybe a C-) rider
who has been given attitude from some of the people on the C rides.

It was a bit cool that morning, so I was wearing a running suit on top
of my biking clothes, so, without my helmet, it must have been
painfully obvious that I was not "a biker" and certainly not a member
of the prestige class westchester cycling club, or even a member of
the human race because I did not have my helmet and was rolling around
the parking lot on my bicycle.

I said "Thank you" as nicely as I could despite how furious I was, and
went on my way. My way included getting my helmet out of my car and
catching up to the D ride.

I have to admit, I have a low tolerance for obnoxious people. There is
no reason in this world why a question like "are you doing a ride with
the club?" should yield a lecture in a nasty tone on club rules.
To be a civilized human being one should answer a polite question with
a polite response. If you want to be helpful, you can politely inform
somebody of club rules and safety concerns, which might yield an
intelligent conversation about how one was rolling around the parking
lot looking for a car. But alas, no, being rude and obnoxious is more
palatable to some.

Never mind last year when some guy named Howard called me and my
friend "assholes" because we didn't appear to be "bikers" because we
don't wear the traditional bicycling outfit. I'll save that story for
another time.

I tolerate small people like that because they are in the minority and
I like to ride my bicycle and the vast majority of people in the club,
and people I otherwise meet in the world are nice and friendly and a
joy to hang out with.

To these people I say thank you. Let's go biking.

To those few intolerant people who can't see life in any way except
through the twisted little view hole they've dug out for themselves,
well, I don't wish you a better life, I hope you suffer in some way,
because you don't deserve to be happy. If all you're going to do is be
nasty to people, the world doesn't need you.

While I realize that no club or group can be responsible for the
actions of one, I'd like to post this so everybody can appreciate what
the club's new members sometimes get to experience. I am not casting
about blame, I'm just telling a story to some people who might be
interested along with my personal opinion on the matter.

And if I'm fortunate enough to have the person in question reading
this, don't bother to apologize. There are lots of good people in this
club, I don't need to waste any more of my time with you.

My name is Stu Mark and I welcome responses. If you find what I said
above unpleasant, you now have an idea how I felt this past saturday.

I'm no saint, and I don't pretend to be, but we live in a free country
where we are allowed to express our opinions, and the above, simply,
is mine.







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