November 2016 President's Message
‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ rides . . . .
‘A’ Class, ‘B’ Class, ‘C’ Class . . . . . it’s traditional, lots of clubs used those designations to describe a particular type of ride. Heck, the NYCC’s been using it since 1936. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Reminds me of school. If we had a ‘D’ Class, it would remind me of my report card.
‘A’ was for good students, ‘B’ okay students, ‘C’ were barely passing, ‘D’ was for Christy and his friends.
In our life, in our Club, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ doesn’t describe cycling skill nor does it describe ability nor does it describe fun. Rather. it describes a particular riding interest. I’ve known ‘C’ riders who are expert cyclists, more knowledgeable, better skills, better riders, better equipment, happier, than anyone. And I’ve known ‘A’ riders who are absolutely frightening on the road.
I wish we could come up with different ride designations/descriptions.
I was in at a cycling camp in Mallorca this past winter. They called the 3 groups, “Elite” (our ‘A’), “Sportif” (our ‘B’), and “Happy” (our ‘C’). Better, but – as far as I am concerned - doesn’t quite ring the bell.
How ‘bout we change our rides’ classifications? How ‘bout we call our ‘A’ rides “Spirited” for instance, ‘B’ rides “Athletic’, ‘C’ rides “Limber”? Or . . . how ‘bout changing ‘A’ to “Zippy”; ‘B’ to “Brisk”; ‘and C’ to “Frolicsome”. Or how ‘bout. . . . .
It’s a riding interest that differentiates one group from the other; not skill, not fun on our bike, not our “connection” to the New York Cycle Club. Certainly not how much we derive from our membership. Even more so, not a measure of how meaningful a member is to the Club.
I must say, I for one am very glad we don’t have a ‘D’ class.
Christy
