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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2006 19:21:43 GMT
I agree with Bob...
I'd never have joined any of the other clubs because I don't have the enough time to to race, but at the same time I am too keen of a cyclist to not be in this club. It has added a whole new dimension and enjoyment to riding a bike.
And I think many of the newer members are like me... Bike lovers who don't/can't race for a variety of reasons. At the same time, as Bob says it is rightly accessible and the wider membership makes it interesting for more people - the more people riding the better off we all are.
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Post by Kenneth Foreman on Oct 3, 2006 19:26:14 GMT
Getting angry won't help anything. Zoe Williams is generally a pretty sensible (and funny) writer who has written very postively about cycling in the Guardian etc. in the past, and seems to use a decent road bike on a regular basis for getting around. A friendly response to London Cycling encouraging her to come back would be much more useful. Joe, I think you're absolutely right. I don't think an angry reply to Zoe Williams' article would do us any good. It certainly wouldn't win us any friends or influence anyone. The article - which I have read - is pretty inoffensive stuff and sends up Zoe's own feelings of anxiety and inadequacy in a humourous way. And the article certainly doesn't condemn the Dulwich Paragon in any shape or form, unless anyone takes exception to the reference to "athletic people". The article also mentions our website as well as providing details about the Saturday Ride. At least one person came along to the last Saturday Ride because they had read the article. To the uninitiated, our club and our rides can seem pretty intimidating. Particularly when you don't know anyone, don't know the route and don't know if you will be able to keep up. I'm not sure how we can make the club more welcoming though. One of the main reasons I joined the Paragon was because it was "an easy-going South-London-based club with no hangups". I hope that doesn't change. I've met lots of friendly people in the Club and made some friends along the way. How do we respond to the article? That depends, I guess, on whether we want to see the Club grow and recruit more members, or not. My own view: I agree with Joe. Zoe Williams is an intelligent journalist who is a supporter of cycling. We should be delighted by her interest in our Club and should try and make her feel as welcome as possible. A friendly response to London Cyclist encouraging her to come back would be a good start.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2006 19:31:57 GMT
We should invite her back and talk to her about what she thought because I know what she was thinking.
My first Saturday ride 18 months ago was pretty daunting - people where friendly and offered encouragement (particularly Ken, Greig and Ronnie), but nothing prepares a commuting cyclist for the jump to a two hour hilly ride. Even though 'no one will be dropped' I remember really struggling to keep up and feeling like I was holding everyone up.
Club cyclist are pretty fast, a lot faster than many of you realize.
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Post by chamoniards on Oct 3, 2006 20:24:50 GMT
Remember, even the rollerblader that came on the Saturday ride made it as far as Elmer's End before turning back. I'll never forget the image of him going down Annerly Hill, I nearly fell off of bike it made me laugh so much (remember the episode of Some Mother's Do 'Ave Em?) Some say on a dark winter's night you'll catch a fleeting glimpse of him in the lanes of Kent. If you listen carefully you'll here him moaning, "Where is London?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2006 9:59:52 GMT
How I decide to respond to the article is my business. I find it patronising that because the article made me angry it is assumed that my response will not be well balanced and fair.
Some harmless banter with Anne has been blown out of all proportion.
Now I'm going to get on with riding my bike and enjoying my life.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2006 10:00:27 GMT
the wrong sort of publicity (is there a wrong kind?). "South London cycling club lures unsuspecting new members to satanic rituals in Surrey Hills"? "South London cycling club exposed as recuriting facility for Al Queada"? "South London club run regularly beset by packs of mad dogs"? "South London club run regularly beset by packs of surly Scots"? "George W. Bush announces intention to regularly attend the Dulwich Paragon Saturday run"? (Extra points for spotting the source of each of these headlines).
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Post by howard c on Oct 4, 2006 10:59:47 GMT
I have to say,that as a mere bystander , I fully support Karens take on this. It takes an awful long time and committment to build a club as successful as the Paragon, and little to besmirch its good name. It is especially upsetting to see people hiding behind false names to attack the likes of my good and supportive friend Ronnie.
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Post by Cracking Steed on Oct 4, 2006 12:09:41 GMT
Great discussion. Shows what a lively club we are.
I definitely think we should invite Zoe to come along to another Saturday ride, take her out into Kent... then drop her.
Miles from anywhere, where they don't even have signposts.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2006 12:57:13 GMT
Great discussion. Shows what a lively club we are. I definitely think we should invite Zoe to come along to another Saturday ride, take her out into Kent... then drop her. Miles from anywhere, where they don't even have signposts. Glad to see we're taking this well--just like a bunch of grown-ups and not a bunch of spotty, surly teenagers. Won't work--all journos leave a trail shredded newsprint for just such emergencies. I'd suggest we take her down there and get Ken to buy her cakes. Lots and lots and lots of cakes. Llama biscuits would be good, too.
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Post by Kenneth Foreman on Oct 4, 2006 17:14:48 GMT
I'd suggest we take her down there and get Ken to buy her cakes. Lots and lots and lots of cakes. Llama biscuits would be good, too. A little lively discussion never did anyone any harm. But I'm glad we can agree on one thing: cake and lots of it. When are we taking Zoe down to Kent then?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2006 20:18:22 GMT
Did somebody say c-c-c-c-cake?
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Post by Forum Admin on Oct 4, 2006 21:14:06 GMT
-----Original Message----- From: Bob Ruszkowski [mailto:bobski@email.com] Sent: 04 October 2006 22:12 Subject: LC - Dulwich Paragon piece
Hi Zoe,
Loved your piece in the London Cyclist. Wondering when we can expect the sequel: How I overcame my fears and rode with the Dulwich... ?
Promise to cut down the exclamation marks!
Kind regards, Bob R.
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Post by julene on Oct 5, 2006 7:38:48 GMT
I emailed Zoe Williams a couple of days ago saying she should come back, and she replied today and said:
Hello there, thank you so much for your email. I can't do this coming saturday cuz i'm having a moving out party and i need to make pointless canapes that nobody will really eat - but i shall definitely be coming along on saturday 21st, and i'm really looking forward to it. best z
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Post by daniel on Oct 5, 2006 8:16:09 GMT
The 21st, time to unveil the new outfit me thinks Ron?
What colour did you go for in the end? I agree about the pink, it was a little garish, the yellow really suits you.
Zoe won’t be able to keep her eyes off you.
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Post by howard c on Oct 5, 2006 8:32:16 GMT
` pointless canapes ` - this is sociospeak for ` well you gormless neandertals,you may be physically deformed and able to ride a bicycle, but that really wouldnt make the cut with my lexus prius driving set who so hate getting road debris on their loafers `. In an attempt to show we cater for the old,the infirm, and the unfunny I will attempt to be there with or without the broken leg. Be gentle .
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