Chuck I really think you got a good thing going with your Rose Bowl ride. It has been the inspiration for many of us in other parts of the US to emulate. Not that you would, but don't change a thing!!!
I have been having vintage rides here in Atlanta and they are a blast for me and hopefully the same for those that participate. We do not use the same route, however I think that the Stone Mountain Park out and back will become this in the future. The out and back is about 25 miles of pretty much flat terrain. The cool thing is that for those looking for a hillier or longer ride; they can always do 5 mile loops inside the Park which is the midway portion of the ride; while the others regroup and head back for the finish.
You guys in upstate South Carolina are less than a 2 hour car ride from Atlanta.Come join us and us flatlanders will reciprocate.
Nick Zatezalo Atlanta,Ga
> [Original Message]
> From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: 1/2/2005 6:35:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Philosophy on Rides
>
> Stephen Barner wrote:
> >
> > On the other hand, 25 miles is only 5 miles farther than my commute to
work,
> > one way. Although I might do it occaisionally just to see folks and
bikes,
> > it would be hard for me to get excited enough to drive very far to such
an
> > event. It would seem a lot more worthwhile if the ride were at least 40
> > miles long. I did a couple of centuries last year, but I'm at that
point in
> > my life where rides stop being fun after 70 miles or so.
>
>
> Everyone has their own idea of an inconsequential distance and a
> distance that deserves respect and everyone's idea of what that would be
> is different.
>
> I ride everyday and usually by myself, so getting together with other
> guys on old bikes for a ride is very special and for one day I can make
> an adjustment and depart from my usual spirited pace riding style to a
> more social/riding&talking paced ride. We are after all only talking
> about one day a month here.
>
> A monthly vintage ride is not about distance and effort, but about being
social.
>
> It's funny, I have some people complain about the Rose Bowl vintage ride
> following the same route month after month, year after year, but then
> they do the tradition group training rides (training races?) that have
> routes that have not varied in over 50 years!
>
> The whole point of the Rose Bowl vintage ride is "just to see folks and
> bikes." Maybe that's why the turn out is small?
>
> Like Felix mentioned, if you consider the ride too short to be of any
> consequence then ride to and from it. The nice thing about bike riding
> is that you are always free to add on some more miles.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, Southern California
>
> .