[BVC-CHAT] [Riders] tnp

[Christopher Menzel]

On Jun 10, 2009, at 2:03 PM, maddogwillie2002 at yahoo.com wrote:
> Praise be to the lord, I am no longer associated with the worst tnp  
> in history.
> ...

> 2. A few weeks ago Ken and I went off the front and were ascused of  
> hammering away from the pack shortly after turning on Grassbur. The  
> packed chased and caught ken and I shortly before the end of the  
> first lap. The restt of the ridde was agressive and I thought it was  
> one of the best tnp's of the season.

That ride was not classified as anything like the worst TNP ever; I  
thought that, overall, it was a good ride and I enjoyed it.  The  
problem was not that you and Ken went hard off the front it was that  
most of the group was under the impression that the first lap would be  
more controlled and this led to confusion, and unmet expectations,  
about what the ride was supposed to be like.

> My understanding is contrary to previous years when the tnp started  
> with 2 laps and then later progressed to 3 laps, this year because  
> the ride started earlier it was agreed to ride 3 laps it was  
> suggested that we ride the first lap steady hard to let people build  
> up their conditioning. i viewed this suggestion as temporary  
> alteration of the tnp rules (there are no rules) which would be  
> discarded within week or 2.

Well, why did you think that?  No one ever suggested that it was  
temporary and the 2-fold justification given for the controlled lap  
suggested just the opposite: (1) to allow everyone the chance to get  
some experience riding in a fast group and (2) to allow some of the  
"elders" who are still reasonably competitive the time they need to  
get their non-turbo diesel engines heated up.

> Somehow this has been permnament rule which some do not agreed with.

I.e., you.

> As a troubemaker (as I suspect Ken, Herc and Vasanth are classified)  
> I prefer the no rules ride which can start at the light at 158,

A crazy idea, given the narrowness of the road and the amount of  
traffic on Elmo.

> or even at the turn onto grassbur.
> Hence, i have swiftonian modest proposal - at the grassbar  
> intersection true tnp'ers turn left and ride their hearts and lungs  
> out and their legs off while the lollygaggers continue straight on  
> Elmo Weedon and ride the Weedon loop at whatever pace they chose.

You can do whatever you want.  Trouble is, there are a number of "true  
TNPers" who just aren't as fast as you.  The problem with your  
suggestion is that only the very strongest guys will get off the front  
and the remainder of the group will gradually shatter as they get  
ridden off, leaving riders strung out all over the place within ten  
minutes of the turn onto Grassbur.  The only difference between your  
model and mine is that, on my model, the group gets strung out on the  
second lap instead of immediately and everyone gets a chance to ride  
hard for at least one lap instead of being summarily and  
discouragingly dropped.

So as far as I can see, the only advantage of your model is that the  
race-pace riding lasts longer.  So it seems to me that a reasonable  
compromise here is to end the lollygagging after the turn on Grassbur  
and folks like you who are anxious to get the hard riding a-going  
(actually, I am as well) can go to the front and ride hard but steady  
for the first lap.  (I agree that it was as much the group's fault as  
yours that you and Ken were able to build such a big lead a couple  
weeks ago.)  Or is the possibility of attacking on the first lap  
somehow essential to the Maddog Vision?

-chris