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Re: [RC] State Fair Express - SusanKudos to Paul Sidio and his crew for a wonderful ride! My favorite part was the Windsor Chamber of Commerce handing out treats. That was great. I also liked the tokens...Sadalia pins. I could tell Paul wanted this ride to put endurance in a good light. Because if it's location, it was very "public". I think the riders and ride volunteers represented endurance well. Paul, as time goes on, you'll figure out better ways to do things and incorporate new ideas. Out-of-camp vet checks are difficult and the regular formula of vets:riders goes out the window. Those of us in the back of the pack had NO PROBLEMS at all! At this point in my "endurance career", I've ridden every place as far as speed goes. Riding up front has challenges and riding in the back has challenges. I'll deal with it and suggest others do the same. I've waited at a vet check
before because I beat the vet there. It's all good. I've also been a ride manager since 1988. Louise Burton and I started Cougar Prowl so I understand the special challenges of starting a new ride. Paul did as well as anyone could have! I don't think it's fair or even practical to say, "If you think your ride was tough to manage, try doing this kind of ride!" Each ride has it's own challenges. Managing a ride is no easy feat nor is it for the faint of heart. Trying to figure out how many riders to expect is like trying to win the lottery. Yeah...good luck with that. There are spring rides that used to have 70 riders for years till other rides in the region were scheduled on top of them. With the price of fuel, I think we'll see more of that. People want to ride but can't afford to get there. It is what it is so we'll all have to
adapt. Eagle Ranch is in your area and was held in the spring. They had a huge turn-out; did you kind of go by that? You got a lot of out-of-region riders (as did Eagle Ranch) that other rides won't get which is a great help (and it's nice to see these folks too). Spring rides are traditionally popular so it's not out of the line of prudent reasoning to expect a large turn-out. Now...define "large". LOL! Managing a ride can be like being pecked to death by a chicken. It's best that the RM not be involved in every little thing. Be mobile and watch for potential problems. Let the vets do their jobs and make sure the volunteers know what to do. Knowing the rules is also a very important thing. In other words, make sure all the vets and the volunteers working with them understand criteria and when a rider's time starts and stops. Make sure
everyone knows there is a difference between endurance and LD to avoid confusion there. Your vets and volunteers did a great job with all of this! I don't usually know who won till I announce it at awards. With a large ride, I stay busy with so many things and let the finish-line volunteers deal with that. When my ride is small, I'm usually at the finish line. Just stay flexible...like that chicken with it's head cut off. LOL! Semper Obliquo (Always aside), Susan Young, ISSO Secretary, ISSO Points Secretary, Regional Representative Your Independent Mary Kay Beauty
Consultant
Glenndale Grace Farm, Ft Gibson, Oklahoma U.S.A. "Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!" - Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
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