As a ride leader, I know at least two club members who fit into the "vulnerable" category who I really wouldn't want to be responsible for
Agreed and this is why clubs sack off rides, because despite all the protestations about personal responsibility in a group activity you cannot always rely on the group in its entirety to do that. Whether it's FOMO, group think, macho BS or whatever there will be those who do not make good decisions.
Having relatively recently had to administer CPR to a family member who had a major medical event before our very eyes (not cycling) the impact of that on those in the room is extraordinarily difficult to describe adequately.
It is quite one thing to ride in conditions or places way beyond your safe health limits and say "I don't care if I drop dead mid ride" but it shows a certain disregard for those who may have to pick up the pieces and be put at risk in doing so.
What people do at a non club / personal level is different to some degree but even then bystanders are not immune to the impacts.
It's all a question of balance of course but sometimes clubs need to make tough calls and they won't always be right for everyone.
As the officials and decision makers you must be able to stand behind that choice and sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
As an ex-pat now living abroad, I realise there's nothing British people admire more than rules - and being given the opportunity to tut-tut about people who break them.
Agreed and this is why clubs sack off rides, because despite all the protestations about personal responsibility in a group activity you cannot always rely on the group in its entirety to do that. Whether it's FOMO, group think, macho BS or whatever there will be those who do not make good decisions.
Had one rider in my last club in the UK who would *always* be the one making bad decisions, they were the sole reason for many social rides being cut short, or not going to certain places, because you could never be sure if they would do something stupid or not. I mean, it's not like they had anything mentally wrong with them (Senior manager for the local councils housing office). They just, well, did stupid things. There were others who made the occasional whoopsie, but this individual did it every ride, several times.
Fell out with me hugely when i took on the job of explaining this to them and offering some guidance/help/etc.
Glad i'm out of that game.
As an ex-pat now living abroad, I realise there's nothing British people admire more than rules - and being given the opportunity to tut-tut about people who break them.
And creating 'social rules' that do not exist on paper, merely in the head of a more superior Karen.
Someone tell the footballers at the World Cup that oldfart reckons they shouldn't be doing exercise in the heat. In comparison, sitting on a bike pedalling with a nice breeze sounds like a piece of piss vs running around chasing a football in similar temperatures.
For reference, just back from the Alps where the temperatures were in the mid 30s each day - life went on as normal. We rode our bikes, passed loads of others doing the same, people out in the hills walking, kids doing sports at school, people doing manual jobs on the roads etc. Heck, even people walking their dogs.
Out touring Europe in the camper. In Italy at the moment and the last 4 days the temperature has touched 40°
Rode for 7 of the last 8 days as we travelled from Finale Ligure to our next stop in the Euganean Hills. Not changed much of what we are doing mountainbiking and hiking since we set off apart from having more fluids
I can understand the concerns for some but personally I'm just enjoying the trails
Over here it just seems to be a normal summer for the locals
