Bicycle Tips for Ride Leaders:
Is There Light At The End Of Your Evening Rides?
by Darryl Zurn
TCBC
has a large number of evening rides during the summer, so I thought
it would be helpful to explain how to figure what the maximum evening
distances are.
First
we have to check what the sunset time is. You can look it up in a
weather calendar or in the daily newspapers.
For evening
rides, we have to allow sufficient time so that the ride ENDS 15 minutes
before sunset. For the riding time, use the average minimum speed
for the ride rating (A 18 mph, A/B 14 mph, B 12 mph, C 10 mph) AND
add in 15 minutes for each rest stop. The ride rating chart in the
front of each newsletter has all the info on the number of rest stops
and average speeds. We decided to estimate rest stops as 15 minutes,
so people have a chance to actually unclip from their pedals.
As an
example, an A/B ride starting at 6 PM on June 7th can be up to 35
miles: 15 minutes for one rest stop + 15 minutes cushion =3D 30 minutes
before 9 PM sunset. In order to finish by 8:30 PM we get 2.5 hours
of riding times 14 mph =3D 35 miles.
The
reason for this scheduling policy is that stopping for a repair or
a route mistake for long, late rides frequently meant returning after
the sun had set. The time cushion helps prevent the sundown panic
which causes people to roll through stop signs and do other risky
things to avoid getting caught in the dark.
This
was done to fulfill TCBC's mission to conduct safe, friendly bike
rides. Thanks for attending to this, and you can call me if you want
help in figuring the maximum distance for your rides.
(originally
published in the TCBC Activity News: June 1999)
© 1999 Darryl Zurn. All rights reserved. |
