May SRCC Survey Results

In May, the club conducted an online survey to determine the experience and educational interests of its membership.  About 10% (179 members) of the club responded to 20 questions.  A summary of the questions and responses can be found below.  The results are being used to formalize a club education program.

Any time a survey is conducted, there’s room for interpretation and everybody is encouraged to have their own and join the conversation.  Variety is what makes this club great.  With that in mind, these results are simply one person’s general observations.

• Most have riding experience, but not necessarily organized riding.
• Most joined the SRCC less than ten years ago, and more than half less than five.
• 75% are in the A/B to B/C tempo range.
• Three of four respondents ride solo or in small groups-only.  One in four also ride in larger groups of people they may not know.
• Two-thirds ride 2500-7500 miles per year (50-150 per week).
• A majority of respondents join a club ride one time (or less) per month. 
• 70% have not led a club ride.  Of those who have, 69% led fewer than ten.
• Most club members are least comfortable riding on busy streets and with faster and/or “erratic” riders. 

Here’s a good place to pause.  The survey results and conversations within the club peloton indicate a large contingent that wishes our club to be more cooperative and aware of others (including motorists) during club rides.  Ride leaders and clinics can really help with that worthy goal.  More on that later… The good news is:

• Almost half of the club has taught or taken a bike-related class.
• Three quarters of the respondents want a more formalized/organized club education program and 90% would take a class depending on the topic.
• The class topics most desired by respondents (in priority order) are: mechanical, group riding, basic bike handling, and training/racing/nutrition.
• Most want instruction while riding in groups.

A special shout-out for the education-related efforts currently underway:

Janice and Mike Eunice offer regular Welcome Wagon rides for new riders.  These rides, and mentoring new riders in general, is something they have been doing for many years.  Their next ride is on the club calendar and occurs August 17th.

The folks at Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition taught a class for club members in June focusing on traffic rules and defensive riding.  We teamed up with Tina Panza, their Education Director, and class instructors Erik West and Michelle Nicolayew. 

The coalition has an extensive line-up, including regular 4-hour classroom classes on rules of the road and safe riding, 4-hour on-bike classes, and free family biking workshops.  More information can be found at: http://www.bikesonoma.org/education/

Community Bikes held an open shop time for SRCC in late May of this year. It was partly to thank the club for the year-end donation, plus a chance to introduce SRCC members to the shop.  Their regular shop hours are Saturday and Sunday 1-5pm.  For $10, people can use tools and get expert advice on fixing their bike.

We've got quite a few classes coming up, some of which are or will be posted soon on the website and calendar:

• Cycling (Pace Line) Skills Class - B Riders, Sunday, August 31, 9:00-12 noon.  Sign up here.
  
• A medical clinic will be held on a Saturday September 20 at the Finley Center.  It will consist of three hours (8-11am) of class room and then three hours of outdoor instruction.  The fee for participants will be partially subsidized by the club.  More details will soon be available on the club website.
• There will be a series of mechanical classes (each between 1 and 2 hours) taught by the folks at Echelon on weekday evenings.  Each will focus on a particular area of bicycle repair.  They will be hands-on with a small class size.  Again, the fee will be partially subsidized by the club.  More details to follow on the website.

In addition to those who were mentioned above, thanks to the many club members who have stepped up to be a part of the education team. 

Club Survey: Sherry Adams, Craig Gaevert, Steve Kroeck
SRCC Skills Clinics: Richard Anderson, Tom Helm, Darrin Jenkins, Steve & Jessie Kroeck 
Medical clinic: Don Graham, Eric Peterson. 
Mechanic classes: Mike Adams and the folks at Echelon Cycle and Multisport.  

The detailed results of the survey are available here in pdf form.

In addition to the education program, there is a Ride Leader Development group headed by Bob Owen that has been working to create support and mentoring for ride leaders and set standards for club rides.   

We've been slow migrating to the on-line newsletter, but plan to use the Education Section of the website “News” tab to post information about upcoming classes, along with articles and information that you might find helpful and interesting.  We also intend to solicit questions and topics of interest on our web page, maybe using the existing feedback form. 

Stay tuned.