PTW

The rather large 'To the HQ' signs at Rhigos were still out last night (on the Club 25) so are now in my shed.

Thanks Alf, it was dark and raining when I was collecting them in, so chuffed I only missed one:-) if it was large I probably wouldn't have got it in the car with everything else.
Give my best to Mandy, hope she recovers quick enough so you don't have to change/empty the Hoover bag :-)

Sorry Jez, but I've seen another two signs a couple of days ago while driving up the Neath valley.
One is (On the dual) just before the slip road going back on to the dual at Aberdulais, and the other is on the top of the slip road that goes to the Glynneath traffic lights.
Didn't pick them up as I was in a rush and pedestrians are not allowed where the signs are anyway.

Kev do you have to knock Jez - for his first race he's done really well !!
The sign by the Glyneath slip road has gone, the warning sign under the Aberdulais turn isn't one of ours - it's been there a couple of weeks . . . . anyone passing there should remember to pick it up . . . .oh of course, we are not allowed to stop on the dual

Well done again Jez

Stentman (Aka little Kev) wrote

Sorry Jez, but I've seen another two signs a couple of days ago while driving up the Neath valley.
One is (On the dual) just before the slip road going back on to the dual at Aberdulais, and the other is on the top of the slip road that goes to the Glynneath traffic lights.
Didn't pick them up as I was in a rush and pedestrians are not allowed where the signs are anyway.

Thanks guys for bringing my attention to the signs.
I now realise how much of a thankless job it is being an organiser and respect you stalwarts.
On the night of the TTT I thought it went reasonably well from a virgin organiser's perspective, but since I have been court marshalled by the CTT for non compliance with regulation thirty something, so I can confidently say I won't be organising this next year.
Interestingly enough, financially the CTT are the biggest winners for this event.
With very few members now competing in TT & road race events, and other members not able to assist in helping out, perhaps it's time for the club to consider reducing the number of events it organises?
No doubt to loose events would be a great shame, but we seem to be putting these events on for convenience of many other clubs (some of which put none or very few events on themselves). After all we are a cycling club where probably the majority of us would prefer riding rather than organising events.
Cat among the pigeons maybe? So any members/forumites with views get typing.
Note, the above is my opinion only and may not represent that of PTW.

As usual I can't speak for the world of cycling, but in the world of rowing things are similar but different. A proper club does indeed put on events, for the benefit of others, and when we go to their events we feel we've earned it. But there are rowing clubs that organise no events at all, and just go to everyone else's. That's just life. Ignore them.

As regards the governing body, money does indeed tend to go up and not come down, and the rules are bewildering. According to them, every tin-pot regatta has to be run like a mini-Henley. On the other hand, rowing's governing body was funding the Olympic team way before the Lottery came along. Similarly in Wales, the various fees and levies go to support young internationals and the Commonwealth crews.

If I knew what the CTT spent its money on I might be more inclined to support them. However, given the acrimonious history of competitive cycling in Britain, I wouldn't even dare to hazard an opinion.

I agree with a lot you say Jez. Having done the four up for a few years and now having ventured into road racing organiser, I sometimes think to myself why do I bother. On one hand I am really looking forward to the Crit in Porthcawl on the other all the meetings, paperwork etc have been a nightmare.
Times are changing and we need to move with the times. When I started with PTW in about 2000, TTs were big business, road racing next and track was virtually non existant as was a Sportive. Now I think its a complete reversal Sportives are huge ( check out the fields in Dragon & Merlin), Track is very popular. Road racing is on the increase with a lot of sell out fields. I would say TTs are now bottom of the four in terms of entrants.
What you say about cutting down on events, its something that will provide a good debate at the AGM if anyone wants to bring it forward.

Yes very interesting. I too have dabbled in the organisation of events and realised what a thankless horrible task it is.

Maybe we should undertake an overhaul of the deployment of resources? What about an extra road race (there are certainly many gaps in the calender at the moment) and possibly a sportive?

Worth discussing I think.

An interesting point about TTs. We have only had around 30 entries for the midweek 10 on Tuesday 16th - would have been over 100 in the days of magic dragon.
Perhaps we should think about organising a sportif, as the dragon ride is always over-subscribed.

Gents. I have to agree that entries are dropping off ...but I think its recoverable. Someone mentioned the halcyon days of Magic Dragon. Why not include your PT 10 in the Celtic series for 2013 ...more or less the same idea as magic dragon ...events have had c80 riders all year (inc. lots of women) and will only grow with more events.

On the other matter, all the established clubs have a responsibility to put on events, in my opinion, whether they be road or tt. It was interesting to see the abergavenny road race (norm Harris memorial 5th May) gave priority to riders whose clubs put on events. If we all did that, i'm sure the message would get out there, very quickly.

Thats a strange one with the Norman Harris event because I know a member of PTW who has been rejected entry the last two years. So that argument does not hold up in my book!

It was the first edition this year. Are your sure its this event they're thinking of?