Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

The Washington County Bicycle Club’s new time trial series is canceled. I created it and now I’m pulling the plug. I was the only one to show up on April 18 and I was the only one to show up today. No one else has expressed any interest in the series. I’m disappointed but not surprised. At its core the WCBC is a club that doesn’t want to change and doesn’t want to be challenged. Never mind that the consequence is a disinterested membership that views club rides as events of last resort, something to do only if all other options have been exhausted. My hope—perhaps my last hope—is that the newer members will demand something more than short, plodding club rides. Look around the Internet at what other bicycle clubs are doing. Look at the variety of their events, at their commitment to advocacy, at their many efforts to energize their members. Why doesn’t that happen here? It could, if enough people were willing to work toward it. I’m done with being the only person who consistently throws out ideas for the WCBC. I will continue to support the club—particularly the Adventure Ride series, which I think has real promise—but other people need to step up and make an effort.