The Beacon Message Board

An excellent 38 riders out on Sunday, not bad for a December day...Good to see so many out on the C-ride again, and splitting into two given that there were some 17-18 riders is exemplary behaviour.

So yes, I did attempt to cajole new leaders using technique #1, and it worked with some 8 new leaders posted for the Jan-Mar rides, with many others' checking their diaries', (which is akin to 'the cheques in the post'), but thanks to all who put their names forward.

It's the last ride before Christmas this coming Sunday, and following tradition, the club runs will all start as normal at 09:15 from the Black Horse, but with the same ultimate destination, namely the Swan in Chaddesley Corbett at 12noon where many riders from across the Midlands meet to drink and eat and swap Christmas jumpers and ribald jokes, so this week's rides are:

A: Non-stop to Chaddesley Corbett - Philip Whiteman
B: Chaddesley via Halfpenny Green - Nick Shenton
C: Chaddesley via Upton Warren - Si Walker

All members, whether riding are not are welcome at the Swan for pre-Christmas revelry.

Hello. The A run will be non-stop to The Swan, Chaddesley Corbett. ETA: 1215 -1230

The route be probably be this but may be subject to alteration depending upon time and weather. If the weather is approximately very poor then I shall shorten the route and insert a cafe stop.

Outbound Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17888980

Route back from The Swan: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18065473

Drunks' route home: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18065518

I will lead a leisurely C ride to Chaddersley, aiming to be there at about 12.00-12.30.
There will be a short tea stop at Webbs of Wychbold after 24 miles for approx a 30min stop, then aiming to arrive at the Swan, Chaddersley after 35 miles, total distance to the Black Horse on return is 45 miles.
The route URL is below, set your Garmin to autopilot for the final wobble home! Those riders without a Garmin or do not know their way around this area ensure you return with someone who knows the route as riders will not all be leaving together from the pub. Front and rear lights are advisable if planning on stopping a while and a cafe lock is advisable as bikes will be parked in the pub garden.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18068295

The Swan have confirmed the exclusive use of their function room for the Annual Phil Richard's Memorial Christmas Lecture. ALL OF YOU are expected to attend this five hour lecture.

The 2016 Phil Richards Memorial Christmas Lecture will be titled, The Rising Heterodox of Club Run Organisation and Participation.

Heterodoxy means "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". Under this definition, heterodoxy is similar to unorthodoxy, while the adjective "heterodox" could be applied to a dissident. This concept has risen to dominance within the study disciplines of both religion and economics. Wiithin the economic context, Phil argues that Heterodox economics refers to schools of economic thought that are considered outside of mainstream economics, referred to as orthodox economics, often represented by expositors as contrasting with or going beyond neoclassical economics. It means considering a variety of economic schools and methodologies, which can include neoclassical or other orthodox economics as a part. Heterodox economics refers to a variety of separate unorthodox approaches or schools such as institutional, post-Keynesian, socialist, Marxian, feminist, Georgist, Austrian, ecological, and social economics, among others. Phil will assert that such principles apparent within economic intellect should be applied to the rising and competing orthodoxies apparent the multi-determinates of our club runs.

Mainstream club runs may be called orthodox or conventional club runs by their critics. Alternatively, mainstream club runs deal with the "rationality or the equilibrium nexus" but heterodox club runs are more "radical" in dealing with the "variability and unpredictability within a postconstructivist nexus". Many mainstream club run riders heterodoxy as "fringe" and "irrelevant", with little or no influence on the vast majority of Beacon members in the English-speaking world. Yet, heterodoxy has become the dominant method by which club run leaders seek to influence the dominant nomenclature and beyond conventional predictability and it has become the populist favoured means of weekend enjoyment.

C ride, slight change of plan for the coffee stop.

We will be going to Upton Warren Outdoor centre for coffee, rather than Webbs. It may be a bit quieter and is jut a few yards up the road on the right from Webbs, so no major route change. I phoned them this morning and they should be able to accommodate us, even if its Al Fresco!

A Run today.

Two pints of beer was enough!

Philip Whiteman L
Phil Richards
John Williams
Liam Roberts
Alistair Hay
Gavin Passmore
Steve Philpotts
Matt Clegg
Chris Ashford
Stuart White plus Rapha Jumper

(hopefully I did not miss anyone?)

Unfortunately Phil had to cancel his lecture on club run heterodoxy due to an urgent appointment at home cleaning the gutters. However, we did manage to hold a discussion of stochastic frontier analysis whilst out on the ride, and you probably think I am joking.

Massive thanks to James T for leading the B Run on my behalf. I've come down with a bout of man flu in the last 24 hours so wasn't feeling up to riding.

I did however enter into a Director Sportive role in the car and jeer at, I mean encourage B Runners near today's cafe stop at Halfpenny Green.

On today's Festive B Run were:-

James Tate (Leading)
Andy Deere
Joe Warwood
Phil Gameson
Niall Whitehouse
Alan Weaver
Phil Elwell
Paul Johnson
Simon Prince
Oliver Timms
Matt Hale
Neil Orchard
Neil Lynch
Carolyn Clegg
Ryan Evanson
Andy Wrightson

Nick (Sniffer) Shenton - Met everyone, unashamedly by car at the cafe & pub.

A great turn out as ever. I'd like to thank everyone for turning up week in week out to club runs and wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas.

Philip Whiteman wrote:A Run today.

(hopefully I did not miss anyone?)

I think Stuart White was on the A.

Good to see everyone at the Swan. It felt even busier than last year, which is a feat.

The C Ride participants in today's festive ride to the Swan at Chaddersley were;

Si Walker (leading)
Neil Evanson
Simon Turner
Andy Terry
Mike Preece
John Deeley
Dave Little
Gemma Johnson
Adrian McHugh

Dave Cole - part way and rejoined us at The Swan
Pete Norman joined us for a brief distance to wish all Merry Christmas.
Dave Cox started off with us and later peeled off to Meriden.

laurence_cooley wrote:

Philip Whiteman wrote:A Run today.

(hopefully I did not miss anyone?)

I think Stuart White was on the A.

Good to see everyone at the Swan. It felt even busier than last year, which is a feat.

Thanks, it was the jumper clouding my memory

Si did new member Adrian McHugh finish the C run? I know he set out with you.

Dave Cox wrote:Si did new member Adrian McHugh finish the C run? I know he set out with you.

Thanks Dave, yes he did, i missed him off the list.

si, thanks for leading yesterday. i'd like to say i enjoyed it....however after 6 or 7 weeks off the bike....ouch!!

You missed out the F* run folks.

Dave and Anne Hughes, Tony Webb, Jane Herrin and Ed Duffield.

Unlike many other light weights some of us highly tuned, Elite athletes managed to make our unsweetened melon juice last till nearly 6pm. Unfortunately Anne's juice was spiked, probably by jealous fellow triathletes (I suspect female involvement, no names, no pack drill) and poor Anne had to be pulled out of various parts of the Worcestershire hedgerows as a consequence.

BTW, should either of the concerned motorists that stopped to help be reading this, she is fine thank you and yes the brambles were removed from her nether regions before she re alighted.

Take no notice Anne, onward and (occasionally) upward.