Newbie thread — drop by and say hi!

[komorebi]

It sounds like we’ve got a lot of newbies signing up for Freezing Saddles, which is awesome. Welcome! Freezing Saddles is what got me involved in the Forum and turned me into a year-round commuter, and I hope you’ll have as much fun as I did.

In the spirit of elwbike’s newbie thread from 2014, if you’re a newbie either to Freezing Saddles or the Forum (defined as fewer than 20 posts), please feel free to use this thread to introduce yourself.

Also, if you’d like to meet some of your potential teammates (or scope out the potential competition), here’s the list of morning coffee clubs. A couple of updates since May 2017: Monday pancakes is now on the corner at the intersection of Shreve Rd and Broad Street in Falls Church, because the restaurant changed locations; and the Tuesday Crystal City club is now at its winter location, the Cosi at 2011 Crystal Drive.

Topic

[josh]

I started bike commuting this summer, just aiming for a couple days per week. Now I’m going to try and up that in preparation for FS. Looks like I’ll also need to make an effort to check out some of the weekly coffee gatherings.

[asloan7]

I’ll give it a shot this year, maybe I’ll need some incentive – December isn’t winter enough?

[CBGanimal]

My1st Freezing Saddles ride was the year before I actually signed up…kwarkentien or handbag as I have so fondly called her took me out on the coldest day ever that year and we road the hills of Arlington. I met Rod Smith on that ride too and both of them witnessed my complete and utter breakdown at a McDonalds where we stopped to warm up. I thought my hands and feet had fallen off, I was crying and complaining so much that the whole group just stared. Well I lived and learned the lesson of proper attire, and to question Karen’s logic at all times! This will be my 3rd year in Freezing Saddles and I’m excited about it to say the least!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ian74]

@JoM 168490 wrote:

This year will be my first time to do FS, I did join a few of the organized rides last year. Not really sure what I’m getting into, but I’m sure it’ll be fun, especially, if there are donuts involved!

Yay! Our first volunteer to bring donuts. I like the ones from Sugar Shack so if you could get those for our ride that would be great.

[huskerdont]

I had never signed up before this year. I’ll be booted off in mid-January because of a week-long ski trip to Vermont, so that will give someone else an opportunity. I’d be riding either way so no biggie I suppose.

[hannahcatlow]

So here I am, posting so I can register? Is this new? Hello everyone!

[cvcalhoun]

@hannahcatlow 168526 wrote:

So here I am, posting so I can register? Is this new? Hello everyone!

Yep, this is the first year we have required at least one post on the forum (as opposed to just registering for the forum) before registering for Freezing Saddles. Last year, we had issues with people who thought they had registered and hadn’t. Managing to post verifies that the person did in fact complete the process. Plus, you get removed from the forum if you register but never post. Since notices, etc., come through the forum, that’s an issue.

[cvcalhoun]

@huskerdont 168524 wrote:

I had never signed up before this year. I’ll be booted off in mid-January because of a week-long ski trip to Vermont, so that will give someone else an opportunity. I’d be riding either way so no biggie I suppose.

You won’t be booted off if you notify your team captain that you’re going to be unable to ride for a week, but will be back. Please don’t join a team with the idea of getting booted off. The replacement process is to be avoided when possible, because it means a team may go up or down in the rankings due to the replacement. (The replacement player’s miles since January 1 get counted, and the miles of the person formerly on the team are deleted.)

[huskerdont]

@cvcalhoun 168528 wrote:

You won’t be booted off if you notify your team captain that you’re going to be unable to ride for a week, but will be back. Please don’t join a team with the idea of getting booted off. The replacement process is to be avoided when possible, because it means a team may go up or down in the rankings due to the replacement. (The replacement player’s miles since January 1 get counted, and the miles of the person formerly on the team are deleted.)

Understood. I do not want to or plan to be booted off, but after perusing the other thread with all the intricate rule discussions, was resigned.

[jrenaut]

@huskerdont 168531 wrote:

Understood. I do not want to or plan to be booted off, but after perusing the other thread with all the intricate rule discussions, was resigned.

None of the rule discussion has yet resulted in adoption of a new rule. Much of the discussion was just me ranting about non-participating participants..

[cvcalhoun]

@jrenaut 168532 wrote:

None of the rule discussion has yet resulted in adoption of a new rule. Much of the discussion was just me ranting about non-participating participants..

Well, there have been a few rule changes this year. For example, newbies must make at least one post before registering for Freezing Saddles. When registering, you have to include not only your miles from last year, but what miles you are currently averaging. Slackers don’t register at all, but will sign up by contacting Sunyata directly.

However, I will admit that all of these changes were undertaken with no discussion at all. Much as we like to take account of public opinion for major rules changes, I take the position that someone who is volunteering here is entitled to make changes to make their own job easier. The limitation to 250 participants last year was undertaken because increasing the size of the competition beyond that would have vastly increased hozn’s job. Similarly, this year’s changes were made in order to simplify Sunyata’s job. Anyone who doesn’t like the changes is welcome to volunteer to do the job next year.

So we will as in past years have some procedure for kicking off people, at least in instances in which they just don’t participate at all. In the past, this has occurred only with respect to people who just don’t show up at all (e.g., don’t join the Strava club for their team), or people who announce that they have been injured and need to drop out. I will leave it up to Sunyata whether to adopt more restrictive rules this year, because she’s the one who has to fix things when a team loses someone.

[reji]

This will be my 3rd BAFS, so I’m still a relative newbie. I already biked a lot and didn’t really need much incentive to bike more; I joined to meet people, play reindeer games and have fun! I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet some amazing people and share some fun bike rides (and beers!) I have lots of fond memories from my 1st 2 BAFS and a special thank you goes to arlingtonrider who, at my 1st BAFS happy hour, took me under her wing and introduced me to a lot of people. The camaraderie of this group is awesome and I now look forward to our coffee clubs, bicycle fun clubs and other fun events. For me, BAFS isn’t about piling on the miles (unless you’re on my team in which case you should ride lots and lots of miles!), it’s about strengthening and expanding the community which just happens to ride bikes.

[handlebarsdc]

…I’m just excited to play! Sock game on.

[megoc42]

@handlebarsdc 168538 wrote:

…I’m just excited to play! Sock game on.

YES.

[bentbike33]

@huskerdont 168524 wrote:

I had never signed up before this year. I’ll be booted off in mid-January because of a week-long ski trip to Vermont, so that will give someone else an opportunity. I’d be riding either way so no biggie I suppose.

Solution = week of rented fat bike sleaze rides.

[Author]

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