Northside Training Bunch

[j_young_80]

Hi All,

It has been noticed that there is an expanding number of cyclists residing in the Gungahlin/North Belconnen area.

Given the sometimes inconvenient start time combined with the distance to Phillip from this part of the city, I am looking to gauge the support for commencing a Northside bunch on the days where there is nothing currently organised from Phillip (i.e. Mondays and Thursdays).

Please note: These rides are not intended to replicate/replace anything happening on the Southside, just to fill some apparent gaps in the weekly training rides.

My proposal is to meet at 6am in the Gungahlin town centre, say at The Bike Shed for consistency's sake. The rides would be a big loop of the Northside, heading off in a generally southerly direction, picking up riders as we go and staying north of Lake Burley Griffin for about an hour.

The exact course/s can be decided later, at this point in time I am only seeking to gauge whether there is any interest for something like this to be created, as I propose that we start these two new rides some time next month.

However, I am keen to make the Monday ride a relaxed event, doubling as a recovery/introductory ride for new cyclists. I'm open to suggestions for the Thursday course.

As such, if you think you might be interested in joining in please let either myself (simon.christopher@immi.gov.au) or Jason Parkes (president@canberracyclingclub.org.au) know by email, or even one day if you see us in the bunch. You don't have to commit to anything; I'm just after a rough estimate of the level of demand for a Northside bunch ride.

Kind regards

Simon Christopher

[SimonD]

There used to be a bunch leaving from Belconnen, but I think it died out.

[anla]

definitly keen for a thursday Northside HOP. JY as you made the post i expect your taking on the role of passing on expressions of interest - cheers mate

[Driver]

Single speed Thursday.. Kano?

I'd be keen for 'someone' to change the BB route too, just not me.

Simon showing some b*lls. tis a bit of a punt taking on ownership of a publicly advertised bunch ride with liability etc these days.
good on him

[Steven]

Social ride ;)

[j_young_80]

Will need some more affirmative for this to get off the ground - if you are keen let me know or post here and i'll pass it on.

[Andrew]

I'm quite keen..

Northside: Monday and Friday, 6 a.m.: North Side bunch: from corner of Coulter Drive & Southern Cross Drive, Page.

I assume that's what you're talking about Simon?

EDIT:
http://www.canberracyclingclub.org.au/event_details/index.asp?IntCatId=22&IntContId=817

[Hoops]

I'll only say no as neither Mon nor Thurs work with our current plan, so am unlikely to go.

[Driver]

I'm quite keen..



I assume that's what you're talking about Simon?

EDIT:
http://www.canberracyclingclub.org.au/event_details/index.asp?IntCatId=22&IntContId=817

that page is very out of date, fairly sure the northside, city and scrivener bunches have all ceased

[Andrew]

I'll only say no as neither Mon nor Thurs work with our current plan, so am unlikely to go.

What's wrong with the Thursday ride? The supercrits will run for a few months yet... or is it about the recovery?

[Kano]

Single speed Thursday.. Kano?


you wait and see Sparkles......the trend is building rapidly.

Then everyone will be llike " Kane your amazing and this is the best idea ever"

[j_young_80]

Simon showing some b*lls. tis a bit of a punt taking on ownership of a publicly advertised bunch ride with liability etc these days.
good on him

Does anyone know what the actual liability is for this though? Our novice ride and Friday bunch is advertised on the website as well as on here. I generally - pending non Thursday night drinkies - give the ride brief at the start of these rides and outline the route - things not to do and potential obstacles - if someone crashes, presumably I have done enough to cover myself as long as we can say that we made every attempt to ensure the bunches were obeying the road rules etc. Also, presumably Vikings are also covered since they state on the site that road rules must be obeyed etc. We've had a couple of crashes involving cars in the past and *touch wood* it's never come back onto us/me. If a Johnny Random turns up and starts riding like a tool, generally the bunch will slap them into submission and that seems to happen with most of the major bunches rolling at the moment.

http://www.vikingscycling.org.au/contact/?IntCatId=15&IntContId=893

[Driver]

This is one of those areas open to legal interpretation and litigation.

99.9% of people are not interested in looking for someone to blame, but those sort of people are out there and they emerge when it turns pear shaped and they are looking for someone to point the finger at.

I've organised plenty of rides and like you, so far, luckily nothing has come back to bite me - but it could happen.

What sucks mostly is that you personally could have not contributed in any way to someones negligence or an incident it only takes someone to point the finger at you/the organiser/figurehead and you have to answer to the legal process which can drag out and cost you time and money, even if you are not liable.

There are two cases in my short cycling career that I know of - now, I cannot remember the exact details but I do recall an attempted suit on a rider around 2003/04 for a bakery bunch crash that occurred on the Fed Hwy coming back into town and another in a Friday training bunch where a rider who was a solicitor attempted to sue another (still riding) rider for causing a crash.

As far as I know neither of these involved 'the organiser' but you can safely say that these days no person or club has ownership or responsibility of the SS bunches.

I don't know the wash up of either but these are just two cases that I know of in my short exposure to the sport. Either way, it can happen.

There are also two well known coaches in ACT who have pulled out/chucked in the coaching of public bunches because of cases bought against them by riders. One of them still does private coaching though.

Fi says that there is some limited liability cover with your CA licence, how far this stretches and the extent of cover is unknown until tested.

[Hoops]

What's wrong with the Thursday ride? The supercrits will run for a few months yet... or is it about the recovery?

I'm not really eligible for the Thursday night offerings anyway, so I'd just recover like the plan says.

[Steven]

This is one of those areas open to legal interpretation and litigation...
<snip>
...and another in a Friday training bunch where a rider who was a solicitor attempted to sue another (still riding) rider for causing a crash.

Cyclists suing each other after a crash is probably the way of the future, at least where insurance companies aren't acting as a buffer like they do for motorists.

We should revel in our time, while most of us still behave as gentlemen/ladies!

[Simonsky]

Cyclists suing each other after a crash is probably the way of the future, at least where insurance companies aren't acting as a buffer like they do for motorists.

We should revel in our time, while most of us still behave as gentlemen/ladies!

Let's just keep it civil by banning anyone from the legal fraternity from the bunch (though it's handy to have a friendly policeman or two around) :rolleyes2:

[SimonD]

We should revel in our time, while most of us still behave as gentlemen/ladies!

Your definitions are very loose, Steven.

Let's just keep it civil by banning anyone from the legal fraternity from the bunch (though it's handy to have a friendly policeman or two around) :rolleyes2:

There goes John. And our sponsors.

[j_young_80]

Let's just keep it civil by banning anyone from the legal fraternity from the bunch (though it's handy to have a friendly policeman or two around) :rolleyes2:

This is slander, and our legal representative will be in touch shortly Simonsky!

Surely a bunch crash comes under a similar ruling of 2 cars colliding in a car park. The usual line that people spout is that there are no rules, and each driver has to take care of their own cars regardless of fault. I don't know whether that's urban legend or not but now I just treat car parks as my own personal dodgem track.

[Simonsky]

This is slander, and our legal representative will be in touch shortly Simonsky!

Can I settle out of court and just cop a negative rep?????

[MatthewL]

From the Cycling Australia Website: http://www.cycling.org.au/site/cycling/national/downloads/Attachments/Insurance%20Cover%2008-09.pdf

SCOPE OF COVER
This policy provides protection for insured entities and persons that are
held liable for a negligent act that results in property damage or bodily
injury anywhere in the world excluding USA & Canada. Individual
members are covered for any activity involved with cycling 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY
The cover provided is up to a maximum of $20,000,000.
EXCESS
There is a $1,000 excess for any property damage claims and nil
excess for personal injury claims. The payment of the excess
is the responsibility of the defending party and will not be paid
by CA, BMXA or MTBA unless otherwise agreed.

So without minimising the hassles involved in litigation, there is some protection available for CA members.

I don't think this covers the slander case though. I suggest the old favourite tactic: "Plead guilty and throw yourself on the mercy of the court!"

[SimonD]

Has the Cycling Aus cover been tested? Surely they have a loop hole to get themselves out of it.

[j_young_80]

This policy provides protection for insured entities and persons that are
held liable for a negligent act that results in property damage or bodily
injury anywhere in the world excluding USA & Canada.

So is a negligent act running and advertising a public bunch ride?

[MatthewL]

So is a negligent act running and advertising a public bunch ride?

Well, I'm sure that some of the bunch rides I've done caused me pain and suffering :crying: and no-one seemed to care. :( That has to be negligent!!

[gsavage]

Well, I'm sure that some of the bunch rides I've done caused me pain and suffering :crying: and no-one seemed to care. :( That has to be negligent!!

Who do I sue for running last Friday's norman, and worse still not wrapping me in bubble wrap before I went down red hill??? :tongue2:

[Ross]

Good to see you're sense of humour is still intact, Graeme. :thumbup1:

People have sued for less, especially in America (Australia is fast becoming another state of USA) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Award

[gsavage]

Good to see you're sense of humour is still intact, Graeme. :thumbup1:

People have sued for less, especially in America (Australia is fast becoming another state of USA) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Award

Who's joking.... I want my bubble wrap....:angry: NOW ....
Oh that's better the morphine's kicking in.....

[j_young_80]

Shane did a cost-benefit analysis on wrapping each rider and it has proven to be prohibitive cost wise Graeme, so instead we have covered all of Red Hill in bubble wrap.

[Simonsky]

We could just flatten it instead? Red Flat reps anyone?

[RobF]

You'd have to put the dirt somewhere, and it would still be a big hill. Unless we fill in some of the CU loop.