Request for Input - Special Ride of the Month

[Jeff Gross]

I would like to have a Special Ride of the Month, and I need your ideas to make up 12 or more!
Rules are that the ride should start & finish at OCRR, and be 35-45 miles.
Here is my brain dump so far:

1 Hill is not a 4-letter Word
2 Cyclocross pavement & dirt roads
3 Follow the Leader, no route slip
4 Rally - odd directions like "turn R 0.6 mi after Albertson's"
5 July Century Ride
6 Costume ride (costume, or jersey with an interesting story) - probably near Halloween
7 Test ride, score points variously ("What is the house number on the NE corner?")
8 Time Trial to Rainbow
9 Christmas gift donation ride to San Marcos Firestation
10 Water fight - bring water in your water bottle, or squirt cannons in your pump holder.
11 Photo ride - everyone bring a camera, and upload all the ride pictures to a common website.
12 (from Debbie Willett) Blindfolded terrorist attack.  We load the blindfolded riders up in the van and drop them off in a secret place...then they have to find their way back to OCRR...(they get to take the blindfolds off but no GPS)

[raleigh]

Hi Jeff...those are some great ideas.  How about a ride where we ALL stay together.  No one gets dropped and no one goes off the front.  Re group if someone doesn't make a light.   It would also be a good ride for new members to get the feel of riding with a group.  Could do some nice paceline practice etc.  Maybe even set a "max" speed on the flats.  Just an idea.

[robert#5639]

I like #3 and #12. Sounds like excellent fun. How about a winter century, or a full day social ride with a mellow scenic route, slower pace, and multiple stops at local caf?s.

The suggestion by raleigh is nice too. Force everyone to keep a pace. It's actually good for you and can be nice. Maybe we do a ride where we work on technique. Paceline work is a good one. Holding an agreed upon speed and 30 second pulls, etc.

In regards to #4, make it a time/distance type rally. Start each rider a minute or two apart, and have check points along the route. Points earned for the amount of time you arrived at each check point before or after a specific time. Person with the lowest score wins. Or maybe a poker run?

Also, lets do a night ride.

[raleigh]

Hi Jeff,

Another idea....sort of a casual ride...maybe a ride where we stop and have coffee and pastries....get to know the other riders a little bit...instead of hammering for 45 miles and going home.