Re: OBRA Wheels: A suggestion

Dan H.

2004-02-15



I rarely if ever put my spare wheels in the follow car for 2 reasons.



1] If I get a flat, my race is probably over and the likelihood of me

catching up to the pack while not impossible is remote and I may as well

look for a ride to the parking lot.



2] I don't like the "wheels in, wheels out" deal. If I need a wheel, I want

MY wheel that MY bike is set up for and I don't want some fred using my

wheels and possibly flatting, damaging or going home with them.



If I feel I have a chance to catch back on and have to use someone else's

wheel to do it and finish the race I will.

I like the OBRA wheel deal and would happily donate to the cause.

Just raise the OBRA membership fee $5.00. Not all OBRA members benefit from

OBRA's services and equipment, but I don't have kids and still pay tax for

schools that buy a dozen $1400.00 pizza cutters!



That's my thoughts on the matter.



----- Original Message -----

From: <mike.m-@obra.org>

To: <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 6:44 PM

Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] OBRA Wheels: A suggestion





 Today we collected donations to the wheel fund for the first time. There

were 2 problems:



1) The amount collected was not sufficient to cover the costs of the

program. Given that donations are likely to drop off I think this makes

it

 clear that an all donation program will not work.



2) The number of personal wheels available to the follow cars was

insufficient. Likely this was in part because people thought "The OBRA

wheels will be there. I don't need to leave mine."



I suggest that we establish a program of requiring each rider to pay a $1

surcharge for each race that the wheels are present at which will be

waived

 if they provide wheels for the follow vehicle.



If you have 10 speed you should then provide your own wheels and save the

$1/race, at least until 10 speed becomes the new standard. One should

also

 keep in mind that regardless of whether you put wheels in the car the ones

you get from the car will be the ones that are in there. If you expect

that

 extra time will be spent searching in the car for your special wheels, or

even wheels to exactly match you gear configuration then the wheel change

will be MUCH slower and of even less point anyhow. David Kerchinsky is

correct. Mostly this wheels are about getting you to the finish, not

about

 getting you back into the field with a perfectly working gear set. It is

perfectly possible to limp back in with a 9 speed cluster stuck in your 10

speed bike.



Mike Murray



-----Original Message-----

From: Ron Magnus [mailto:ro-@hevanet.com]

Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 21:57 PM

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] OBRA Wheels: A suggestion





Quite the positive response to the new wheel program from OBRA! To make

things a little easier for the entire season how about if a $1.00

surcharge

 be attached to the entry fees for the races where these wheels and

services

 are provided. Seems to me that it would be easier to not "forget" this

valuable service as the season wears on. The OBRA staff then would be

able

 to disperse the funds much easier in my humble opinion.



What say ye of the masses?



Ron Magnus



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