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When will we Flock again?

This weather is so nice, I've been getting anxious for a Flock. I know Nick is probably super busy at the moment, but I have a new bike and it needs to be Flocked. Any word? Rumors? Scuttlebutt?


rzod
2012-03-22 02:08:32

No reason people need to wait for something official. Just post a time and place and ride with whoever shows up. It seems like the attachment to the name is making people make group casual rides way more work than they need to be.


cburch
2012-03-22 04:11:13

Yeah nothing is stopping people from showing up at dippy this Friday at 6 for a 6:30pm informal ride.. I wouldn't lead, but if someone else wants to lead and if someone wants to bring music, it could just be a fun flock style ride if people show up...No waivers...


stefb
2012-03-22 09:11:51

as in, tomorrow? I'll be there.


rubberfactory
2012-03-22 13:44:29

I too miss Flock and a unofficial flock is nice I have done several but it is nice when the whole gang is there. There is a lot of faces I have not seen in a while


marvelousm3
2012-03-22 13:47:54

Maybe I won't be there :(

I'm working at the bookstore that night.


rubberfactory
2012-03-22 14:18:30

I am completely swamped with work, but I really want to work on Flock.


The problem with running Flock how it was run last year is the time and dedication needed (and how much of it was put solely on me). The goal for this year is to change the format a bit and make Flock of Cycles more of a support organization for community events that promote cycling and safe road use.


Flocks original intentions were to be a volunteer run organization and the turned into a volunteer-board run organization. The objective this year is to see if community volunteers will support the org--planning and running events. I would be happy to help all I can, the board just can't do everything.


So if you want to host a ride or other event and want the legal protection and a little branding that Flock provides, don't hesitate to get a hold of me. (Yes, there will have to be waivers. I still don't understand why people make such a fuss over them).


ndromb
2012-03-22 14:30:25

hmmmm... I agree it needs more volunteer member support and subsequent ownership to sustain itself. But, and I don't mean to be harsh... I think the expectation that an organization founded by a group of people who turn out to be the board won't be doing the vast majority of the work for at least the first couple years is maybe a bit unrealistic. Maybe that's not the situation, and I don't mean to be offensive in any nature.


dmtroyer
2012-03-22 15:00:56

fwiw, I'd be willing to put some music together. Just tell me what format. I think the trailer needed MP3s on an SD card.


Also, I have no problem with the waiver.


rzod
2012-03-22 21:01:23

If this is a thing tomorrow, I'll definitely come. Unofficial or not, a flock would be great.


richw
2012-03-22 23:01:46

Let's just say that we should all meet on the 23rd and do a ride. Lights for sure and music if someone wants. Flock style ride or whatever people are into. Weather is nice. I only mentioned no waivers cause I don't have any and this is unofficial.


stefb
2012-03-23 00:16:42

hmmm I might make it if I can get some other obligations out of the way.


headloss
2012-03-23 00:55:23

if only it were a bit later. Oh well, next time!


rubberfactory
2012-03-23 00:59:30

Ugh. I'm afraid I'm coming down with my son's stomach bug. I think I'm out for tomorrow.


rzod
2012-03-23 02:13:28

What's with the waivers?


orionz06
2012-03-23 11:41:04

@orionz see this thread.


dmtroyer
2012-03-23 12:20:51

In my mind, the need for waivers sort of reflects that there is someone providing funding for some element of the program. Signing my name to a waiver is sort of my way of saying "thank you for supporting this event, adventure, outing, whatever" to whatever that funding source might be.


Just my POV on waivers.


swalfoort
2012-03-23 12:23:15

Are the waivers compared to the riders photo ID?


orionz06
2012-03-23 13:45:57

No, they aren't.


ndromb
2012-03-23 14:02:05

D'oh! This is the one friday in March that I can't do it. :(


As for volunteering, I really don't have much time. (New job at a start up, is one among several reasons.)


But of FoC as an organization takes donations, I'm sure I could help that way. (Not as good as volunteering, but all I can do right now.)


myddrin
2012-03-23 14:10:33

bah, I gotta take gramma for groceries, can't make it.


ejwme
2012-03-23 14:32:59

Can't make it either. Primary bike in the shop, back up bike loaned out temporarily. But, it is a great day for a flock ride! Have fun!


swalfoort
2012-03-23 14:37:09

Well, I'll be there. I'm down three bikes myself at the moment or I'd offer to lend someone one of them. I myself am on the backup bike. (See thread on tires.)


stuinmccandless
2012-03-23 14:38:39

I've never been to a Flock ride before, but hoping to make it tonight. Does the ride end at the same place it starts?


2012-03-23 14:53:15

Typically the ride will end at a bar or a park or somewhere. I'm sure there will be someone tonight going to the same place as you want to end up though, or else can give you good directions to that end.


richw
2012-03-23 14:54:59

Without derailing too much then, what is the point if someone is able to sign a waiver (that offers little protection) using any name and address they choose? I understand that requiring photo ID is asking a lot, but some feel a waiver in general is as well.


orionz06
2012-03-23 15:32:25

due diligence?


hiddenvariable
2012-03-23 15:36:17

Would a discussion not cover the same thing?


orionz06
2012-03-23 15:42:41

I think the waiver is probably to protect the "organizers" of the ride from lawsuits. If someone is injured on a ride, they or their insurance company may try to collect damages from the organizers of Flock, or other orgs. I think people who aren't willing to share the financial risk with volunteer organizers of anything, should just stay away or do things on their own. I hate signing waivers but I understand the crappy circumstances that lead to their existence.


pseudacris
2012-03-23 15:47:03

The short answer is "because the lawyers say so"


Nick's an entrepreneur and wants to make sure himself, his assets and the other board members are as protected from litigation as they can be.


It is also probably required by the insurance company that is covering Flock for liability.


Most big organized sporting events require waivers for this reason.


If you appreciate an iota of financial security, then why not help those involved with Flock feel a little more financially secure by signing the waiver? They're taking a risk. It doesn't take that long to fill out.


I think most people are annoyed with over litigious society. But that annoyance doesn't change reality or in anyway reduce the risk of litigation.


sgtjonson
2012-03-23 15:48:47

Do they really protect anyone though? I know of someone in another venture with insurance who was still sued and lost despite waivers, ID verification, etc.


None of this is to say I wouldn't sign one, after 8 months of trying to make it to anything I haven't found time, not sure if this years spare time will be any better.


orionz06
2012-03-23 15:52:56

I have no problem with the waiver. Flock is a sponsored event. It is also insured, they are smart to include all elements including rules on the road to keep this a safe ride.


marvelousm3
2012-03-23 15:53:27

Orion, you are 100% right. There are very strong precedents in almost identical situations that show a waiver of liability means absolutely nothing. However, our insurance company requires it because statistically, when someone signs a waiver they are less likely to file a frivolous lawsuit.


If it were up to me, I wouldn't do waivers, but it isn't. There is no way I would host (or put my name on--posting an event on Facebook means you are legally responsible) any type of public event without insurance.


ndromb
2012-03-23 16:41:41

We brainstormed the waivers so people would have something to complain about aside from having to wear a helmet.


dwillen
2012-03-23 16:52:47

@dwillen and obeying traffic laws


richw
2012-03-23 16:54:03

@dwillen.


We're a creative group. We can always find something to whine about.


mick
2012-03-23 19:14:51

Any way to make that link public?


chemicaldave
2012-03-24 23:50:10

I thought I did. Hang on...


EDIT, 8:05pm: It's labeled public. Try it. (But then it was labeled public already.)


stuinmccandless
2012-03-24 23:56:27

so.... how did it go.... ?


(oh, and I think fuzzy thoughts about waivers ever since my health insurance started sending me a stupid form to fill out asking where my injuries were and what I was doing and with whom, literally every single time I've been to the doc. I try to indicate on them very clearly that it's my own idiocy while providing as little information for them to chase after someone else's money as possible [i.e. "wrecked ankle running wildly through woods when tripped over rocks and stones", rather than listing the park name like they asked]... There's no way in hell I'll let them go after Flock if I have two brain cells left to rub together after any accident that may happen - I'd rather live under a bridge and eat out of dumpsters than give my insurance a reason to break Flock's (or Nick's) bank).


ejwme
2012-03-26 15:12:36

We started with about 10, 4 stayed the whole time. I met chemicaldave and a couple of board lurkers (sorry, forgot names). We went over by Pittsburgh Filmmakers, rode Gold/Melwood to Liberty, 31SB, looped both ends of Herr's Island. Quiet little break at the upstream end. Thanks Pierce for the cookies! Practiced switchbacks or stair climbing by PNC Park where the river trail is closed. Went over by both new T stations on the North Side, returned into town via Ft Duquesne Bridge, opted not to chance flatting by the river on our way down to the Convention Center. Split up once we got there.


I bused to West View and barely made it home before the skies opened.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-26 16:24:20

As we rode the jail trial outbound, we saw lightening in the distance. Roads were wet in the east end, indicating that the storm passed before we got there. Stayed dry.


stefb
2012-03-26 17:15:27

The sky looked pretty bad after chemicaldave and I split off to head back to Oakland, especially downtown. I got home about 10 minutes or so before it started pouring, which is great since I didn't have fenders.


richw
2012-03-26 17:26:33

Sounds like a fun ride. Too bad I had to bail before it began. Stu, it looks like your link isn't viewable..or maybe that's just because I don't have an account on that site.


2012-03-26 17:36:33

Maybe I can port it to bikely or Google maps or some other site. (Heads-down at work.) It came up as about 9.4 miles.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-26 19:12:51

I'm free Fridays from here on out (hopefully).


I wish I could help organize these things, but with working 40 hours at the bakery, and then another 20-30 hours a week at The Big Idea, I already feel like I'm a few straws away from a panic attack at all times, haha.


rubberfactory
2012-03-26 19:43:14

Also, I'm terrible at organizing things.


rubberfactory
2012-03-26 19:44:21

I'm going to try to come next time there's a ride like this. I kept meaning to make it to a Flock ride after I moved here last fall.


2012-03-27 01:05:46