Bike Night - 10-25-12

[Teresa]

You'll just have to start coming out to events if you want to see mankini's

I'm interested in Pour House nights. That's practically stumbling distance.

[MattStrada]

Same here.

[Striple]

Pour House bike nights were always a blast!

[Telomere]

Pour House bike nights were always a blast!

When you could the person you were talking to, talk. Or when there was enough tables for us

[Bewst]

I'd make more Pour House nights!!

[DemonDuck]

I liked the Pour house but they did not have as good of a setup for us as Fox and Hound. Sitting outside was better than inside though and that made it to where you could usually have a conversation. Parking really sucked at the Pour House as well.

[Striple]

The Pour House actually has a much better atmosphere for bike nights, with us being able to hang out right by the bikes on the patio. There were usually good tunes being played, the food was better (which isn't saying much -- the F&H food is terrible), and people used to frequently stay much later when we were there. F&H has the usual boring strip mall atmosphere that is more like something that I'd expect for a bowling club than a bike club. The food is atrocious, and the service is inconsistent (it is decent when Nikki is around, otherwise it's a bit of a toss-up).

But the worst part about changing back to F&H was the way in which it was done. There were a number of us who were quite vocal about staying at the PH or at the very least alternating, but this was largely ignored by the staff. Not a good move, in my opinion.

[Rhino]

But the worst part about changing back to F&H was the way in which it was done. There were a number of us who were quite vocal about staying at the PH or at the very least alternating, but this was largely ignored by the staff. Not a good move, in my opinion.

As a staff member who likes the PH better, I can 100% assure you this was not the case.

Just because staff discussions aren't public doesn't mean they don't happen. Or that they aren't vociferous.

[DemonDuck]

Like I said the Pour house was good in some ways and bad in others. For example if you decide to cage it to bikenight you would have to park across the street and cross traffic. Not a huge deal but still not something I was happy about. When sitting outside I liked it a whole lot better than when sitting inside. I did like the food better. I do wish it would have had some kind of pool tables or something because it is nice to get my arse handed to me in pool from time to time. In any case I am having a hard time making it to much of anything right now.... working ALOT! I would hang with you guys anywhere just because you are there so its all good for me.

[fixxervi6]

The Pour House actually has a much better atmosphere for bike nights, with us being able to hang out right by the bikes on the patio. There were usually good tunes being played, the food was better (which isn't saying much -- the F&H food is terrible), and people used to frequently stay much later when we were there. F&H has the usual boring strip mall atmosphere that is more like something that I'd expect for a bowling club than a bike club. The food is atrocious, and the service is inconsistent (it is decent when Nikki is around, otherwise it's a bit of a toss-up).

But the worst part about changing back to F&H was the way in which it was done. There were a number of us who were quite vocal about staying at the PH or at the very least alternating, but this was largely ignored by the staff. Not a good move, in my opinion.

What makes you feel that it was largely ignored by the staff? I've seen several discussions starting in one area and spilling into others, everything from a staff post saying "Lets discuss this thing the member posted" to "lets start a member thread and see what members say". When the topics traverse, there is no announcement that is happening, but I am curious what makes you feel it was ignored (or largely ignored). For the record I like the PH better for their food and I do like the porch, however there were lots of problems with the PH as some have pointed out, and I'm in the camp that favors moving away from the PH.

Also, the PH screwed us a lot, I guess everyone tends to forget that?

[Teresa]

It's true that parking around there is terrible!

I would hang with you guys anywhere just because you are there so its all good for me.

^ That was a sweet thing to say, and I agree 100%

[Rhino]

Like I said the Pour house was good in some ways and bad in others. For example if you decide to cage it to bikenight you would have to park across the street and cross traffic. Not a huge deal but still not something I was happy about. When sitting outside I liked it a whole lot better than when sitting inside. I did like the food better. I do wish it would have had some kind of pool tables or something because it is nice to get my arse handed to me in pool from time to time. In any case I am having a hard time making it to much of anything right now.... working ALOT! I would hang with you guys anywhere just because you are there so its all good for me.

There's a sign up now at PH saying if you park across the street at Mongomery you'll get towed.

Apparently they're still having a full-on fight about the parking situation, because PH was allowed to have way higher occupancy than their parking lot supports. Basically nobody else (property owners) wanted PH to be allowed there, but the city gave them the permits and now it's a giant mess.

[DemonDuck]

I had no idea about that part. That makes it even harder. If my car got towed .... I would be soooooo upset.

[Telomere]

I go to bike nights (when I am able) to hang out with you guys NOT for the food. So, who cares where bike night is at? We go to see each other, right? Or, are we going for other reasons?

[milesmiles]

I go for the womenz

[fixxervi6]

I go for the womenz

But then why do you go home alone every evening?

sorry man, I had to!

[Telomere]

I go for the womenz

You ride all the way down to south west Fort Worth for the womenz and not take any back home with you??? I think you are doing something wrong.

[Striple]

What makes you feel that it was largely ignored by the staff?

The issue of the bike night location has repeatedly come up in threads and conversations, but ultimately it was disappointing that the decision was made without any compromise to alternating, or even an occasional bike night being held at the PH (or some other place with a better atmosphere than F&H). Perhaps this was in part an issue of poor communication, because several of us who were strong and vocal proponents of the PH were left without much insight other than the fact that F&H was preferred by staff members. It was simply one of those issues were some of us felt that our input was ignored. If this was not the case, then perhaps it was poorly communicated or maybe even misperceived by several of us. One of the staff members told me that he was going to push for alternating locations, but I never did hear anything else about it.

I go to bike nights (when I am able) to hang out with you guys NOT for the food. So, who cares where bike night is at? We go to see each other, right? Or, are we going for other reasons?

Just like any event, bike night is a package deal. While hanging out with everyone is certainly the most important factor, there are a number of other aspects to consider (otherwise we wouldn't have tried a couple of different places). I love you guys, but the day you're having bike night at Chucky Cheese I'll be drinking my brewskies elsewhere. Just sayin'.

[Rhino]

Striple, I hear what you're saying brother, and we probably did a poor job of communicating back out about the decision after it was made. I can tell you that there was a LOT of discussion and argument on both sides, with the staff pretty evenly split. By the time it was all said and done, I think that particular horse had been reduced to a red pulp and nobody was particularly interested in talking about it anymore.

For the sake of not repeating the mistakes of the past, the staff has started another discussion on the topic. Most of us aren't particularly enamored with F&H, but we're also short on good alternatives.

I suspect the Pour House is pretty well off the list as a permanent home for a variety of good reasons:

- It's incredibly loud, particularly the music, so it's hard to have conversations.
- They have been unwilling to work with us on setting aside a space, so if there's a big game or something on we're kind of screwed.
- Parking is atrocious, and has actually gotten worse since we were there before thanks to fights with surrounding businesses.

Now all that said, I'm a fan of the PH when the weather is good. I love the patio, and I'd argue strongly for having bike nights there when the weather is good. However, the weather is turning not-so-good with winter coming, so for the next several months we need an indoor venue.

If anybody has suggestions, we're always happy to listen. You guys certainly have a voice. I don't want to speak for other staff members, but I will always listen to anything any member has to say and I'll bring it to the rest of the staff to discuss. I can also say that in general the staff cares a LOT about what the club thinks. Almost neurotically so. All opinions from the club get discussed, usually at length, because we try very hard to keep everybody happy.

So, if anybody wants to talk about bike night venues, and especially if you have suggestions of places to check out, we're definitely listening. And when the weather turns good again, I'll be in the staff forum campaigning for some bike nights on the PH (or some better place's) patio.

[milesmiles]

I go for the womenz

You ride all the way down to south west Fort Worth for the womenz and not take any back home with you??? I think you are doing something wrong.

I'm open to suggestions

[Telomere]

Try closer to home...long distance relationships do not work (for the most part).

[Bewst]

Too much politics, lol.

You guys are a small riding group that makes it seem like decision making is handled by a corporate HR department that takes 50 sign offs and it to be notarized. Posts like this make me sit back and laugh, lol.

Is it really that hard to say "Hey, bike night is at this place this week" or "We might be trying several places for bike night, keep an eye out on the location and give us suggestions"

[fixxervi6]

Too much politics, lol.

Your contributing to those politics, so welcome to that fold

[Rhino]

Too much politics, lol.

Too much particulars too, I need a damn thesaurus.

[fixxervi6]

Too much politics, lol.

Too much particulars too, I need a damn thesaurus.