AdamA, I was not aiming my comments at you.
Not directly no.
But by virtue of linking to "my" thread, and addressing the whole "group" (of which I am part of), then yep, ya did, so I thought I would clear up a few of your misconceptions.
Besides, I don't see anyone else organising rides in this section and stipulating that system be used.
The marker system is a tried and tested method used by many clubs and event organizers over the years.
Probably a reason for that.
I have spent many unhappy times waiting at junctions for the last riders only to find they have broken down or worse. How long to wait? how to let the leader know in pre mobile phone days?
It's not the system's fault you were left waiting for ages tho. It's the people using it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's perfect and things don't go wrong.
It has one major failing. The people using it.
To err is human.
If everyone does as asked it works 100%. Nobody gets lost, nobody rides faster or slower than they wish to, nobody waits too long marking junctions, everyone rides a good route and if there are any issues (breakdowns, offs etc) then the leader gets informed pretty much straight away (thankfully mobile phones are commonplace this millennium, but without them you can always send a runner to let all the markers
and leader know the score so they aren't left standing around like on Sunday
).
Unfortunately to err is human. People
do **** up.
Things that can (and do) sometimes go wrong are:
People don't take note of the leaders phone number so they can get in touch if there are issues.
People sometimes say "yeah yeah" when asked if they understand the system, when what they really mean is "what system?
"
People sometimes don't listen when the system is explained to them on numerous occasions throughout the day.
People sometimes can't be arsed to sit at a junction for more than a couple of minutes, so move on, leaving everyone behind them clueless as to where the route goes (I shit you not the excuse "I had waited 6 minutes, I wasn't waiting any longer" has been used - the answer to youe question "how long do I wait?" btw is until someone comes. Either a runner from an incident behind you, or the leader heading back will be along before long).
People sometimes position themselves so they can't be seen by the approaching riders so the group gets spilt as the junction is missed.
People sometimes don't look past the end of their noses so don't see a marker stood jumping and waving their arms not 3m from the edge of the road.
The ride leader sometimes doesn't make explicit gesticulations for where he wants the marker to stop, because he either isn't physically able to (too busy controlling the bike/avoiding other road users) or because he assumed the rider behind could think for himself.
People sometimes leave the ride without telling anyone else so the riders behind follow them.
People do sometimes feel the need to ride faster than they are comfortable doing to keep up, and put themselves and others at risk in doing so. There is NO requirement for them to do so. Keeping up is not necessary. Any thoughts that people should are purely down to the individual and nothing whatsoever to do with the system.
People do sometimes get carried away playing with their mates. Again there is no need. Its a fun rideout. Save it for a trackday.
People do sometimes make daft overtakes to get past slower riders. Definitely no need. Wait for somewhere safe.
People do sometimes make it difficult for a faster rider to get past safely. Back off on the straight if someone obviously wants past. There's no prizes for keeping them behind you.
If you (you being anyone reading this, not you personally Sooty) want to ride in a big gaggle at the same speed, it's probably not for you. If you want to **** off into the distance and forget about those behind, it's probably not for you. If you don't want to mark a junction every once in a while it's probably not for you. If you can't get it through your thick skull that the idea is to ride your own ride, not keep up at all costs, it's definitely not for you.
However if you want to ride the same great route as a bunch of mates, at your own pace, be that fast slow or somewhere in between, with no pressure to keep up, with the navigation done for you and with a good chin wag over lunch/a fag/a brew then it may well be just what the doctor ordered.
Perhaps some people would like a different approach occasionally, a more gentle day with time to get to know each other.
Its as gentle as you want it to be. AGAIN, ride your own ride.
Why would you get more time to know each other?
A 100 mile ride is a 100 mile ride. No matter what system is or isn't used you won't get to know each other while riding. It's the stops where you get to know each other.
The comments posted so far show Im wrong and the drop off marker system is the preferred way to organize runs.
Not at all. There's room for both.
I just know through 9 years of running rides pretty much every other weekend and three or four long weekends a year what works best for
most people.
Some will prefer things your way. Some won't want to do group rides no matter how it's done.
No big thing. each to their own.
I don't know where you find cafes to accommodate 20 people
Generally off the beaten track. Clearly if you go to Hartside, or Hawes in the middle of the summer it isn't going to happen too easily.
I was enjoying Sundays but I was the most local rider to head home with Redstan.
Hope to be on the Circle of York run 7 Nov.
Aye, cheers for looking after him. C ya next month.
Lots of 
going on.I prefer to ride in groups of no more than 4 and I know them well and know their riding skills,meeting up with other riders at well known spots fer a chat.Groups of 8 or more can get weary,theres always a couple who yer can never please.
sounds a bit drastic. Keep smilin'
