Are they having a laugh ?

[Dusty Bin]

Great thread. Keep it up fellas...

 

[50000tears]

The way I see it is your paying for the time chip, gels and food and not to cycle on the roads as that's free. I don't have a chip, gels or food so I haven't taken anything from the company putting on the event.

We will just agree to disagree I think. I understand your position but the way I see it is that you must have thought there was something in it for you at some level otherwise you simply wouldn't have gone. Obviously you don't see that something as having a £ value whereas the physical items do. As I set out, for my sportive I see my money as being spent on the event as the pleasure I hope it gives me. The goodies I may get are incidental to that and not important to me. Put it this way the freebies are worth what? A fiver? If I just wanted that I would just pop to my closest health food shop or LBS and save myself the long ride and the extra cost!

A personal view maybe, given the other responses.

 

[Wobblers]

Of course people cannot start an event themselves, that costs time, money, expertise etc. it is lot easier to just moan and groan about things as that takes very little effort.

Having organised events for about 20 years up until 8 years ago when I got fed up with the moaning do nothing whingers I know a little of what is involved.

Without knowing the costs involved we have no idea of the profit margins involved and lets face it there is risk there.,

Funny you should say that. If you take a look at the "Informal Rides" section you'll find one Dellzeqq who has done exactly that, with all the attendant time, money and expertise. In fact, he organises a dozen rides every year. He does not charge £99 per ride for the privilege. And I can guarantee that the FNRttC is a damn sight better organised than just about any sportive out there. Not to mention comes with a inclusive spirit of comradeship (which Adrian was alluding to), so that doesn't cost £99 either. Not that I've noticed too much comradeship on any sportive.

On the subject of profits, audaxes seem to do quite well on £8 - and often have free food thrown in for your money. Yes, audaxes aren't run for profit (thankfully) but somehow, I really can't see that a timing chip, a few signs and a couple of gels really costs so much more.

 

[potsy]

The way I see it is your paying for the time chip, gels and food and not to cycle on the roads as that's free. I don't have a chip, gels or food so I haven't taken anything from the company putting on the event.

And as long as you don't speak to anyone wearing a number you should be fine as you won't be joining in with the camaraderie

 

[StuAff]

A few guys I know are doing this one. http://aukweb.com/events/detail/14-140/ 102km £7. Food thrown in. Free 1:5 gradients. No sportive can compare with that VFM.

 

[StuAff]

Funny you should say that. If you take a look at the "Informal Rides" section you'll find one Dellzeqq who has done exactly that, with all the attendant time, money and expertise. In fact, he organises a dozen rides every year. He does not charge £99 per ride for the privilege. And I can guarantee that the FNRttC is a damn sight better organised than just about any sportive out there. Not to mention comes with a inclusive spirit of comradeship (which Adrian was talking about), so that doesn't cost £99 either. Not that I've noticed too much comradeship on any sportive.

On the subject of profits, audaxes seem to do quite well on £8 - and often have free food thrown in for your money. Yes, audaxes aren't run for profit (thankfully) but somehow, I really can't see that a timing chip, a few signs and a couple of gels really costs so much more.

I'll be running at least one, and probably more, rides of my own this year. There will be no charge for those either.

 

[jayonabike]

Same here, I've never charged for the rides I've organised through CycleChat. In fact I've even been known to buy the coffees

 

[jayonabike]

Talking of which, when the Mrs gets her rota for the next 8 weeks I'll be able to organise another Hertfordshire hilly freebee for a Sunday soon. But that's another thread....

 

[50000tears]

Just a final post on this to clear the air a little as I may have rubbed a few of you up the wrong way. I am not suggesting for a second that anyone cannot cycle where they want or when they want, even if that where and when happen to coincide with an organised event. If however you decide to participate in the event without paying the price that the other entrants have, then even where the food stops are not used IMO this shouldn't be done. The £ amount I pay is for me for the experience and not the goodies. That is why I have the opinion that I do on others taking an experience I have paid for for free. I appreciate that others see it differently, and also that I didn't need to pay for a full sportive for this experience when there are lots of audax available. At least I will know that for next time, but mine was booked up months ago before I even knew there was such a thing as an audax!

I meant no offense to anyone who may have found my thoughts on this as overbearing or preaching in any way. Like with many subject matters in life it is all about opinions.

 

[jayonabike]

Each to their own and all that...

 

[screenman]

Funny you should say that. If you take a look at the "Informal Rides" section you'll find one Dellzeqq who has done exactly that, with all the attendant time, money and expertise. In fact, he organises a dozen rides every year. He does not charge £99 per ride for the privilege. And I can guarantee that the FNRttC is a damn sight better organised than just about any sportive out there. Not to mention comes with a inclusive spirit of comradeship (which Adrian was alluding to), so that doesn't cost £99 either. Not that I've noticed too much comradeship on any sportive.

On the subject of profits, audaxes seem to do quite well on £8 - and often have free food thrown in for your money. Yes, audaxes aren't run for profit (thankfully) but somehow, I really can't see that a timing chip, a few signs and a couple of gels really costs so much more.

So you are saying you have not a got a clue how much they cost to run. You have as most people do missed a lot of expenses off of the list.

What is the average turn out for a Dellzeqq ride, I do not ride these expensive events but I am happy for other people to do so if that is their wish, they have choice which to me is brilliant thing to have.

 

[screenman]

Like I said, learn some manners

I see bad manners as in joining in on a paid up organised event without paying. Different viewpoints I suppose, different upbringing as well maybe. I was bought up with a club scene where certain etiquette was shown.

 

[nickyboy]

I meant no offense to anyone who may have found my thoughts on this as overbearing or preaching in any way. Like with many subject matters in life it is all about opinions.

This is what I don't like about these internet forum thingies. Just when everyone gets nicely entrenched with no apparent way out of the argument, someone comes along and appears all reasonable, like, and it all fizzles out.

FWIW I'm with you @50000tears but I can't remember if I was arguing for arguing's sake cos I've had a sleep since then.

Let's go and enter an expensive sportive today !

 

[srw]

I will take some of the stuff I am sure but only at the end as don't want to be using gels or foodstuff on the ride that I haven't used before. Yes an audax would have been fine, new to this so did a full on sportive instead.

"Use" foodstuffs? Good heavens. I eat them.

 

[srw]

I see bad manners as in joining in on a paid up organised event without paying. Different viewpoints I suppose, different upbringing as well maybe. I was bought up with a club scene where certain etiquette was shown.

How do you define "join in". You and others seem to be defining it as "ride on the same roads at the same time", while adrian and others seem to be defining it as "take part in the ancillary organised activities". In the case of sportives (£40+), this means the goody bag, the arrows, the food stops and the timing chips, and possibly a mobile mechanic (who will probably charge). In the case of audaxes (£10), this means the chance to get a card stamped, to earn some points and perhaps some free food. In the case of charity rides (£30), this means the arrows and marshals, the medal and the chance to raise money from your friends. In the case of the Isle of Wight Randonnee (£0) this means the chance to get a card stamped. In the case of the FNRttC (£2 for the year) this means the chance to hang around getting cold and gassing while you wait for the back of the ride to catch up.