What is the culture/business-model of local MTB races and Gravel races?

[matticus]

I have no experience/involvement in these things! But I DO have experience with Time Trials, Cyclocross, Road-races/Crits and Audax.
(and this may not be the right board, but I tried ...)

How are MTB/Gravel run? Mainly clubs+volunteers? Event companies? Shops? Profit/non-profit?

Are the two categories generally the same organising people/bodies, or completely different groups?

 

[matticus]

Anybody?

 

[JonBuoy]

This is the local MTB series: https://www.fnssmtb.co.uk/

The race co-ordinator happens to own a bike shop but the events are run by clubs+volunteers. Profits are ploughed back into the race series in the form of cash prizes, timing equipment etc. It is only £12 to enter so nobody is getting rich on it!

We don't really have much of that new-fangled gravel around here.

 

[johnblack]

I've done a couple of the FNSS, well organised and a friendly bunch turns up each week, raced against all sorts there including an Irish road champ and and British Cyclo cross champ. Competitive at the front, not so much further back.

 

[JonBuoy]

I've done a couple of the FNSS, well organised and a friendly bunch turns up each week, raced against all sorts there including an Irish road champ and and British Cyclo cross champ. Competitive at the front, not so much further back.

I disagree. It is very competitive further back - just nowhere near as fast.