Wow, a medal!

[BrumJim]

Maybe I'm just being a grumpy old git, but:

Am I the only one who, when arriving at the finish of a Sportive (or recently a 5k run) is disappointed and bemused to be given a pointless medal. I can't think of any use for one, but am loathe to chuck it out. Hence my sock draw is now collecting a bunch of useless hunks of metal, or metal-looking pastic. Give me a cloth badge, a sticker, a drinks bottle, a banana, a commemorative spare inner tube; anything but a medal.

And breathe!

 

[ianrauk]

You don't have to accept one.

 

[Onyer]

Yes you are being grumpy. Imagine the future when you have a grandchild dangling on your knee and you are boring him/her senseless with "..and I got this for riding ....."

 

[BrumJim]

The thing is that the rides I am most proud of didn't result in a medal being handed to me.

 

[Rooster1]

I have a collection of << medals awarded for various lame efforts in the cause of cycling enjoyment and fundraising. In fact, rather stupidly, my avatar is actually one of them (Dragon Ride 2014 Medal).

I got another one yesterday to add to my dusty drawer.

 

[I like Skol]

I am similarly cynical of the 'medals for everyone' culture and have a couple from doing the Christies Manchester-Blackpool event but My 11yr old lad isn't half proud of his, achieved after training for and completing his biggest ride ever on this years event and raising close to £200 for The Christie in the process

 

[BrumJim]

To make this more positive, what would you suggest in its place?

A bottle opener with logo would be both partly useful, and decorative.

 

[EltonFrog]

I'm disappointed if I don't get a medal, I like medals me. The last thing I need is another drinks bottle.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I'd be thrilled to get a medal for anything cycling related!
But then again, I haven't entered anything and probably never will.
Maybe that's a goal....(win a medal)

OR they give you a medal made of chocolate and you can eat it afterwards!

 

[raleighnut]

A bottle opener that's a tyre lever, with logo.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I just hope you all wear them at the CycleChat Christmas Ball (you have one of those, right? I've not been here a year yet...)

 

[Mo1959]

I actually regret throwing out all the medals I got for my 10ks and half marathons when I used to run. Some of them were actually quite attractive and well made but I suppose they aren't easy to display tastefully so they usually do end up in a drawer.

 

[winjim]

OR they give you a medal made of chocolate and you can eat it afterwards!

Awesomely, the Grindleford Goat sportive medal is homemade chocolate covered shortbread.

 

[User169]

To make this more positive, what would you suggest in its place?

A bottle opener with logo would be both partly useful, and decorative.

Amstel Gold sportief "medal". In more or less daily use, although not often on Amstel bottles!

 

[DCLane]

Some of the ones I've got from events I really feel I 'earnt'. Others, like the Bikeathon yesterday were a bit 'OK, thanks'.

However, my 10 year-old got his and he's taken it to school to prove he did the 26-mile ride.

imo it all depends on how important you deem it. So yes, you're being grumpy.