Originally Posted by
burnthesheep
If you don't have something shiny for the hands or around the neck, and a few peanuts for a snack on the way home.........doesn't matter the amateur sport......if there's nothing on the line at all, people won't show up.
Our local Wed. night crits seem to have just as many (or more at times) participants than the weekend races, even though winning the p/1/2/3 race only gets you 50 bucks and 5th gets you 5 bucks. So payout doesn't seem to be a big factor there.
Rather, it's about winning at home in front of the "home crowd" of racers and the occasional spouse or child. I've even heard guys lament not winning a Wed. night race versus a weekend race because all of the local crowd are standing around watching.
People want to "win" group rides, too. There's always something on the line, even if it's just pride and a good parking lot story.