Paid cycling events…worth it?
 

How many of you take part in paid cycling events? Do you think they’re worth it or do you not bother with them.

I like to participate in them without paying.

Why pay a fee to go for a ride, when I can go for a ride for free ??

My little town puts on a triathlon every year, I usually participate as a relay team with two of my kids, one is a swimmer, the other a runner, I just do the bike part. It’s not cheap, I think last year’s entry fee for a relay team was around $275, but they did provide swag bags, a T shirt, towel, etc. they keep score of course and hand out trophies based on age groups, oh, and free food and beer afterwards.

That’s the only pay to ride I do, but I do jump in on some of the other bike only events, I did SAG one of them once as well, that was interesting, I was amazed at how unprepared some of the riders were! I fixed a couple flats because the riders didn’t have a spare tube, (I was given a box of tubes for that very reason!) one had no idea how to change a flat! Then late in the ride I got a phone call from the organizer to go find a lost rider! Somehow she had missed a (well marked!) turn and ended up 10 miles off the course!

After several phone calls I eventually found her, put her bike in the truck and took her back to her hotel. She had no idea where she was! How does that happen in the age of Smart Phones, GPS and Google Maps??

That’s really interesting A350driver - some buddies and I created an app for cyclists that allows organisers and other participants to track each other in real-time. Just search for Zuvolo if you’re interested. It would have been perfect for the situation you described.

However, I’m not sure it’s something that cyclists really need or want so I guess the reason for my question around whether cyclists are really that interested in participating in events.

Thanks for your reply. 😉

i do a few each year.

I don't mind paying a fee for a well organized event. Route marking, SAG support, manned and stocked rest stops, and (usually) some type of post event party is great. You get to meet a lot of new people on the rides. Of course, some of them are charity events (I always participate in the local Tour de Paws for the local animal shelter, as we have four rescue mutts.)
I do prefer rides that post the route on RideWithGPS before hand. It allows me to review the route and note when climbs are coming up, and to load the route into my GPS on the bike. I've managed to miss a few pavement markings in the past (my fault.)

Technical/medical support, water/food stops, mashalls, way marking, closed roads, timing, trophies, fun?


I'm more likely to push my limits a bit more on an organised event that when out by myself, and I'm happy to pay a few bucks for the organisers to take care of all the logistics.

You must ride with LarrySellerz.

I'll pay if the proceeds go to a charity I support, the route looks interesting, and I get a T-shirt. But I'll only do one or two a year; I'm not a huge fan of the events themselves, or riding with hoards of people.

Shut up, Larry.

:)

I only read this thread because I wanted Larry's input.

Yes if it supports a charity.

I used to participate in the annual Becel Ride for Heart which was a charity event in which participants cycle along two of Toronto's highways. They would require both a registration fee and minimum amount of donations from sponsors. It was getting to be too much to raise so much money every year.

Then before the pandemic, I would register and ride with my local bicycle advocacy group to raise awareness for safer streets. But I haven't joined since restrictions had been lifted.

There is a ride I used to do before COVID and we were trying to fundraise for a small organization and it was awesome, we had a ton of fun and I loved doing it. Maybe some events aren't so worth it but this was always good but it wasn't a traditional event.

Paid cycling events as an active participant or as a spectator?

for me - almost anything cycling / cycling related is worth paying for or a donation

As an active participant. I didn’t word my question very well. 😉

wwld

Depends. To me, some are. Some aren’t. Poll choices too limited.

I was being a butt. I knew what you meant.

I'd pay to do either. Especially the ones that are for charity or providing for local needs and awareness.

Welcome to BF!

Do you mean getting paid to ride in the event?

John

Apologies John, I meant would you pay to participate in an event?

This. Otherwise I don't see much value.

No. I understand that it costs money to arrange and manage a large ride, but organized rides seem like big hassles to me. I'd much rather ride by myself or with the club that's local to me. Besides, we have one car. I see little point in driving to a ride and leaving my W stuck at home. In fact, I see little point in driving to ride, except under special conditions.