View Poll Results: Do you attend paid cycling events?
Yes, I like attending cycling events
21
65.63%
No, I don’t see the point
9
28.13%
I only take part in free events
2
6.25%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll
Paid cycling events…worth it?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
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.
#2
For The Fun of It
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I like to participate in them without paying.
#3
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Why pay a fee to go for a ride, when I can go for a ride for free ??
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#4
Junior Member
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 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??
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
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. 😉
#6
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i do a few each year.
#7
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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.)
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.)
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#8
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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.
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.
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#10
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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.
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#11
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#14
Senior Member
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.
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.
#15
Clark W. Griswold
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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.
#16
I'm good to go!
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Paid cycling events as an active participant or as a spectator?
#17
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for me - almost anything cycling / cycling related is worth paying for or a donation
#18
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#19
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#20
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Depends. To me, some are. Some aren’t. Poll choices too limited.
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#21
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#22
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#23
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#24
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#25
Senior Member
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.