In the past clubs organised events on a non profit basis. That's no longer the case (partly because few cyclists offer their help for free) and the big clubs operate like businesses, so the Roag/club debate should really just be a question of who offers their "customers" more. The more pertient debate is whether Roag will stifle competition. Roag assists event organisers and cyclists by cutting out the need to duplicate the collection of rider info, and does it in a very user friendly way. They also allow a mechanism for cheap licencing. I think seeded starts will soon become essential, as they ar in canoeing. That's all good. No question, I have registered with Roag [no 3132] (although I still licence through my club, which offers stuff that Roag does not) What may not be all good is the possibility (and I don't know the facts - TimW ???) that organisers have to use the Mr Price timing system, or other profit driven services, to be part of Roag and the possibility that only Roag races will be seeding events for other Roag races. If organisers are forced to use one system/service, or their races excluded as seeding events for the big races, that creates the same position as the Winning Time/Argus/94,7 cartel. Race numbers are important for the profitability of races, making a race a seeding event for other races increases numbers. Creating a seeding series that forces organisers to use only one timing system or other profit based service provider may take away the profit which smaller races rely on (many run on a shoesting budget & use "Elite Timing" which I understand is cheapr than Mr P). This could threaten the great situation which we presently have in Kzn, where there is a quality mtb race virtually every weekend. My experience has been that Roag, Mr P timing etc offer excellent service. I don't doubt that Roag has good intentions, but worry that Dr Frankenstien did too. TimW, you offered to hide nothing: can races get on the Roag seeding system if they don't pay Roag associates ? If not, how do you think this will affect smaller races ? (Are there any guarantees that Roag will place the interest of mtb-ers ahead of financial gain ?)Aicorner2009-04-23 22:45:10
