Hey SSCC,
Thanks for the comment—I don't think it useful for this forum to reopen the earlier discussions, and so I'll summarise a couple of key points and we can then all move on:
Events are for-profit exercises and there is a philosophical question mark over making a profit off a cancelled event;
Race finances are not declared nor open, and in addition to no-refund there is a question over the payment of event suppliers (thereby increasing the profit and incentive to cancel the race);
The decision to cancel the race on Sunday further supports the claims of #2 above, as the route was totally ridable on the following day;
There is event and liability insurance that can cover the costs associated with cancelling a race, it would require the disclosure of the event finances to the underwriter which is at tension with the incentive to cancel the race;
In addition to my own attempts to contact the race organisers to hold them to the promise made to me at the race village, I am aware of several others who have attempted the same;
This is not a selfish imperative that I am pursuing—the race entry fees were probably a small fraction of the costs directly attributable to that weekend—what this is is an uncomfortable conversation where the intentions of the race organisers are objectively examined.
The risk we run is that race directors will begin to cancel races at the slightest hint of inclement weather because the perverse incentive to do so exists. That they can "go home early" having made more profit than they would have if the race had gone ahead. It is becoming more and more frequent and the race participants and the folks lining the pockets of these race directors. That can't be right.
Finally, because this is all about riding, I wish all of you doing the event the absolute best time. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did; that the kilometres are smooth and full of as much adventure as possible.
