Aurora Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Our KZN road series is like R150 per race or something and you need to enter upfront for the whole series. No wonder mountain biking is taking off so nicely down here. I was a fully sponsored rider last year so i was pretty lucky when it came to entry fees. Now that im working and dont have as much time to train i wont be able to stay at the level of the top guys so whats the point of doing an event which costs quite a lot? i would rather put money away each month and eventually go overseas for a nice holiday. Sani2c is like R8000 per team, plus lets say R2000 for the other odds and sods you would need. Thats R10000, thats a weeks holiday in Mauritius. Choice is easy for me... The people in charge need to wake up.. for all those roadies who didnt enter KZN champs, we all got a snotty email saying we organised this for you guys and now you not racing? whats the point of racing in provincial champs when you have no chance to get a top 3? I mean the entry list had people like Stander, Evans, Reid, George etc so the field was very strong. Why would the average rider go and enter such a 'race'? They are wasting their time and money riding on a circuit they will get bored of after the first lap. Races are getting a bit over board with their entry fees, Shova. Argus and all the rest are now all above R350. And how do they justify this cost on paper? I would rather go for a social ride on my MTB and pay R50 to enter the bike park then R150 for a road race and suffer for 2 or so hours. Thats what a lot of KZN guys have started doing now days.
Wannabe Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Depending on where you stay meneer........ It's 100Km one way to s/suburbs for me. R200 for a race entry is a bit steep, I must agree. I'm talking from the viewpoint of somebody who is NOT staying in the gramadoelas.
The Ghost Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 I think its all been said.People put time and effort and resources into preparing routes, logistics etc. even thinking of not paying less than what a pizza costs is just plain stupid. Eat one less pizza, have 12 less beers in a month.If the cost of races come down while everything else is going up then the quality of the events will get worse. Also if the price bothers you then try and get more value by hanging around and socialising with people and enjoying the atmosphere instead of just riding and leaving. Somebody mentioned the cost of offroad bikes, it used to cost me about R4 000 per race (logistics included), but if you love it then you prioritise it.
henry newbi Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Stop complaining , try racing off road motorbikes and cycling, compared to off road, cycling is dirt cheapTry doing rallying and cycling. Entry 520Pacenotes 250Fuel for rally car 600service van 1000Food for sevice crew 200.thats on the event, that excludes oil and other consumables and the 5k for the service on the suspention after the driver doesnot listen when you say big jump. that also does not include any labour on the service. so stop complaining. So if there are any sponsors out there pm me
Frosty Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Was R200 for berge en dale on Saturday (R400 per tandem) and they didnt even provide goodie bags. Don't remember seeing a waterpoint along the way either, one wonders what the entry fee covers...Profit for the race organiser, it's one of many races in GP organised by the same person organisation.It's a business decision - not necessarily the corrrect decision in the interest of the participant.
FrancoisL Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 What is a fair price for a race?Thanks all for the feedback. The point of the discussion is that the organizers, who also read this thread, thinks about how to price an event. To answer my own question:1. R150 is fair for a well organized event.2. I would like to see junior and family/group discounts.3. Goody bags are sponsored items and adds little value for me.4. MTB/Road racing is not price insensitive, you want to grow your event, make it more affordable.5. I really think we are in a priviled and spoiled position with the number of races offered. A big thank you to each and everybody taking on the task of organizing a race.6. Hopefully more and more businesses are going to see the commercial value of biking and invest in it.7. If I had more saFe areas to cycle I would probably enter less races. We need to lobby more to get such places.Happy Racing
cyclingfiend Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Being now retired and living on a pension, I have to be carefull where my money goes and although living reasonably comfortably, like Grebel, I am more selective about events I enter and do most of my riding on my own or with local groups. I would love to do all the ppa events but they have inflated beyond my means! Probably make this Argus my last as it seems to be becoming more of a business than a cycle ride.
'Dale Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 It's a bizness operated on bottom line principles - sustainability and profit. Look how sexy the Epic Prologue promises to be with big screens of the first stage at neighbouring farms next to host Meerendal - what a drawcard for MTB followers.
The_Break Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Only thing I find expensive is having to pay insurance excess every time one of the development riders causes a crash in our bunch. Did I just say that?
'Dale Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Only thing I find expensive is having to pay insurance excess every time one of the development riders causes a crash in our bunch. Did I just say that? Red card comment...
The_Break Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Red card comment... Hold on, before that red card gets pulled out. Last 10 races I did, nearly came down 6 times in that scenario. Last time I was in a bunch, R8453 damage to my bike and the insurance is still evaluating my cracked frame. If needing repair, another R22500. So maybe we can make that a yellow card... Do any of our fees go toward rider education and teaching of good bunch riding skills?
'Dale Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Hold on, before that red card gets pulled out. Last 10 races I did, nearly came down 6 times in that scenario. Last time I was in a bunch, R8453 damage to my bike and the insurance is still evaluating my cracked frame. If needing repair, another R22500. So maybe we can make that a yellow card... Do any of our fees go toward rider education and teaching of good bunch riding skills? Ouch, man... That's rough. Yellow card.I just know that there are other riders too that cause incidents in the bunch, not just the naive inexperienced riders thrusted to the sharp edge of racing,unfairly so. :-)
TheSaint Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Was told on a similar thread, sometime ago by those who now share a similar view, that I should stop complaining about the costs and should consider taking up running! I found the comment insulting. Some hubbers forget the comments they have previously made.
Mavro Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 "final race" sounds rather final. what follows final lad ? Studying towards an MBA. Wont have time to train and race. Normally i do about 10 races in a calendar year. I find it expensive, cause you pay a premiun and there is little return. Apart from the 94.7 and Argus there is no road closure. Towards the end of the races one needs to ride with caution because you got the shorter groups coming in, with the faster riders + you are fighting for space on the road with cars. I am not interested in water points, medals or goodie bags. I come to race and compete with other fellow riders. If it wasnt for the mba, I wouldnt mind paying a higher premium if i knew there would be full road closures and no shorter group riders ahead.
hendrich Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 Eks ook I student en soms kan ek nog R170-R250 vir I race betaal . Want jy kry waarde vir geld . Maar wat ek ni kan vat nie is as jy R170 betaal vir I race en jy apsoluut niks terug kry nie . En dan daar nie eers prys geld is vir die weners nie.dis as of van hieri races mens al hoe meer en meer wil uitbyt
'Dale Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 Studying towards an MBA. Wont have time to train and race. Normally i do about 10 races in a calendar year. I find it expensive, cause you pay a premiun and there is little return. Apart from the 94.7 and Argus there is no road closure. Towards the end of the races one needs to ride with caution because you got the shorter groups coming in, with the faster riders + you are fighting for space on the road with cars. I am not interested in water points, medals or goodie bags. I come to race and compete with other fellow riders.If it wasnt for the mba, I wouldnt mind paying a higher premium if i knew there would be full road closures and no shorter group riders ahead. Lekka post, mavro!I support this.
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