WTF - Northern Farm MTB Race - 2nd of August

[Scuba Steve]

Just to start of, I normally not the kind of guy that would moan about a race but alas....

 

A friend and I decided to go ride at Northern Farms today and stumbled onto a "organized" race. We decided to find out what the race cost and the distances involved, a STAGGERING R235 for 45km!!!! I enjoy the MTN and Trailseeker series, thus paying R235 for it which is in the same price category as Dullstroom, Hakahana, Van Gaalens and Cullinun with well planned out routes, excellent water points, great goodie bags en some nice scenery, seems unreasonable.

 

Finally, against our better judgment, we decided to try the 45km which is basically the normal route with the only exception being some gravel and rocks they placed over muddy areas for easy riding. There were 2 water points with literally only water and not even a medal when we finished. Understanding that we started late seeing that the 45km already started when we signed up so a medal was just optional...

 

NOW, In my mind I'm trying to justify the amount of money that we spend on this race and what was on offer and I can't think of anything. I would pay NO MORE than R100 for the race and that is even being generous. Did a large chunk of the entry go to charity???

 

I have signed up for 10km running races that cost R40 with more on offer.

 

Is there anybody out there that feels the same?

 

Can one of the race organizers come back to me to justify these costs?

[Scuba Steve]

Oh yes, and the one part of the route was not properly marked which resulted in around 10 guys backtracking to find the right way.

[Scuba Steve]

bump.....

[Sarnicoview]

_{This was a Redhill Fundraiser, hence the entry fee.}

[Actual 2.1]

That's why stopped cycling because this sport has become crazy expensive! Why must a bicycle cost 40 50 thousand rand?? Thats madness!

[Long Wheel Base]

Kia over the moon night race series = R 60 for a 25km race. Fair enough its not that long but who wants to do a marathon on a wednesday evening? And you get a wors roll and beer after the race and a pretty cool race pack. Its R 40 entrance fee into modder normally so in effect the entry fee is only R20. Factor in the wors roll and beer and race pack and you in negative figures. So clearly the sponsors are going big here. And they do this once a month, not once a year like most races. Just shows if sponsors pull in properly it is possible.

[rouxtjie]

bump.....

No need for a bump....just don't do race. Nobody is forcing you to participate...willing buyer, willing seller.

[JanJan]

Supply and Dem... never mind

[sometime]

That's why stopped cycling because this sport has become crazy expensive! Why must a bicycle cost 40 50 thousand rand?? Thats madness!

 

So you can only cycle once you have paid something to someone - i.e. there are no free rides and there are no cheap bikes?

 

It's a rhetorical question so don't bother replying...

[rouxtjie]

So you can only cycle once you have paid something to someone - i.e. there are no free rides and there are no cheap bikes?

 

It's a rhetorical question so don't bother replying...

Some say the best rides are the ones without garmins / racing / set route....just a good ol recce with some tjommies...

[Scuba Steve]

No need for a bump....just don't do race. Nobody is forcing you to participate...willing buyer, willing seller.

 

So your justification is that for the high price is simply I don't have to pay it and go somewhere else??

Tell me, do you work for DSTV or Eskom or Telkom? - they have the same mentality. I'm asking for clarification on the cost and to ensure those poor miserable sods out there who did the race are well aware that their are better and cheaper options available.

[RocknRolla]

_{This was a Redhill Fundraiser, hence the entry fee.}

 

So your justification is that for the high price is simply I don't have to pay it and go somewhere else??

Tell me, do you work for DSTV or Eskom or Telkom? - they have the same mentality. I'm asking for clarification on the cost and to ensure those poor miserable sods out there who did the race are well aware that their are better and cheaper options available.

 

If you want itemised billing, you will have to pay extra.

 

It seems you have buyers regret. But What Rouxtjie says rings true, there was no gun to your head to do this race.

 

It's not sanral, it's a fundraiser.

 

I dont think your rant is justified.

[jcza]

So your justification is that for the high price is simply I don't have to pay it and go somewhere else??

Tell me, do you work for DSTV or Eskom or Telkom? - they have the same mentality. I'm asking for clarification on the cost and to ensure those poor miserable sods out there who did the race are well aware that their are better and cheaper options available.

Harsh calling participants "poor miserable sods".....don't think anyone forced them to enter and ride.

Edited August 5, 2014 by jcza

[Scuba Steve]

_{This was a Redhill Fundraiser, hence the entry fee.}

 

Thanks for the answer.

[dirtrider]

Ok for this particular race theres a reason for the high entry fee , what about the rest ? Ag does not really matter anyway I also stopped doing these one day rip-off races .

[rouxtjie]

So your justification is that for the high price is simply I don't have to pay it and go somewhere else??

Tell me, do you work for DSTV or Eskom or Telkom? - they have the same mentality. I'm asking for clarification on the cost and to ensure those poor miserable sods out there who did the race are well aware that their are better and cheaper options available.

hehehhehhe....hit a nerve I see. But yes, wrt to them ugly monopoly corporates that have us by the short and curly's. Deactivate your DSTV, cut your landline / ADSL and convert your home to solar polar....That will show them hey...I mean what is lekkerder than sitting at home without internet, watching SABC 1..2..3 and luke warm showers. But jokes aside.

 

You chose to participate meneer, no point in trying argue that it wasnt worth it after the fact. The best for you to do is not to participate again, I mean you paid your schoolfees now. Like a lot of hubbers say, try and steer clear of the "one day classics" at known venues. See I think you started this thread to vent your buyers remorse, and bumped it hoping to get people to rant with you...but alas value is relative.

 

Me personally, I am not prepared to pay 5 times the amount to ride at a venue / trails that I can normally ride for a fraction, that is why there are only a handfull of races that gets my attention. But to each their own.

Edited August 6, 2014 by rouxtjie