Dome 2 Dome and Race for Victory 2015

[bmw1za]

I'm keen to know what we as the "Customer / Cyclist " can do to improve and / or add value to these events.(Asside from giving more money)..

 

As  a newbie a few years ago i was blown away and captivated by these racing events , one of the reasons I am addicted to this Sufferfest of a  Passion ... Its sad for the next generation to miss out on that bussle of excitement.

[Underachiever]

I find it strange that the folk on the Hub sit and mumble into their beards about the crap service at races then when someone actually tries to do something and get the cyclists to stand together they end up biting one another. I did D2D, experienced the same crap as everyone else has mentioned, and will not be going back for more. Whether the rest of you decide to let the organizers k!k in your hat so you can put it on you head and say " Thanks it fits much better now" and pay upward of R300 to do so is up to you. Fool me once....  

I think we are all in agreement that we are unhappy with the sevice received.

 

We can however disagree on how the deal with the situation in order to make it better.

 

We can do it in a civilised way, or we can do it like we typically see in this country - thru "mob justice" by looting and pillaging. 

 

Derek, admitting to being brash, crude, rude and abrasive (to name but a few) seems to prefer the latter, while most prefer to do the former.   

[KanonDonkie]

I think we are all in agreement that we are unhappy with the sevice received.

 

We can however disagree on how the deal with the situation in order to make it better.

 

We can do it in a civilised way, or we can do it like we typically see in this country - thru "mob justice" by looting and pillaging.

 

Derek, admitting to being brash, crude, rude and abrasive (to name but a few) seems to prefer the latter, while most prefer to do the former.

Civilised denotes being able to discuss and create dialogue, even if heated. It also means that society has evolved to the point where it has the freedom and presence of mind to take a collective stance. Mob justice intones violence. I have not done so, threatened, cajoled or displayed any inclination towards such. However, whining on an open forum and not lodging an official complaint is useless. Then bitching about me actually doing something is pretty low. Do something constructive.

[Underachiever]

Civilised denotes being able to discuss and create dialogue, even if heated. It also means that society has evolved to the point where it has the freedom and presence of mind to take a collective stance. Mob justice intones violence. I have not done so, threatened, cajoled or displayed any inclination towards such. However, whining on an open forum and not lodging an official complaint is useless. Then bitching about me actually doing something is pretty low. Do something constructive.

Point taken.

 

And I will give you credit that you actually sent FS a fomal complaint.  Good job!! 

 

But your reaction to what I thought was a decent initial response from FS, was brash, crude, rude and abrasive.  Which means that you tend to be agressive and not assertive.

 

Not nice.  But then you've already admitted to how your normally behave, so this is probably a moot point. 

[shaper]

Must be feeding time... as the ego seems to be growing with all the food

[Harryn]

Seems like some feel a certain amount of entitlement having paid to do races and from what have recently read.. I expect a lot of unhappiness from the races yet to come!

 

I have yet to see a race that does not have issues, even those with full road closure still have issues on the day, the ones without more so.

 

The cost is actually insignificant in comparison to other sports that one enters and is not even the price of a new chain.

 

No one is forced to enter these races, if you feel it is too much for what you get, enjoy your training rides on those days as the routes will likely be quieter as others will be racing... as for me, I enter them just to push myself and see how I do under race conditions and only expect a timing mat at the start and finish... anything else is a bonus

Hi Shaper

 

I did not do the race, so I don't have the right to comment on it - so my response to what you have said applies to the races I have done and the many I plan to do as a funrider.

 

Firstly, I know I am privileged to be able to participate in the events I choose - I never take it for granted. But, once I pay my entry fee, I definitely feel an "entitlement" to a lot more than your minimum expectation of just a start and finish mat. I expect competent marshalling, a safe route, water at the waterpoints, medical evacuation, equitable seeding, proper venue and all the other stuff @spinnekop listed above.

 

Cycling has its inherent risks, by participating, I accept those. I don't think they should include having to use a sif toilet, or being taken out at an intersection due to poor marsalling. Etc

[TALUS]

I wonder what is the cost of motorbike marshalls? The biggest difference in any race is the safety aspect. I don't need watertables or medals. Just timing and marshalls.

[bmw1za]

I wonder what is the cost of motorbike marshalls? The biggest difference in any race is the safety aspect. I don't need watertables or medals. Just timing and marshalls.

I wil find out .. one of my buddy's is a motorbike Marshall. 

[Frosty]

 

I wonder what is the cost of motorbike marshalls? The biggest difference in any race is the safety aspect. I don't need watertables or medals. Just timing and marshalls.

I wil find out .. one of my buddy's is a motorbike Marshall.

Take a guess, it's not as high as one thinks.

 

Awesome to see them roll in behind the last person crossing the line

[TALUS]

Take a guess, it's not as high as one thinks.

Awesome to see them roll in behind the last person crossing the line

IMG_20150930_225207.jpg

I was hoping you will weigh in since your race is one of the benchmarks in what is needed for a very good race. The safest I ever feel on a bike is on the Panorama Tour when there are lots of marshalls around.

[KanonDonkie]

I wonder what is the cost of motorbike marshalls? The biggest difference in any race is the safety aspect. I don't need watertables or medals. Just timing and marshalls.

I do a race a couple of times a year called the Vortex. A fraction of the D2D cost. Not as much fanfare, but everything is functional and mostly clean. The roads are marshalled by the event organisers and all waterpoints are adequately stocked.

The principal is that as we are charged more and more for these events, the organisers are providing less organisation, less safety, less visibility, less amenities and less security. Why should we accept that?

[RastaMan]

I do a race a couple of times a year called the Vortex. A fraction of the D2D cost. Not as much fanfare, but everything is functional and mostly clean. The roads are marshalled by the event organisers and all waterpoints are adequately stocked.

The principal is that as we are charged more and more for these events, the organisers are providing less organisation, less safety, less visibility, less amenities and less security. Why should we accept that?

But the vortex has its own problems I know of 2 people that picked up hepatitis A from the toilets at the venue, this race  was bad but, but better that Hepatitis A. Now its very hard to proof as incubation period is 2-6 weeks but myself and my wife are 99% sure it was from the venue, and if you have been there you know its possible.

 

We shouldn't take it,the thing is you can send your complaint which you did.

Now choose another race there are 4 road races in Sept alone you could do the other 3 next year, wilro(85% same route as D2D), Meals on Wheals and R4V

 

If we support the other race and stop supporting theirs they will get the message, in the end action does speak louder than words.

 

**edit** if they were willing to send out a survey to get all riders feedback, or sit down and find out all the issues, we won't need to boycott, but based on the email response I doubt it will happen

[KanonDonkie]

But the vortex has its own problems I know of 2 people that picked up hepatitis A from the toilets at the venue, this race was bad but, but better that Hepatitis A. Now its very hard to proof as incubation period is 2-6 weeks but myself and my wife are 99% sure it was from the venue, and if you have been there you know its possible.

 

We shouldn't take it,the thing is you can send your complaint which you did.

Now choose another race there are 4 road races in Sept alone you could do the other 3 next year, wilro(85% same route as D2D), Meals on Wheals and R4V

 

If we support the other race and stop supporting theirs they will get the message, in the end action does speak louder than words.

 

**edit** if they were willing to send out a survey to get all riders feedback, or sit down and find out all the issues, we won't need to boycott, but based on the email response I doubt it will happen

Very sorry to hear about your hepatitus. Don't know enough about how it spreads, and I'm not medically pro efficient enough to comment.

I understand what you, and some others, have said about just not supporting the event, but I have gotten to the point where I am gatvol of being ripped off by these vultures preying on our passion. There will always be another schyster standing by to rip us off and quite possibly place our lives at risk. As cyclists we maintain that we are a relatively smart and enlightened bunch, so why then are we so willing to accept crap?

If someone gives you a bad service on your bike, will you accept it and shrug your shoulders and say "ah well, so that was bad. But there are lots of bike shops. I'll just ignore the fact that these guys have ripped me off and potentially placed my life at risk and go to another shop next time."? I think not.

[IceCreamMan]

I never used the toilets , but at a minimum these should be clean. As to the alleged brash , crude comments to FS by a hubber....surely those taking umbrage must be bloody joking...

 

complaining in a civilized way is the English way...this is Africa...we should be toy toying and burning the facilities and lynching the organisers....

 

I enjoyed the route, its a great training ride for other events and will do it again in 2016 if its still on ..may even use the bogs too...bit difficult to predict what time my morning constitution will occur a year from now.

[Dgas]

I wonder what is the cost of motorbike marshalls? The biggest difference in any race is the safety aspect. I don't need watertables or medals. Just timing and marshalls.

 I was speaking to the guy at ASG who organises their races. He mentioned a figure of R 1 400 per day per bike marshall for the event.

[KanonDonkie]

 I was speaking to the guy at ASG who organises their races. He mentioned a figure of R 1 400 per day per bike marshall for the event.

 

Wow, that's seriously cheap! At 1 marshal for every 50 riders it's only R28 per rider. I think there were maybe 10 marshals at D2D (maybe less), so if we take into account the number of riders (823 - 111km; 61 - 31km; 51 - 130km) that would be a measly R14.97 out of each entry fee.