[Event] Carnival City Macsteel National Classic 2017

[gerryonimo]

Sorry, but late entry was your own fault.

 

Be glad there is some prize money for the kids, if it were me Id give them only a trophy, teach them to race for the love of racing, not the money. 

 

What if he came 4th, would you have complained then again?

 

Get your priorities straight.

I presume you are dad paying for your youngsters race entries! I am highlighting the cost of the entries and number board purchases for these races! My son rides for his school team for the love of it, and yes I would complain even if he didn't win anything. Thanks to the organisers for giving something that can be spent on this expensive sport.....he has a few trophies for his wins in the past which he cherishes! 

[Bloukrans]

I presume you are dad paying for your youngsters race entries! I am highlighting the cost of the entries and number board purchases for these races! My son rides for his school team for the love of it, and yes I would complain even if he didn't win anything. Thanks to the organisers for giving something that can be spent on this expensive sport.....he has a few trophies for his wins in the past which he cherishes! 

It's not compulsory to enter races

 

Freedom of choice.

[Patchelicious]

I presume you are dad paying for your youngsters race entries! I am highlighting the cost of the entries and number board purchases for these races! My son rides for his school team for the love of it, and yes I would complain even if he didn't win anything. Thanks to the organisers for giving something that can be spent on this expensive sport.....he has a few trophies for his wins in the past which he cherishes! 

Hey, you the one who moaned, don't pull the "paying dad card" when you get called out. I thought being a dad teaches one to take responsibility

 

But its super cool to hear that you boy is doing well!! Good on you for getting him toot the sport!

[JA-Q001]

I presume you are dad paying for your youngsters race entries! I am highlighting the cost of the entries and number board purchases for these races! My son rides for his school team for the love of it, and yes I would complain even if he didn't win anything. Thanks to the organisers for giving something that can be spent on this expensive sport.....he has a few trophies for his wins in the past which he cherishes! 

Sorry, wrong.

 

But I have been around the block enough. 

[Pikey]

He did enjoy the ride in Artic conditions. Would we do it again.....probably not.

 

Enough said ....if my son enjoys any sport he partakes in i’m happy. I agreed to pay for it before i entered him. Edited October 30, 2017 by Pikey

[Frosty]

We are well aware of the 2 riders that went of course, they are my son's school team mates, who were fuming at indecisive course markings and directions given at a particular water point!

Fact is my son had a few riders in front of him to follow and he finished 3rd and his prize money didn't cover the money I spent for his entry. He did enjoy the ride in Artic conditions. Would we do it again.....probably not. The price of entries into these events dictates that we will have to be selective in how many and which events we ride in future! 

There were only two people that complained about the route marking... the two that got lost. We immediately sent a bike marshal (Road Rangers) out to the site, and they confirmed there were 4 arrows on the route (in lime) and two white/black arrow boards at the point where they turned wrong.

 

The point where they turned wrong was close to 1Km after the water point. Strava is a wonderful tool to use to check how things went wrong.

 

Would we miss your entry next year? YES we would, as we do with everyone that skips the event. 

 

The next part will be posted in a separate post, as it's additional information that isn't supposed to be replying to your post.

[gtr1]

Gerryonimo, be thankful you received prize money. This race has some of the better prizes. I have had 2ndand 3rds in some of the top mtb series and not even covered entry. We don't do it for the money.

 

Try horse riding. My daughter does a school show. Costs around R700-R 1000 for the day depending on classes, and she can win some rosettes.

 

But it is healthy, keeps her out of the malls, teaches her responsibility. She gas a sense of pride and achievement.

 

Worth more than some prize money.

[Frosty]

For information - for anyone that is interested.

 

A NATIONAL CLASSIC, or A-grade race is supposed to offer a minimum of R40k as prize money. We offer double (for the road race) - because we can.

 

We give 10% of the entry fees back in prize money (for the road event) and 16% back from the MTB event (which is currently unsponsored - Carnival City and Macsteel don't give us any extra funds than they amount allocated to the road event). The marquees, fencing, toilets, venue equipment, sundries, fuel, marshals (CPF, Rotary), traffic control (which used to be free, when municipalities were well run). This all costs money per day, and not for the weekend - although the weekend rate is not double of a single day rate. Instead of setting up on Saturday for Sunday, they have to setup on Thursday/Friday so we are ready at 05:00 on Saturday. They also collect on Monday, so we're effectively paying for 4-5 days of hire.

 

100% of the profit from the event is donated to a number of charities, through the Rotary Club's NPO account. They have a time limit in which to spend all the proceeds, and are audited by their principles.

For information - not only you, but anyone that is interested.

We give 10% of the entry fees back in prize money (for the road event) and 16% back from the MTB event (which is currently unsponsored - Carnival City and Macsteel don't give us any extra funds than they amount allocated to the road event). The marquees, fencing, toilets, venue equipment, sundries, fuel, marshals (CPF, Rotary) all costs money per day, and not for the weekend. Instead of setting up on Saturday for Sunday, they have to setup on Thursday/Friday so we are ready at 05:00 on Saturday.

[gerryonimo]

Hey, you the one who moaned, don't pull the "paying dad card" when you get called out. I thought being a dad teaches one to take responsibility

 

But its super cool to hear that you boy is doing well!! Good on you for getting him toot the sport!

I hope you are a dad, or become a dad one day! It is great riding with your boy and seeing him enjoy the sport and do well. Our long rides together exploring new places are priceless, but of course being a boy he also wants to race......every week!

But hey rather on the trails in the outdoors than hanging around a Mall or stuck inside playing electronic games all day! Long may it continue!

[gerryonimo]

Gerryonimo, be thankful you received prize money. This race has some of the better prizes. I have had 2ndand 3rds in some of the top mtb series and not even covered entry. We don't do it for the money.

 

Try horse riding. My daughter does a school show. Costs around R700-R 1000 for the day depending on classes, and she can win some rosettes.

 

But it is healthy, keeps her out of the malls, teaches her responsibility. She gas a sense of pride and achievement.

 

Worth more than some prize money.

Agreed! I also subscribe to the old adage ' Don't invest in anything that eats while you sleep'!

[Patchelicious]

I hope you are a dad, or become a dad one day! It is great riding with your boy and seeing him enjoy the sport and do well. Our long rides together exploring new places are priceless, but of course being a boy he also wants to race......every week!

But hey rather on the trails in the outdoors than hanging around a Mall or stuck inside playing electronic games all day! Long may it continue!

I am, but my daughter lives in CPT, don't get to see her that often unfortunately. But her mom sent me a video just this weekend of her riding the bike I bought her for the first without training wheels.

 

Can wait to ride with her

[Pikey]

I hope you are a dad, or become a dad one day! It is great riding with your boy and seeing him enjoy the sport and do well. Our long rides together exploring new places are priceless, but of course being a boy he also wants to race......every week!

But hey rather on the trails in the outdoors than hanging around a Mall or stuck inside playing electronic games all day! Long may it continue!

couldnt agree more .

[Pikey]

Agreed! I also subscribe to the old adage ' Don't invest in anything that eats while you sleep'!

i would testify to that,my daughter used to do show jumping. Makes most sports look cheap by comparison. And injuries are horrendous ????

[scotty]

We are well aware of the 2 riders that went of course, they are my son's school team mates, who were fuming at indecisive course markings and directions given at a particular water point!

Fact is my son had a few riders in front of him to follow and he finished 3rd and his prize money didn't cover the money I spent for his entry. He did enjoy the ride in Artic conditions. Would we do it again.....probably not. The price of entries into these events dictates that we will have to be selective in how many and which events we ride in future! 

I too am selective. Why I would do the race again and I'm mid pack finisher, it's well organised, route is rider friendly, plenty of safe secure parking, non cyclists can entertain themselves at Carnival City, food and drink vendors on site reasonably priced, proceeds go to charity and entry fee is comparable to other events. If the conditions were Arctic for your son, spare a thought for the marshals who were in position while it was still dark and remain there until the last one went past. Those are the right reasons.

 

Selfish reasons, its practically on my doorstep. 

[Pikey]

This is my nipper (sister in the background)last year at the race. And on the way home.

They desperately wanted to do it again this year but unfortunately was the same time as football.

 

Anything to keep them of iPads the like and out the malls and on any field of sport . Good for you giving him his racing instinct and wanting to win. It keeps them interested in my mind.

 

My son is football mad ,to point he often gets into trouble for kicking the ball in the house or breaking the wifes plants. But the kid in me is always smiling at him. Especially when he takes his ball to bed.

 

Am a massive supporter of kids doing sport .

 

It’s kids races like this that need to be supported to keep kids wanting to ride there bikes and do sport !

Edited October 30, 2017 by Pikey

[Tristand]

The marking of pot holes and road hazards deserves special mention. It was great to have "lead up" markings instead of just marking the hole itself. I was riding head down on the drops for a big part of the race and it was a life saver.