Has the MTB Stage Racing bubble finally burst?

[Nick]

What is considered a fare entry fee for a stage race? I ask because The Origin of Trails looks quite lekker, and that is R1700 for 2 days. Looks a nice ride, 2 days @ 50-60kms each.

 

The Epic is just ludicrous, for a "normal" person earning a "normal" salary, paying R44k for 8 days of cycling is just f***** stupid.

 

Edit: and to be honest, I can go ride those trails for free whenever I choose, I just dont have a mobile 5star hotel waiting at the end.

 

Check out Eselfontein's MTB Festival. R1200 gets you 3 days of excellent riding.

[Super Sywurm]

I enjoy riding events, most as possible.  But the main reason for skipping some events that I really want to ride, is the cost (travel cost, entry cost, accommodation cost).

[Skubarra]

A fare is a cost..... 

 

R850 a day to ride around Jonkers and other mostly public stellies trails is a bit much if you're a local.

 

If you're and out of towner who needs an excuse to come, then by all means it is better than some other events.

 

I have gone off racing hugely and I am far happier for it. I dig riding trails with my friends, making missions to cool places and organising my life to my own needs.

 

I still enter some iconic running races and did Argust this year, but nah... For me Picket-bo-berg is about the only 'race' worth doing as it is an entirely charitable, non profit event AND the trails are rad and open just for the 2 events.

 

We are all programmed to accept that racing is 'normal' and pay astronomical amounts of money to 'race'. It's a silly mentality. Imagine everyone put their annual race entry fees into local trail development, safety and maintenance?

 

We would all be riding radical trails with our mates actually enjoying bike riding. Pseudo pro's wouldn't dope in vet cat and people like Shan Wilson wouldn't be ruining the lives of aspiring youngsters......

 

Just saying

 

This is true for your local trails & events but I still think races are a great way to discover & cycle different parts of the country with minimum effort. Take something like Sani2C, no way I am going to go through the effort to attempt riding from Underberg to Scottburgh on my own hoping to find or have access to most of the trails they do on the race. Very easy to just pay a bit extra, rock up with a partner, enjoy the vibe and let someone else worry about the organising and have all the necessary backup when something goes wrong

[Jewbacca]

This is true for your local trails & events but I still think races are a great way to discover & cycle different parts of the country with minimum effort. Take something like Sani2C, no way I am going to go through the effort to attempt riding from Underberg to Scottburgh on my own hoping to find or have access to most of the trails they do on the race. Very easy to just pay a bit extra, rock up with a partner, enjoy the vibe and let someone else worry about the organising and have all the necessary backup when something goes wrong

Luckily I have friends who enjoy type 2 and type 3 fun..... We call it 'training' for our next Adventure race.

 

I love packing the backpack, loading the maps and heading out into the world with low expectations and a sense of wonderment.

[Slowbee]

flights, airbnb accom, race entry and transport to and fro.

 

no drinking money required on my side.

We need a thread using this info.

 

I Duane pushes it - but would be good to see what other options there are. I mean for me and the Mrs to do S2C, is R16k entrance then plane flights and then car hire and accommodation before and after the event so easily into the R20 - R25k region.

[Jewbacca]

I have done this. First one was for 3 weeks and second one for 2 weeks. It is the most amazing experience. I am going again soon. Riding around this country is pretty amazing. I have hardly touched it so far. Need to get to Namibia on my next trip. It will happen.

Yeah... Doing the Drakensberg is also pretty special. By bike and by foot. Ride the foothills from different bases, then hike/run up bagging peaks and sleeping in caves or under the stars before going back down to the bikes and heading to another base.

 

Another friend of mine has recently just run the entire border of Lesotho.

[Wannabe]

I wanted to enter for the J2C again next year. But entry fees, flights, pre and post race accommodation and bike transport alone would be around 40K.

I can take the Missus on a nice island holiday for less than that. Cannot justify spending that amount of money for my indulgence alone, no matter how stunning a ride / adventure it is.

 

I then had a look at the S2C, R8200 per person per team, excluding flights, pre and post race accommodation and bike transport. Again, not worth it for three days of riding.

[DieselnDust]

I enjoy riding events, most as possible.  But the main reason for skipping some events that I really want to ride, is the cost (travel cost, entry cost, accommodation cost).

 

 

ditto and if I'm going to travel I make a family weekend away of it and that make it even more expensive.

There's still some Greyt events out there (see what I did there...) especially around Rawsonville, Greyton, Grabouw etc.

[Super Sywurm]

ditto and if I'm going to travel I make a family weekend away of it and that make it even more expensive.

There's still some Greyt events out there (see what I did there...) especially around Rawsonville, Greyton, Grabouw etc.

I usually plan my weekends away / holidays around events.  My wife lets my ride and she gets a long weekend / vacation.

 

Then, both parties stay happy.

[Skubarra]

 

I then had a look at the S2C, R8200 per person per team, excluding flights, pre and post race accommodation and bike transport. Again, not worth it for three days of riding.

 

I think its still worth it as a once-off experience if you have never cycled in the area and can't afford the J2C, but not something I'll repeat year after year

[Skubarra]

ditto and if I'm going to travel I make a family weekend away of it and that make it even more expensive.

There's still some Greyt events out there (see what I did there...) especially around Rawsonville, Greyton, Grabouw etc.

 

Think the Gravel & Grape is a very underrated event. But sadly also proof that great trails + cheap entry fee don't always equal loads of entries. Don't know what the missing ingredient is - better marketing?

[Wannabe]

Gravel & Grape is a proper 3 day race. Varied from day to day, and if you stay over at Goudini, very central also.

[gemmerbal]

[ag sh_t sorry, momentary lapse...]

 

ja look, I hear what you are saying. we are lucky in the WC, really spoilt for choice. I've never done a "stage race", so it's kind of just a one-off thing.

A fare is a cost..... 

 

R850 a day to ride around Jonkers and other mostly public stellies trails is a bit much if you're a local.

 

If you're and out of towner who needs an excuse to come, then by all means it is better than some other events.

 

I have gone off racing hugely and I am far happier for it. I dig riding trails with my friends, making missions to cool places and organising my life to my own needs.

 

I still enter some iconic running races and did Argust this year, but nah... For me the Eselfontein stage race is great value and the Picket-bo-berg races are worth doing as they are an entirely charitable, non profit event AND the trails are rad and open just for the 2 events.

 

We are all programmed to accept that racing is 'normal' and pay astronomical amounts of money to 'race'. It's a silly mentality. Imagine everyone put their annual race entry fees into local trail development, safety and maintenance?

 

We would all be riding radical trails with our mates actually enjoying bike riding. Pseudo pro's wouldn't dope in vet cat and people like Shan Wilson wouldn't be ruining the lives of aspiring youngsters......

 

Just saying

[Super Sywurm]

This is true for your local trails & events but I still think races are a great way to discover & cycle different parts of the country with minimum effort. Take something like Sani2C, no way I am going to go through the effort to attempt riding from Underberg to Scottburgh on my own hoping to find or have access to most of the trails they do on the race. Very easy to just pay a bit extra, rock up with a partner, enjoy the vibe and let someone else worry about the organising and have all the necessary backup when something goes wrong

Exactly the reason why I ride events and races.  You get the chance to ride trails that is sometimes not open to the public (private farms etc.).

 

Or when you do an event in another town, you get to ride trails you didn't know of.

 

Just have fun and ride whatever you budget / partner allows.

[babse]

We need a thread using this info.

 

I Duane pushes it - but would be good to see what other options there are. I mean for me and the Mrs to do S2C, is R16k entrance then plane flights and then car hire and accommodation before and after the event so easily into the R20 - R25k region.

lets do it 

[gemmerbal]

The Breede River Valley is probably some of the harshest terrain in the WC. Did the Fine/Breede, and some of the terrain was very tricky; loose rocks on a mixture of hard-pack and sand. I reckon the terrain is what puts most people off, I recall a dude on his R100k DS complaining that this sh%it is "un-rideable" and he's never coming back etc etc. All this while I passed him on my HT.

 

Think the Gravel & Grape is a very underrated event. But sadly also proof that great trails + cheap entry fee don't always equal loads of entries. Don't know what the missing ingredient is - better marketing?