Has the MTB Stage Racing bubble finally burst?

[Andrew Steer]

No entry reservation next year - watch it turn into a 2 event race within 2 years...

That would still make it a very, very successful venture in my books... it's crazy that a big race can sell out 3 times back to back for over a decade now (okay hasn't always been 3 races, but you get the gist) - especially when you consider the plethora of racing experiences available in South Africa. 

 

We've got an amazing race calendar, and while it will of course see some refinement down the line, I don't see it falling away much in the future while the sport is still growing... we're blessed with a beautiful diverse country and a bicycle is one of the best ways to see it. 

 

 

[PygaSchmyga]

which other countries can boast such a diverse and full MTB race calendar?  You see various events here and there featured over the sea, but is there any single country with such a consistently full and awesome offering?  I am honestly curious on this

[kosmonooit]

For what is worth, I think that after the rampant commercialisation and corporate hype, less grass roots community based events - that the mtb scene has gone a bit poop all in all .

 

Although some survive - like Barberton

 

But others - like the Magalies Monster - R400 entry fee. At least R400 juice for the round trip,. Just not possible.

 

Also the road travel has become a loathsome prospect for me anyway I hate driving anywhere anytime here, Too many frigging idiots on the road.

[arendoog]

South Africans are notorious to get their monies worth and i think like everything else ,the good events will survive .It also makes no sense for an event organizer to stage an event for the love of the sport and make no profit .If you look at how busy some of the good bike parks have become ,there are still a lot of people cycling ,but choosing wisely .Ride a 70km loop at buffelsdrift for R50 or spend R400 at Magalies monster .I love MM but i think R400 is very close to ,i think i will go to the bike park instead and not spend R900 for the race 

[bikebloke]

thank goodness does this mean all these instant new cyclists will be going back to golf and we can have our sport back please  

[NicoR]

Must be a cost thing. I for one cannot afford to enter a mtb race every weekend, plus pay all the associated costs like travel, accommodation, food etc. I see the Juma is nearly R500 for the 50 something km race. I'll be in Jozi that weekend and was keen to do it, until I saw that price.. Most other short one day races I've done are R150 - R300. I'll then rather just go do some trails at a fraction of that cost..

 

I'm sure costs have gone up for event organizers as well, so they are probably forced to up the registration fees.

Also giving Juma a skip due to the entrance fee

[PygaSchmyga]

Also giving Juma a skip due to the entrance fee

I'm amazed at the JUMA price ticket, and that people buy these.  I guess some people enjoy this race and to each their own, but I could not think of a less appealing event.  Resi/Urban joburg is SIF,  polluted and  ugly.  Sorry guys - I said it, and I live here.  Its not sacrilege to call something what it is.  The spruit smells like sewage.

[coppi]

The events bubble is maybe starting to burst and people will become more selective........ but MTB itself definitely not yet and I sincerely hope it remains that way !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grease_Monkey]

The events bubble is maybe starting to burst and people will become more selective........ but MTB itself definitely not yet and I sincerely hope it remains that way !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I doubt that bubble will ever burst. I do predict that we will see events changing - more enduro style events which involves a bigger social aspect because more and more people are realising that undurance racing is not the be all and end all of cycling and are embracing the fun side of the sport (don't get me wrong - I love XC races, and it will always have it's place).

 

I think we are going to see people push their money into initiatives like the cable car service at Hartebeespoort and the development of trail parks.

 

I am very excited to see where the industry is heading in SA.

[Kranswurm]

I think the one day events both road and mtb are the answer

Everyone complains about security but when you can ride an event on a Saturday and a Sunday with road control and marshall what a bonus

I remember doing the Telkom on a Sat and the Spur on a Sunday back to back...

If I was back in town my training would be trainer or gym in the week and hard events every weekend

There are so many

Now and again a Sabie or whatever

Northern Farms and Modders would not see me

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

I love long distance xc races and do a few a year. My family responsibilities and wife now crazy about running so Im limited to how many races I can do. I think there are sufficient one day bargains in the WC. My only stage race is origins. But the 3 day stage races are beyond me in terms of total costs.I do think the bubble has burst. With my annual permits for TM and bike park, I got my money back ten fold. Too many options diluting the pool, that's good and bad

[ChrisF]

collegue did the Wine to Whales .. twice.  DONE.  Not interested in doing it again .... it was a bucket list type thing.

 

 

another gent has done a range of these multi-day events.  Each done a 2 or 3 times, then move on to the next.

 

 

For these riders it is about the adventure, about the new routes, the new experiences.  They have absolutely no interest in trying to rack up 10 entries for the same ride.

[Al Pal]

There is a Bell for 800 bucks in the classifieds. If someone’s paying that for a bell, then the bubble hasnt burst.

(No offence to the seller)

[ChrisF]

Interesting reading the various comments.

 

The multi-day events certainly has different "clients", with different motivation .....

 

 

As for the single day fun-ride type events.  BRING EM ON !    

 

 

YES, the "day cost" adds up :

- often 200 to 300km of fuel cost

- we leave very early and have a Wimpy breakfast enroute ...

- entry fee for two

- drinks and eats after the event

- often a detour on the way back, taking in the beauty of our country ....

 

 

Certainly a LOT cheaper just to go ride the Tygerberg trails with our annual membership.  Frankly the membership paid itself by February, so now we ride for free and only pay for eats and drinks.  So certainly cheaper ways to enjoy the day IF it was only about the money. 

 

Still we enjoy the fun rides, and try to do at least one per month.  

 

 

 

And each Saturday at the Wimpy I look at the other vehicles passing through the Engen ..... there are many hobbies costing a LOT more than cycling !!

 

 

For US - cycling allows me to ride next to Maritz and to chat to him during the ride.  Teaching a 6 year old of the seasons, animal life, life, and just being able to demonstrate a positive influence to his life - WHAT price do I put on this ?

 

 

 

  THANKS to one and all that arrange these magnificent events for us !!!! 

[Bonus]

which other countries can boast such a diverse and full MTB race calendar?  You see various events here and there featured over the sea, but is there any single country with such a consistently full and awesome offering?  I am honestly curious on this

Certainly not here in Spain, and we live in the middle of Zona Zero, the MTB playground of his part of Europe.

 

I do miss the regular races, but even when we left two years ago it was getting expensive.

[Forthelove]

Races events are now a money spinner for the event organizers. I was at the night ride on Saturday. Paid my R 180 rand there was a tiny crappy Water point with Water, in fact I glanced at it and rode on.

A blow up finishing line and received a R10 medal. 600 or so riders. Nothing wrong with the Profits just greedy organizaers. Same for most races now riders not getting money’s worth. Part of the new trial had stumps every where - some would say this is MTBing , OTHERS would say doof..

 

Oh by the way the goody bag for the first 100 entry’s was a cheap crappy empty nylon bag cost about R15.. all races are like this these days - sponsors pay a lot of money , riders are supposed to get decent goodie bags Ect but the events organizers take the money and run. ppppppoooooop is coming soon.