947 Cycle Challenge 2019

[Red Robin]

I never had a clue about the seeding times as I was riding for a charity.

Now I'm curious. What's the difference between Vet and normal seeding like A B C etc besides age?

[Red Bird]

I never had a clue about the seeding times as I was riding for a charity.

Now I'm curious. What's the difference between Vet and normal seeding like A B C etc besides age?

If you are a vet with a racing license, you will be seeded into the vets groups if your index is high enough.

 

VA - 30+

VB - 40+

VC - 50+

 

As soon as these groups are full, people with licenses get seeded into A, B etc. just like the rest of the field without licenses.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Foxy_Roxy

[MudLark]

Pressure on the purse of the normal South African is starting to show.

That* and, I suspect, emigration. The other thing is that maybe "peak cycling" has come and gone?

 

*Not really a cheap sport after all.

[Veebee]

I’ve just spoken to one of the sector controllers where you lost your Garmin (he’s part of the Mountain Rescue Club that is part of our race committee). A unit with cover was handed in to the organizers - and will try get a number.

 

Edit: sent you a PM with the contact name and number

Thanks G.

Will get in touch with them.

[Spinnekop]

Just an interesting note to make... seems like a lot of riders love the reverse route, including myself. With all the good being put into organising the race and all the smooth flowing of the event WHY is there still a steady decline in the number of finishers on racetec? Has the number of entrants also decreased? I will post my opinion in the comments below...

 

That* and, I suspect, emigration. The other thing is that maybe "peak cycling" has come and gone?

 

*Not really a cheap sport after all.

 

Nah...........despite all the media whooohaaa about emigration, there are not THAT many cyclist leaving the shores and there are for sure more people joining the cycling fun.

 

I think the MAIN reason is the short route.

Lots and lots of regulars and "dares" decided to do the shorter event where in the past they did not have that luxury.

 

If you count both the events' finishers, you get a total of 18188

Compare that to previous finisher totals:

2017 - 19950

2018 - 17536

Edited November 20, 2019 by Spinnekop

[Veebee]

Thanks G.

Will get in touch with them.

 

This is the 810 that someone else has lost...

Thanks again for the details.

[Red Robin]

Nah...........despite all the media whooohaaa about emigration, there are not THAT many cyclist leaving the shores and there are for sure more people joining the cycling fun.

 

I think the MAIN reason is the short route.

Lots and lots of regulars and "dares" decided to do the shorter event where in the past they did not have that luxury.

 

If you count both the events' finishers, you get a total of 18188

Compare that to previous finisher totals:

2017 - 19950

2018 - 17536

 

Anyone know what are the stats for those who started versus those who finished?

[Frosty]

I know from the event I’m with, about 500 didn’t have timing chips, or didn’t cross the finish line - compared to the list of entries of 2229. We don’t force them to have a chip, even though it’s a charge per person for timing. So the times results is not a fair reflection of the number of pants that have paid.

 

The medical and sweeper vehicle DNFs weren’t that many to make up 500, in fact it would have been less than 30.

 

Some might have been sick or injured from previous races, or simply didn’t want to ride based on the weather forecast. Who knows?

[Fat Boab]

Entered vs started vs finished, might also be interesting...

 

 

Anyone know what are the stats for those who started versus those who finished?

[Frosty]

In addition to the above:

 

The worrying trend is that year on year, the numbers are dropping. It’s not one event, but more the majority of road races. Has the appeal to riding a race faded?

 

Based on Strava, I’d say yes. Lots of people I know didn’t do a number of events they’d normally do. Heck, I’ve skipped 2 big road races this year, as well as 3 running races, purely because I wasn’t interested. Been there done that.

[Vetplant]

In addition to the above:

 

The worrying trend is that year on year, the numbers are dropping. It’s not one event, but more the majority of road races. Has the appeal to riding a race faded?

 

Based on Strava, I’d say yes. Lots of people I know didn’t do a number of events they’d normally do. Heck, I’ve skipped 2 big road races this year, as well as 3 running races, purely because I wasn’t interested. Been there done that.

That might be the thing.... We are becoming less and less satisfied and are always looking for the next "hit"....

[The Ouzo]

That might be the thing.... We are becoming less and less satisfied and are always looking for the next "hit"....

which might count in the 947s favour as they keep changing the route.

[Veebee]

or there's many like myself who have become lazy...

 

I enjoyed doing all the races, made regular trips to Jozi to do emperors, r4s / carnival etc but then the travelling just became too expensive and I had to take a step back.

[Frosty]

which might count in the 947s favour as they keep changing the route.

I’m not entirely convinced. Ride for Sight has been on the same route for the last 12-13 years and has been the “biggest of the rest” events in GP. Although their numbers have dropped too in recent years, based on Racetec results, they’re still a well supported race on the same route.

 

Emperors route changed after pressure was placed on the organizer, regarding the short and long distances merging so far from the end.

 

Carnival was changed for route safety reasons on a very busy section of road (Heidelberg to Nigel) as well as a head of traffic that wanted to stop the race a number of times.

[The Ouzo]

I’m not entirely convinced. Ride for Sight has been on the same route for the last 12-13 years and has been the “biggest of the rest” events in GP. Although their numbers have dropped too in recent years, based on Racetec results, they’re still a well supported race on the same route.

 

Emperors route changed after pressure was placed on the organizer, regarding the short and long distances merging so far from the end.

 

Carnival was changed for route safety reasons on a very busy section of road (Heidelberg to Nigel) as well as a head of traffic that wanted to stop the race a number of times.

yeah, probably a number of factors at play,

economy

excitement of the new comers dwindling

etc.

 

I know over the last 20years of entering mass participation events I went through a period where I was just not interested anymore. I'd enter in the hope the motivation would come, but it never did. 

Combined with being in bad place economically at the time I have a 4 year gap in those 20 years where I dont have races to my name.

 

I've also cut back on the races I do, not that i used to do many, but I'm only doing around 3 a year now.

 

It would be very interesting if we could get accurate stats. Have those not participating moved to other sports/disciplines, what was the motivation to not road ride anymore.

Lots of questions.

[Escapee..]

In addition to the above:

 

The worrying trend is that year on year, the numbers are dropping. It’s not one event, but more the majority of road races. Has the appeal to riding a race faded?

 

Based on Strava, I’d say yes. Lots of people I know didn’t do a number of events they’d normally do. Heck, I’ve skipped 2 big road races this year, as well as 3 running races, purely because I wasn’t interested. Been there done that.

 

Before kids:

 

Berge & Dale

Ride 4 sight

Emperors

Nissan Trailseeker

Sani2C 

Sondela 

Winter Fast one MTB

Rand Water

Carnival

94.7

 

After Kids:

Averaged 4 events per year 

 

Budget and time should allow for a bit more from next year, I hope