leon_pro Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 Just a quick one, Does anyone know or can anyone confirm if the Lourensford Classic 2023 entry fee is correct @ R700. Or can anyone confirm if its worth the R700 for 59km 1600m race? The entry fee is what some trails year permits cost. I see a day riding permit at the farm is R250. Look i see you get a Hamburger, chips and cooldrink at the end, but surely for an event that takes place on their farm, with minimal to no road closures needed. This is not a venting post, i just want to know if its worth it? Selwyn Crotz 1
BuffsVintageBikes Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 I noticed that fleecing as well. What makes it worse is that this is the first event on the Marathon calendar so it's not like you can just sit it out if you're going for points. I'm trusting the goodie bag and water points are going to be pretty damn spectacular for that entry fee. leon_pro, Kom and DieselnDust 2 1
ChrisF Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 Actually had to check the date .... EXACT same question was asked last year. Lourensford is aimed at "corporate" riders. If you (ME) have to look at the entry fee then this one is not aimed at you ..... leon_pro 1
ChrisF Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 We can drive to Worcester and do any of their stunning MTB events for less than the entry fee to Lourensford .... Okay, current fuel price is tipping the balance, but you get my point Me rida my bicycle 1
Murrob Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 (edited) I’ve never ridden there myself, but have heard that it is very good. I have tried to head out there but then discovered they have weird timings for when one can ride there, specific days and times. Which seems a bit odd, but it’s going to have to be next level amazing for a R250 buck entry. I see not even the Winelands regional board gets you in. So R700 for the race does seem rough. And given that I work for a large corporate, I guess I am the target market… Edited March 23, 2023 by Murrob Added to post ChrisF and leon_pro 2
Stephan Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 I'm not a member there (don't live close enough to justify it), but Lourensford is a spectacular place to ride. I agree this entry price is very steep though, but AFAIK its a private business that runs the mtb club (and I assume this event), so they need to cover their costs and make a bit of profit. I did a ride there a few weeks ago and was a bit miffed at the R250 daily permit fee, but then I spent two hours in the mountain on superb trails and I was a happy chappy. So I've paid the R700 entry and guess that by the end of race I will again be a happy chappy. Kom and leon_pro 2
dirtypot Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 That's madness. I've ridden there, and the trails are nice but they're not R700 for a day nice. Headshot, nonky, Me rida my bicycle and 3 others 6
Headshot Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 1 minute ago, Stephan said: I'm not a member there (don't live close enough to justify it), but Lourensford is a spectacular place to ride. I agree this entry price is very steep though, but AFAIK its a private business that runs the mtb club (and I assume this event), so they need to cover their costs and make a bit of profit. I did a ride there a few weeks ago and was a bit miffed at the R250 daily permit fee, but then I spent two hours in the mountain on superb trails and I was a happy chappy. So I've paid the R700 entry and guess that by the end of race I will again be a happy chappy. Make a bit of profit?1? lol ... I'd say the entry fee is extortionate and exclusionary no matter how spectacular the trails are, as is R250 for a day permit. Jonkershoek still has the best views and trails in the greater CT area and it costs but R60 for a day permit. The JH enduro will cost you R450 for an event that will provide a tough work out and views for days. MTB has strayed way too far from its roots thanks to the corporatization of the sport. I recall riding Lourensford races many years ago for the then standard entry fee of R50 or maybe less... funnyman, Rouxenator and leon_pro 3
Max Headroom Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 Membership available – Primary school R500 pa & High school R1000 pa. Adults R2500 pp pa Ride on ONLY Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. bwahahahaha ! Me rida my bicycle, BuffsVintageBikes, leon_pro and 2 others 2 1 2
Shebeen Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 6 minutes ago, Headshot said: Make a bit of profit?1? lol ... I'd say the entry fee is extortionate and exclusionary no matter how spectacular the trails are, as is R250 for a day permit. That is a new level for a day permit, does it include the hamburger and stuff? Never seen one over R100. back to the question of profit I doubt the gross revenue figure of Lourensford pty(ltd) sees much of a blip if it is R250 or R50 pp per day, it's probably higher just to keep the riff raff out (exclusionary is the nail on the head term). I doubt the permit fees even comes close to paying for the trail maintenance. It is in short, a vanity exercise. Let's not forget who owns Lourensford pty(ltd), a certain mr Wiese. He got a pay out of R7bn last year, That is a lot of money, you could pay the extortionate day permit rate and ride 28 million times with that. But it is a settlement where he took about a 90% haircut. In short he's not so worried about the money if it's not worth the effort. bespokes, nonky and Headshot 3
DuncanDoughnuts Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 I blame E-bikers for the high costs.... W Smith, PhilipV, leon_pro and 4 others 1 5 1
Headshot Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 1 minute ago, DuncanDoughnuts said: I blame E-bikers for the high costs.... Well I guess when your bike costs R100k for entry level people start thinking you have deep pockets... DuncanDoughnuts and Rouxenator 1 1
Shebeen Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 1 hour ago, Max Headroom said: Membership available – Primary school R500 pa & High school R1000 pa. Adults R2500 pp pa Ride on ONLY Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. bwahahahaha ! Went to go have a look. It's R145 per person to ride. Not cheap, but not R250. Got to use it a lot to break even
leon_pro Posted March 23, 2023 Author Posted March 23, 2023 8 minutes ago, Shebeen said: Went to go have a look. It's R145 per person to ride. Not cheap, but not R250. Got to use it a lot to break even https://www.clayad.co.za/mtblourensford/ - They note it to be R250. https://lourensford.co.za/experience/#MTB - Out of towners R145 pp per session.
babse Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 This race forms part of the WP XCM series as i re-call? Entry fee is nuts regardless how good they think the trails are. DieselnDust, BuffsVintageBikes and nonky 1 1 1
leon_pro Posted March 23, 2023 Author Posted March 23, 2023 Just now, babse said: This race forms part of the WP XCM series as i re-call? Entry fee is nuts regardless how good they think the trails are. Hence the issue.... they kind of force you to pay if you want to score points in the XCM series. The other races are not that expensive in the same series. babse and DieselnDust 2
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