Is mountainbiking on a decline?

[martelpypie]

I have noticed that at some of the major races, fewer riders are taking part?

Is it due to the costs involved to get there?

Are race entry fees to high?

Are people losing interest?

Are there to many races on the calender?

The economic situation in the country?

Riders dont want to do the same race year after year?

Are races not accessible to the majority of riders? ie distance to race.

What can it be?

Am I wrong with my assumption?

 

At the Dirty Harry  - 149 entrants in marathon and 168 in half marathon

Oudtshoorn Chandelier: 70 entrants in marathon and 119 in half marathon

50 Miler: 128 entrants in marathon and 260 in half marathon

 

We have seen the same thing happening here in the Border area this year.

Is this also happening in the rest of the country?

 

[andre_ct]

just today Pedal Talk said that MTB'ing is the fastest growing sport....so go figure ????

[No Name]

I noticed here in PE that mtb is growing like crazy.  There are so many roadies coming and trying mtb, and they love it.  I don't think it is going down. Not at all.

[HammerHed]

Nearly 4000 entrants for the 94.7 mtb race.

 

Over a 1000 entrants for the Cradle 2 Cave.

 

Go Figure!

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

Nope, MTB is very healthy. Healthier than ever before actually (should be getting some figures soon to back this up). Just because a race is part of the Mazda MTN Series, doesn't mean it'll attract thousands.

 

Chandelier is a newish event and quite remote so difficult for the masses to reach, while 50 Miler took place in soggy conditions, no doubt putting off a lot of KZNatalians. Dirty Harry isn't the most attractive event and it's also at the wrong time of year to get big numbers, but I think the date is changing for 09 and the course has been adjusted.

 

Race numbers can also depend on what else is on that same weekend. There have been some unfortunate calendar clashes which have definitely affected race numbers at certain events (e.g. - Hill2Hill and Karoo to Coast were on the same weekend again this year).

 

There are also more MTB races on the calendar than ever before, which means a natural dilution of entrants in certain events. Rhodes Challenge used to be one of THE races about 10 years back, now they're lucky if they get 200 riders as there is far more choice.

 

Add to this more MTBs-specific parks in the major cities, an upgrade to UCI Level 2 for all Mazda MTN XC/DH races in 09, MTB World Cup in Pmb in April 09, Absa Cup UCI-points events in Gauteng in May, Absa Cape Epic in March and long waiting lists for Imana Wild Ride, York Timbers Sabie Experience and Subaru Sani2C stage races and you have a very impressive state of mountain biking SA.

 

 

 

 

 

Sean Badenhorst2008-11-30 13:55:23

[HammerHed]

Yeah Sean I agree with you.

 

Why did Crater Cruise get dropped from the MTN series?

 

Why were there less MTN series races this year?

 

I try do as many as I can the Marathon distance but this year there were only 4 I could have realstically done that were not too difficult to get to from Gauteng.

 

[martelpypie]

Thats good news. The bike shops should also be smiling

[Li Mu Bai]

This year there were 7 Mazda Drifter races, I attended 6, the Chandelier was just too much of a mission to attempt. Also when it rains in KZN the natalians stay away for good reason. The KZN mud sucks. Hill to Hill was aweful in that thick gooey mess.

The Dirty Harry was great actually, better doing the route opposite to last year. Most of the other smaller races I did were well attended, so I think MTB is alive and well.

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

Yeah Sean I agree with you.

 

Why did Crater Cruise get dropped from the MTN series?

 

Why were there less MTN series races this year?

 

I try do as many as I can the Marathon distance but this year there were only 4 I could have realstically done that were not too difficult to get to from Gauteng.

 

 

The Mazda MTN Series is constantly evolving. I think that when they include a large, existing event in the Series (eg Knynsa), there are problems with things like timing (different systems) and sometimes sponsor clashes. Looks to me like they're now incorporating smaller events or new events and building them up.

 

I think they dropped from 10 to 7 events this year to make the Series more focussed and less logistically challenging (last year I did all 10!). With 10 events, your best 7 counted, whereas with 7 events your best 5 count. They're also trying to keep the Ferdevco Half-marathon Series tightly linked to the Marathon Series and some events (eg Karoo to Coast) don't have two distances.

 

Also, they incorporated the 5 rounds of the XC/DH SA Cup this year, which took the Series organisers up from 10 events in 07 to 13 in total in 08 so their overall workload increased.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

mp, I think mountain biking is evolving as well. Whereas people in the past relied on a race to get them out and ride peeps are now doing it themselves. Races are becoming quite expensive and there is probably less of a fun ride mentality than in the past.

[Tumbleweed]

i think it's wrong to link race atendances to the health of the sport. i lot of people are just getting out there and riding. the proliferation of mtb facilities is testament to this.

[Canaris]

i think it's wrong to link race atendances to the health of the sport. i lot of people are just getting out there and riding. the proliferation of mtb facilities is testament to this.

 

Mtbking is more than a sport.  THe competitive element is only the tip of nthe iceberg.  There is an increase in the number of facilities an riders.  Groenkloof is wall to wall cyclists (they even turn people away these days)  Northern farms parking lot ios always full, Rietvlei nature reserve (PTA) is now open for cyclists to releave the load on Groenkloof.  THE farm roads north of PTA are clogged with Mtbkers on weekends.  (And that is only PTA area.

[TYGA]

I think we saw the same thing with Surski paddling when it first became popular around 8 years ago...lead times for new boats were 10 weeks and record numbers of entrants at Sunday dices. A few years down the line, everyone has their own riding buddies, they know where to go ride, and they can do so at their own leisure, hence less having to mission to races to ride when events are on, rather than when it suits the riders. XTC12008-12-01 01:21:25

[Tims]

We can see the increase in the Free State as well but with costs people are doing more on their own. Families and friends organise their own rides. It is a much more social and fun. We are a group that where roadies for years but al changed to Mtb's . It is just so much easier and fun to do it with the family.

[sampie]

I did a few races less this year, adding up the travel, entry fee & accomodation it becomes to $$$$$$.

[Kranswurm]

Costs of riding events what with entrance fees,accommodation and fuel has become prohibitive.

Couple that to crowds of eg 4000 at the 94.7,2000 at Knysna and the same at Sabie.The last thing I go to rides for is to stand in line at a crossing or technical section.

 

Bugger that.I ride from my front door and most of it is on single track.