What dieter did makes sense. I'm sure he ran it at a loss last year even with the huge fields. More fields means more cops more officials more this more that more more more more...
Supply and Demand. At the prices last year ($45?) he filled what 3 cat 4 fields. Certainly $ was not a limiting factor and that's an ungainly number of racers and it led to totally eff'd results.
Raising the entry fee makes sense. People came out because it is an awesome race. Where else can you get that kind of experience. Heck people pay nearly 4x as much to do Mt Washington. Talk about expensive.
Put it all in perspective. i'd love to do Mt Washington just to do it but I can't justify, much less afford, to spend that kind of money to race. I'd like to go do battenkill again, but I can't justify the drive out to pay $75 to race around and get dropped. Because without a doubt even if i get down to 5% body fat and really train hard and intelligently I'll still probably get dropped.
That and i've finally (after 3-4 years) come to the realization that i'm a big guy and I have more fun and do better on those boring flat crit things (ala thompson speedway). I'd rather pony up and do two or three races at an event like that than get my ass whupped at battenkill.
Here are a few other povs from the local tubes
http://stokepoges.blogspot.com/2009/11/take-stand.html (pulled i guess)
exit17: calling-the-whambulance-bike-races-are-expensive/
euphoriabeforetotalimplosion: creeping-fees-in-competitive-cycling.html (I'm diggin Dylan's comments there towards the bottom)
When it comes down to it $75 isn't that much. It is what a Verge weekend costs. When you look at traveling to VT/Catamount it probably is cheaper to race at Battenkill. And at least battenkill you get one long ass hard hilly wicked competitive (drop your ass) well supported race vs two grassy hilly slog fests. Me I'd rather do the cross stuff but, I tell ya. I hate battenkill (the race) but I love it just the same.
3 years in a row, there was a reason I kept coming back. Last year I had pretty much decided not to return, this new price structure sort of doesn't make it likely that I'll change my mind. Which is a good thing. We've got some great roads out west of the big city, plenty of dirt and rolling hills. Maybe one of the guys on the team will do it and need some company on training rides. That's enough for me.
So. Yeah, nothing ground breaking or different or what not. I wish Dieter all the best and to everyone heading out there, have fun. The race is still way cheaper than the other "epic" (overused i know) races (VT50, Great Glen 24hrs, Mt Washington...). And unlike D2R2, it is actually a race, that is if you don't suck and get dropped, and even then, you're still racing.
And Racing is different than riding around. Even a smack down isn't a race.
That's why cross is so cool. No pretending, you race or you ain't a cyclocrosser.
heddwch
G
Footnote:
Shedd Park Comments:
-Fix the start/finish so it makes sense and works for the field sizes
-put officials on platform with start/finish fencing (metal or snow fence- ala Plymouth N/S, NoHo)
-hire a results service (JD or Attwood for example)
-make sure there are HUP cakes next year
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5 comments:
Wow RMM gets 34 comments already and you don't have any. What a loser you must be! I'll be the first because I'm a benevolent mofo and I feel sorry for losers.
Bike racers of late tend to gravitate toward high quality in most of their purchases. For example, over on RMM's blog you will read about his preference for Edge wheels, high-end framesets, and fancy clothes. That seems to be the norm these days. Of course, high quality often comes with a high cost, and it's up to the buyer to determine if the end result is a good value.
By the same token, low cost does not always mean good value. Case in point, last week's race at Shedd Park. Need I say more? I can't really say whether or not Battenkill 2010 will be a good value at $75, but I think I can say it's likely to be worth three times as much as the Shedd Park CX.
I hope the quality of Battenkill is improved this year over last too. $75 is a lot for a one day race, so in order for it to be a good value they need to do better than last year. But really an extra $30 is not going to make or break any bike racer. I can make that up by skipping Shedd Park next year. The real issue here, to me, is the precedent being set. Comparing Battenkill with a triathlon or hillclimb is apples to oranges in a way, as we bike racers compete 30-50 or more times per year, whereas triathletes and hillclimbers tend to only enter a handfull of races in a season. The other big issue to me is why/how Battenkill can open registration so early. I thought it was against the rules to put up registration before you get your permit, but since the 2010 rulebook is not even out yet, who knows?
thanks for the love Solobreak.
Honestly i have to cut and paste RMM's content because it gives me a headache to try and read it in his "chosen colors."
Good point about hill climbs and Tris vs Battenkill.
Based on the last few years i have no incentive to sign up early even if i decide to go.
Why?
Well everyone who has wanted to race has been able to race. There are enough drops/withdrawals to empty out the wait lists.
I was trying to make the argument (not directly enough) that Battenkill is probably equal value to a Verge race like Vermont.
$30 increase is one other race you have to skip. Or maybe two or three training races like wells ave.
Worried about the $30, maybe you need to use BLACK bar tape so you aren't changing it 3x a year.
If money is that tight, focus on things like that.
$75 is more of a shock than anything else.
And it is borderline somewhere between a hill climb and a normal road race. It is an event you focus on.
That $75 is probably well spent training motivation. W/O battenkill to use as a focal point those who skip this year for the fist time probably will hit the summer slower.
Verge CX races are a good example of a higher cost race still being a better value. There were cries of protest at the start of the season when these races came up at $35. I wasn't so happy about it either. After all, these are not 3 hour road races, they are only 40 minutes long. But, having raced at seven of them this year, and then gone back to the much-beloved "grassroots" races like Shedd Park, I gotta say the Verge races are worth every penny. Bottom line is that (until Battenkill came out at $75) most one day races are have roughly similar entry fees, even though they vary wildly in quality. The problem is that you're paying in advance of knowing what you'll get, at least to some extent. If $75 becomes the norm, but some races still fail to deliver quality, then we get boned. If fees go up but races get better and better, and promoters make money and have incentive to continue, then we all win.
Upon introspection, I agree that I agree that the precedent of $75 race fees is more disturbing than the actual fee itself.
As for quality to price ratio, Battenkill isn't delivering. In the cat 3 race (can't remember which color) We had people flat out of the lead group with >10 miles to go and not get wheels in a time to even get in chase group.
Furthermore, the road was studded with riders were had flatted out of chase groups who were just plain not getting wheels. They walked, many of them for more than 10 miles. I would expect more for my $45, let alone $75.
As for Shedd Park if you email me offline, I'd be happy to note your concerns and if CB helps out with Shedd next year, I'll make sure that those concerns are considered when planning.
You should have gone to Easthampton. Course is better and the promoters give all the money to a charity.
Sincerly hope Battenkill isn't a sign of things to come. Road racing is already really hurting around here. 1600 x 45 = $ 72000. Thats a lot of money raised for an event.
Last time I checked we're not in Iraq so it's your decision on whether to go or not.
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