The death of mass ride events in Australia?

[AUbicycles]

One factor could be trends… seasoned riders have a lot of ride options and don’t need to join a mass participation rides. For charitable rides… the fundraising suffers with insurance costs and paying for services that were previously not an added cost. If the ride is now awareness and fundraising suffers… it is hard to justify.

I would argue that in place of big rides are small ‘specialty’ rides like small fundraising tours or friends who plan a tour.


Protest / demo rides are an option for me (Germany), slow moving and backed by the national advocacy body. Once a year some Autobahns are closed and are just for bikes. Unlike spring cycle, it is more autonomous so no entry costs or fundraising and when groups of riders convene, there may be no police escort or closed roads except for the centralized destinations.

[WyvernRH]

Australia. Go ride in somewhere like Saint-Chaffrey and you’ll see the difference in traffic behaviour. I feel very safe riding on the road in France, even a main road is no problem. Not so here.

I dunno if it has come over in any previous posts on the forum but I didn't come to Australia until later in life after working (and cycling and cycle touring) in several Western European countries twixt Germany and France for many years. Yes, road acceptance of cyclists there, especially in the cities, is better (OK maybe not the southern part of the UK). Still get the morons tho, more especially in the cities - Paris was scary!
However, from my experiences here in Oz (admittedly mainly in NSW) over the last (gosh) 30 years or so I think you paint an exceptionally bitter picture of riding on the road here. It's not great but it is nowhere near as bad as you infer IMHO - not everywhere in the continent anyway....
Maybe cos I've lived and worked mostly in country towns (and Newcastle ) I've had a lot more grief over the years when doing the 30km commute into town on a motorbike than on a bicycle.

Richard

[Dave_rh]

Given all the challenges people mention, It will be interesting to see how the Bowral Classic goes this year.

in its favour, Its conveniently close enough to Sydney, Wollongong and the ACT, to draw lots of people without them needing to pay for overnight accommodation. It seems to be well organised and spoken of highly.

The ride is scenic, challenging enough for most and seems to have fairly good community and sponsor support.

For negatives, it's still expensive to enter, particular in a time that people are watching their wallets.

[troiks75]

I like the classics events but will only be doing the 170km Snowy Classic moving forward due to the roads being closed, worth the $260 fee. I have previously also done Bowral and Mudgee classics which were fun, but expensive considering the roads are not closed. Doing Bowral again this year but it will be the last time.

I loved riding in Mudgee, and will definitely be back but would rather do shorter rides and enjoy the great wines.

[elantra]

Hooray for some good news.
Looks like the Port Douglas Gran Fondo is locked in for 2024.

https://portdouglasgranfondo.com.au/
According to the website, all distance options include closed roads for the 45 km scenic highlights section between Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
This section of roadway is one that is really only suitable for safe use if the road is closed to motor vehicles, which is a definite incentive to take the mass-participation event option here.

[zebee]

However, from my experiences here in Oz (admittedly mainly in NSW) over the last (gosh) 30 years or so I think you paint an exceptionally bitter picture of riding on the road here. It's not great but it is nowhere near as bad as you infer IMHO - not everywhere in the continent anyway....
Maybe cos I've lived and worked mostly in country towns (and Newcastle ) I've had a lot more grief over the years when doing the 30km commute into town on a motorbike than on a bicycle.

Richard

've been riding in Sydney for some years now. I find 99.9% of drivers are fine.

I have had one deliberate arsehole and that was earlier this year so we are talking one in over 15 years of pushbiking. (I have been riding bicycles for longer than that in Sydney but in preference to my motorcycle for only 15 or so)

I've been close passed a few times, and had about as many near-smidsys as I've had on the motorcycle. Or maybe fewer.

I use my bicycles (and tricycle) for transport - commuting and shopping and visiting friends - and am in no ways scared to do so.

Zebee
- living about 17km from Sydney CBD

[Thoglette]

sadly these organisations used to be about trying to make life better for cyclists. now they are just there to run events and make money from them

And then becoming the “peak body”. At least that’s what happened west of the rabbit proof fence.

Meanwhile Audax continues on, fortunately we’ll under the radar.

[g-boaf]

However, from my experiences here in Oz (admittedly mainly in NSW) over the last (gosh) 30 years or so I think you paint an exceptionally bitter picture of riding on the road here. It's not great but it is nowhere near as bad as you infer IMHO - not everywhere in the continent anyway....
Maybe cos I've lived and worked mostly in country towns (and Newcastle ) I've had a lot more grief over the years when doing the 30km commute into town on a motorbike than on a bicycle.

Richard

've been riding in Sydney for some years now. I find 99.9% of drivers are fine.

I have had one deliberate arsehole and that was earlier this year so we are talking one in over 15 years of pushbiking. (I have been riding bicycles for longer than that in Sydney but in preference to my motorcycle for only 15 or so)

I've been close passed a few times, and had about as many near-smidsys as I've had on the motorcycle. Or maybe fewer.

I use my bicycles (and tricycle) for transport - commuting and shopping and visiting friends - and am in no ways scared to do so.

Zebee
- living about 17km from Sydney CBD

Go further south west or further south as I do then you’ll encounter the bad behaviour.

I imagine you are riding big distances in a year and getting very few problems?

[warthog1]

sadly these organisations used to be about trying to make life better for cyclists. now they are just there to run events and make money from them

And then becoming the “peak body”. At least that’s what happened west of the rabbit proof fence.

Meanwhile Audax continues on, fortunately we’ll under the radar.

Even Audax ain't without its' issues with respect to mass start events.

The Alpine Classic (formerly Audax Alpine Classic) was an Australian bicycle event run every Australia Day weekend (late January) in Bright, Victoria. The decision was made to permanently cancel the event as it was being run at a loss. The event is currently managed by O2 Events,[1] having previously been organised by Audax Australia volunteers.[2] Arguably the most difficult single day cycle event in Australia[3] with the 200 km version covering four steep climbs. All distances start at Howitt Park in Bright and are on open roads

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audax_Alpine_Classic

It was a good event

[uart]

Audax Sydney to Newcastle Overnight - $6

Le Tour de Glen William. $2 -- (last time I was there in 2019).


Edit. That was back in 2019 when I stumbled across this event on a ride up to Dungog with a group of friends. Just looking at their FB page and it was $20 a few weeks ago for their 2023 ride.

[Thoglette]

Even Audax ain't without its' issues with respect to mass start events.

…. managed by O2 Events,

And there’s your issue. Trying to turn an Audax into a commercially viable “event”.

[warthog1]

Even Audax ain't without its' issues with respect to mass start events.

…. managed by O2 Events,

And there’s your issue. Trying to turn an Audax into a commercially viable “event”.

My take was that when it became a "mass ride event" as per the title of this thread, Audax found it became unfeasible for them to run without loss.

They seem to do it in other countries though, so our cyclist friendly policies in the "lucky country" probably have a fair bit to do with it.

[Thoglette]

My take was that ….

100% agreement on all points.

[warthog1]

My take was that ….

100% agreement on all points.

Sorry, my reading comprehension here, needs improvement
You probably were saying the same thing more succinctly.

[LateStarter]

Dropping over $100 on a one day event

tour de brisbane is $240 or $260...
brisbane to gold coast is $120
toowoomba ride the range is $120
around the bay in vic is $310 (for the 300km) - the 200k with no ferry ride is still $200.
peaks falls creek is $385

tour de brisbane is on closed roads
around the bay has a ferry ride

sadly these organisations used to be about trying to make life better for cyclists. now they are just there to run events and make money from them

Audax Sydney to Newcastle Overnight - $6

Yes, Audax "rides" still only $6 for all rides. including 1 day/ up to 400km, 2/600km, 3/1000, 4/1200 events, although if not a member you have to also take out 1 month membership/insurance for $15. And you do have to support, feed, accommodate yourself. Newcastle (proposed for 25th November) is 172kms and as it says on the label is "overnight", recent editions had about 300 people so about as "mass" as it gets with all the others being cancelled. Big gaps occur after Hornsby and at times you can feel you are the only rider until you catch a group or one catches you. I have missed it in the last few years, not up to it but will really try this year before the Harbour Bridge "Ramp" makes it too easy or "concerns" for our "safety" gets it banned too. It will be in the Rides calendar in the next few weeks as the schedule for Nov 23 - Oct 24 is finalised, see you there? https://audax.org.au/ride/event-register/

[LateStarter]

tour de brisbane is $240 or $260...
brisbane to gold coast is $120
toowoomba ride the range is $120
around the bay in vic is $310 (for the 300km) - the 200k with no ferry ride is still $200.
peaks falls creek is $385

tour de brisbane is on closed roads
around the bay has a ferry ride

sadly these organisations used to be about trying to make life better for cyclists. now they are just there to run events and make money from them

Audax Sydney to Newcastle Overnight - $6

Yes, Audax "rides" still only $6 for all rides. including 1 day/ up to 400km, 2/600km, 3/1000, 4/1200 events, although if not a member you have to also take out 1 month membership/insurance for $15. And you do have to support, feed, accommodate yourself. Newcastle (proposed for 25th November) is 172kms and as it says on the label is "overnight", recent editions had about 300 people so about as "mass" as it gets with all the others being cancelled. Big gaps occur after Hornsby and at times you can feel you are the only rider until you catch a group or one catches you. I have missed it in the last few years, not up to it but will really try this year before the Harbour Bridge "Ramp" makes it too easy or "concerns" for our "safety" gets it banned too. It will be in the Rides calendar in the next few weeks as the schedule for Nov 23 - Oct 24 is finalised, see you there, hopefully? https://audax.org.au/ride/event-register/

[hunch]

've been riding in Sydney for some years now. I find 99.9% of drivers are fine.

I have had one deliberate arsehole and that was earlier this year so we are talking one in over 15 years of pushbiking. (I have been riding bicycles for longer than that in Sydney but in preference to my motorcycle for only 15 or so)

I've been close passed a few times, and had about as many near-smidsys as I've had on the motorcycle. Or maybe fewer.

I use my bicycles (and tricycle) for transport - commuting and shopping and visiting friends - and am in no ways scared to do so.

Zebee
- living about 17km from Sydney CBD

Sydney is far from homogeneous. Have to wonder what mileage you do to have 1 event in 15 years even so, I'd easily have those numbers reversed!

Generally have very few issues in my immediate vicinity, which is mostly white collar. On another route I frequent in the far west, lucky to get the trip completed without at least one act of bogan idiocy,

[g-boaf]

've been riding in Sydney for some years now. I find 99.9% of drivers are fine.

I have had one deliberate arsehole and that was earlier this year so we are talking one in over 15 years of pushbiking. (I have been riding bicycles for longer than that in Sydney but in preference to my motorcycle for only 15 or so)

I've been close passed a few times, and had about as many near-smidsys as I've had on the motorcycle. Or maybe fewer.

I use my bicycles (and tricycle) for transport - commuting and shopping and visiting friends - and am in no ways scared to do so.

Zebee
- living about 17km from Sydney CBD

Sydney is far from homogeneous. Have to wonder what mileage you do to have 1 event in 15 years even so, I'd easily have those numbers reversed!

Generally have very few issues in my immediate vicinity, which is mostly white collar. On another route I frequent in the far west, lucky to get the trip completed without at least one act of bogan idiocy,

He didn't say what mileage he does. I also had two close passes in a single weekend, one yesterday, another one today. No reason for someone to chop over so quickly when there was nobody ahead for ages.

I think it makes the talk of some of those big long rides where people end up on their own for a while unappealing for some riders for this reason.

I know of a planned big ride being done by a few people and they will have a car following just to try and keep the lunatics at bay.

[jasonc]

Agree with hunch. Check the moron motorists thread

[troiks75]

Given all the challenges people mention, It will be interesting to see how the Bowral Classic goes this year.

in its favour, Its conveniently close enough to Sydney, Wollongong and the ACT, to draw lots of people without them needing to pay for overnight accommodation. It seems to be well organised and spoken of highly.

The ride is scenic, challenging enough for most and seems to have fairly good community and sponsor support.

For negatives, it's still expensive to enter, particular in a time that people are watching their wallets.

I was told 3000 people over multiple rides over the 2 days. It was well organised and people really enjoyed it. At this stage I am undecided about next year. I have already signed up for Snowy and Mudgee Classics so may leave it at that.

[Thoglette]

One mass ride that has survived west of the rabbit proof fence is the Perkins - an annual, two day 2 x 100km fundraiser the MACCA Cancer 200 which raises funds for the Harry Perkins (Cancer) Research Institute.

[tubby74]

The Gong Ride is appalling in this regard. Too many nutters.

80% chance of rain this sunday, 90% chance someone bins it on the run down from the station. was bad enough waiting last year, cold and wet will not be nice if that happens again.

bowral has stopped the shorter distance this year, can an event survive without the entries of more casual riders? MTB events dying are a particular loss - they tend to go through country not accessible outside the events. The fling through the vineyards as you head for home, capital punishment cross the defence lands.

[g-boaf]

The Gong Ride is appalling in this regard. Too many nutters.

80% chance of rain this sunday, 90% chance someone bins it on the run down from the station. was bad enough waiting last year, cold and wet will not be nice if that happens again.

bowral has stopped the shorter distance this year, can an event survive without the entries of more casual riders? MTB events dying are a particular loss - they tend to go through country not accessible outside the events. The fling through the vineyards as you head for home, capital punishment cross the defence lands.

Unless you make every downhill maximum 30km/h someone will crash. Maybe they still might.

And if a crash, sure enough likely cancelled next year.

Something like Haute Route had an experienced crowd of riders and even that is now falling on difficult times.

Only Alps and Pyrenees running so far next year, by France Velo Evenements (which is basically licensed to run the event)…

The days of all these events seem to be going going and gone…

[AndrewCowley]

Looks like Sydney’s Bobbin Head Classic is still a go’er for March this year. A very well organised event and a great ride too. Far superior to the Gong ride in every way.

[jasonc]

Sydney to gong cancelled
https://www.msgongride.org.au/blog/event-notification