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It was pouring with rain today, if it had gone ahead there would have been accidents everywhere.jasonc wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 9:14 amSydney to gong cancelled
https://www.msgongride.org.au/blog/event-notification
Cancelling it as 6am was I guess a case of better late than never. I was woken up a 2:30am by rain pounding down on our roof. It continued all morning. I think any sane person would not have have bothered heading out to the start.g-boaf wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 1:21 pmIt was pouring with rain today, if it had gone ahead there would have been accidents everywhere.jasonc wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 9:14 amSydney to gong cancelled
https://www.msgongride.org.au/blog/event-notification
Unfortunate for people who rode out to the start in pouring rain. But I suppose the trend now is people put their bike in the car to drive to the ride, then drive back.
I was hoping to do my regular ride today and even set my alarm to wake up. So I did that, heard the rain then went back to sleep. Not worth going out in that and all the risks, as you rightly point out.queequeg wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 5:43 pmCancelling it as 6am was I guess a case of better late than never. I was woken up a 2:30am by rain pounding down on our roof. It continued all morning. I think any sane person would not have have bothered heading out to the start.g-boaf wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 1:21 pmIt was pouring with rain today, if it had gone ahead there would have been accidents everywhere.jasonc wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 9:14 amSydney to gong cancelled
https://www.msgongride.org.au/blog/event-notification
Unfortunate for people who rode out to the start in pouring rain. But I suppose the trend now is people put their bike in the car to drive to the ride, then drive back.
The same thing pretty much killed off XC Endurance racing several years ago, even before it became an Untrendy branch of MTBing. Riders simply wouldn't commit to an event several months out if there was a possibility the weather might be nasty on the day. Race organisers need an indication of adequate commitment (i.e. paid-up entries) in order to be able to pay for necessary services, often at least in part, in advance of the event. If they don't get sufficient entries a decent time before the event, there's a big risk that they'll be facing bills the received entries won't cover.Dodgy-Knee wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:56 pmI received an email from Westcycle today saying that the Dams Challenge 2024 event has been cancelled… cost, insurance, turnout, weather, Covid and general lack of enthusiasm (?) were the main culprits… I don’t know where they got the lack of enthusiasm from… maybe the organizers thought it was all too hard… :-/
Anyway, more details and the full blurb from Westcycle is on their website.
I last rode the Dams a year or two before Covid shut down the event… we had about 1400 entries and it was fantastic… a huge turn out and great weather. I wanted to ride last year but I was going to be away on the day of the event so I had to give it a miss… not sure of the turnout and the weather was rainy for most of the day but a guy I spoke to who rode said it was one of the more enjoyable Dams rides he had done. I can remember about 5 years ago when we had three big/competitive grand fondo rides here in Perth … now it’s just sweet FA as far as the eye can see…. Maybe I’ll save my pennies and have a crack at the Taiwan KOM one day.Duck! wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:32 pmThe same thing pretty much killed off XC Endurance racing several years ago, even before it became an Untrendy branch of MTBing. Riders simply wouldn't commit to an event several months out if there was a possibility the weather might be nasty on the day. Race organisers need an indication of adequate commitment (i.e. paid-up entries) in order to be able to pay for necessary services, often at least in part, in advance of the event. If they don't get sufficient entries a decent time before the event, there's a big risk that they'll be facing bills the received entries won't cover.Dodgy-Knee wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:56 pmI received an email from Westcycle today saying that the Dams Challenge 2024 event has been cancelled… cost, insurance, turnout, weather, Covid and general lack of enthusiasm (?) were the main culprits… I don’t know where they got the lack of enthusiasm from… maybe the organizers thought it was all too hard… :-/
Anyway, more details and the full blurb from Westcycle is on their website.
So that's where "lack of enthusiasm" comes into the picture.
Now that'd be one to be able to do !!Dodgy-Knee wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 12:19 am.... Maybe I’ll save my pennies and have a crack at the Taiwan KOM one day.
Do the same for Haute Route Alps and Pyrenees too, pretty soon. They are the biggest and most complicated of the lot to do, massive 7 day events, lots of staff, support, accommodation,sometimes road closures, etc.Dodgy-Knee wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 12:19 amMaybe I’ll save my pennies and have a crack at the Taiwan KOM one day.
I am on committees in a couple of not-for-profit organisations and my observation is that is a broader (dare I say post-COVID?) thing.
I completed the 3 Dams, and failed the 5 after being unwell and underdone in the leadup, it's a shame that such mass ride events may become a thing of the past because I do like the energy and vibe of them.I believe this is having an enormous impact. Disposable incomes are diminishing and cycling events would not be a priority for people struggling to make mortgage and car loan repayments.
Zwift found a market that works well, indoor cycling with a social aspect across the world. People have limited time as well so it's easy to jump on to Zwift and do your riding, if you get interrupted by work or other things, you stop, do what you need to do and get going again. You aren't huge distances away from home.LateStarter wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:15 pmIt is probably mentioned up thread but I blame Zwift and all the others. Virtual cycling may have originally been an adjunct to "real" outside cycling but has now increasingly become a substitute. Especially in Oz where you risk abuse or actual harm from inattentive, distracted, hostile and don't care motorists who are generally supported by our respected media and authorities (who don't care either). It is just easier to Zwift than to cycle outside and thus when it comes to events many people have lost the road skills, cold/wet conditioning and desire to ride outside. Even the hard women / men of Audax are getting soft, indicated by the Oz contingent for 2023 PBP being 50% (120>60) of what it was at its peak (in 2007) while the rest of the world have increased, overall by 50% and some countries by 200-300%. While I don't Zwift I am guilty too and often take to the smart trainer in the garage rather that going out because it is a bit cool or damp!
Actually Snowy Classic is on Saturday 23rd.
haha I wish. You are right though, different days but little chance people will do both.
Some who previously were in the sport might have bailed out after covid - maybe they got too unfit after covid (or long term effects from covid) or just lost interest in riding.caneye wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:07 pmIn 1 of his recent podcasts, Chris Miller remarked on the changing demography of mass event participants.
I have noticed that too - not your usual MAMILs but a much younger crowd and often a healthy mix of males and females.
There is A LOT of new riders who came into the sport in the past few years, during Covid.
Some have stopped but many have continued riding.
However - they are not into clubs, racing, nor long-distance events.
I think you'll see some event numbers slowly grow based on their participation alone. I thought this was quite evident in the shorter distances of Bowral Classic.
I am one of these new people and have gotten into cycling in a big way, have done just under 35,000 km since May 2020. I train with a triathalon club and we also have quite a few people who are 'pandemic cyclists' like myself. Quite a few of us are cyclists only and most of us do the classics rides.caneye wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:07 pmIn 1 of his recent podcasts, Chris Miller remarked on the changing demography of mass event participants.
I have noticed that too - not your usual MAMILs but a much younger crowd and often a healthy mix of males and females.
There is A LOT of new riders who came into the sport in the past few years, during Covid.
Some have stopped but many have continued riding.
However - they are not into clubs, racing, nor long-distance events.
I think you'll see some event numbers slowly grow based on their participation alone. I thought this was quite evident in the shorter distances of Bowral Classic.
A problem is that Westcycle is trying to be too many things at once: a commercial organiser of non-races, some sort of UCI-like “peak body” for the various sporting clubs and an advocate for cycling-as-transport & vulnerable road users. All while not upsetting the government and other sources of funding.Dodgy-Knee wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:08 amThe opening banner says in large, loud headlines “More people riding bikes more often” … I think their website needs an update :-/
Zwift can't be blamed for the inaction of authorities to crack down on dangerous motorist behaviour and the equally dangerous media behaviour (the folk who stir up this anger).LateStarter wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:15 pmIt is probably mentioned up thread but I blame Zwift and all the others. Virtual cycling may have originally been an adjunct to "real" outside cycling but has now increasingly become a substitute. Especially in Oz where you risk abuse or actual harm from inattentive, distracted, hostile and don't care motorists who are generally supported by our respected media and authorities (who don't care either). It is just easier to Zwift than to cycle outside and thus when it comes to events many people have lost the road skills, cold/wet conditioning and desire to ride outside. Even the hard women / men of Audax are getting soft, indicated by the Oz contingent for 2023 PBP being 50% (120>60) of what it was at its peak (in 2007) while the rest of the world have increased, overall by 50% and some countries by 200-300%. While I don't Zwift I am guilty too and often take to the smart trainer in the garage rather that going out because it is a bit cool or damp!