In uk.rec.cycling.moderated on 03 Mar 2020 16:41:46 +0000 (GMT)
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

What on earth are they doing with L25 per rider ? The website
mentions a recovery service if you decide to pack - but for L25 you
could just call a taxi to take you to the nearest train station
and have enough cash left over for a pub lunch and probably some beer
to drown your sorrows.

Usually it's backend organisation, people at the stops and supplies,
and sometimes very expensive but mandated police presence and traffic management.

The latter is the usual way to stop things the cops don't want here.

Zebee

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An irc channel I'm on was discussing this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46597415
L117 for a charity to enter someone in the Great North Run. Jeez.

I wondered how cycling events compared, so I looked up the London to
Cambridge. It seems less commercially sewn up and less fraudulent,
but still, L25 entry.

What on earth are they doing with L25 per rider ? The website
mentions a recovery service if you decide to pack - but for L25 you
could just call a taxi to take you to the nearest train station
and have enough cash left over for a pub lunch and probably some beer
to drown your sorrows.

--
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> These opinions are my own.

If I emailed you from an address @fyvzl.net or @evade.org.uk, that is
a private address which bypasses my fierce spamfilter.

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I assumed most of the £25 was supposed to go to the breast cancer charity.

Since I usually plan on missing the official start I just give the money straight to the charity and turn up anyway, which the organisers would probably rightly be a bit annoyed about if they knew.

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In article <slrnr5u6ke.i37.zebeej@gmail.com>,
Zebee Johnstone <zebeej@gmail.com> wrote:

In uk.rec.cycling.moderated on 03 Mar 2020 16:41:46 +0000 (GMT)
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

What on earth are they doing with L25 per rider ? The website
mentions a recovery service if you decide to pack - but for L25 you
could just call a taxi to take you to the nearest train station
and have enough cash left over for a pub lunch and probably some beer
to drown your sorrows.

Usually it's backend organisation, people at the stops and supplies,

I haven't ever been on an event like this. Do you get a "free"
lunch then ?

and sometimes very expensive but mandated police presence and traffic >management.

Oh, god, I hadn't thought of that. I can see how that would eat up
LLLLL.

--
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> These opinions are my own.

If I emailed you from an address @fyvzl.net or @evade.org.uk, that is
a private address which bypasses my fierce spamfilter.

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Quoting Guy Gadboit <benc.may09@googlemail.com>:

I assumed most of the £25 was supposed to go to the breast cancer charity.

I fear one is meant to assume that, but it doesn't. It goes to the event company, who are not AFAIK a non-profit. Hence, I think the answer to
"what do they do with the £25" is partially "trouser it".

Since I usually plan on missing the official start I just give the money >straight to the charity and turn up anyway, which the organisers would >probably rightly be a bit annoyed about if they knew.

Seems sensible, especially since you don't have to agree to their damnfool rules.
--
David Damerell <damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Clown shoes. I hope that doesn't bother you.
Today is Epithumia, March - a weekend.
Tomorrow will be Olethros, March - a weekend.

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On 04/03/2020 10:05, David Damerell wrote:

Quoting Guy Gadboit <benc.may09@googlemail.com>:

I assumed most of the £25 was supposed to go to the breast cancer charity.

I fear one is meant to assume that, but it doesn't. It goes to the event company, who are not AFAIK a non-profit. Hence, I think the answer to
"what do they do with the £25" is partially "trouser it".

I believe the usual arrangement is that entrants' fees cover the cost of running the event (including profit for the event company), and they're expected to raise some additional amount for the charity through
sponsorship.

That's what's always put me off (along with silly rules about types of
bike and magic hats). Who's going to sponsor me to go for a bike ride?
Let the place go to someone for whom it's actually a decent challenge.


Kim.
--

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Quoting Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk>:

Zebee Johnstone <zebeej@gmail.com> wrote:

Usually it's backend organisation, people at the stops and supplies,

I haven't ever been on an event like this. Do you get a "free"
lunch then ?

Not IIRC, but they do have mechanics at various sites on the route and I
think they pass out stuff like replacement tubes for free. I'm not sure because, as you know, I carry all that stuff anyway.
--
David Damerell <damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Clown shoes. I hope that doesn't bother you.
Today is Epithumia, March - a weekend.
Tomorrow will be Olethros, March - a weekend.

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In article <gPl*E99Lx@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
David Damerell <damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Quoting Guy Gadboit <benc.may09@googlemail.com>:

Since I usually plan on missing the official start I just give the money >>straight to the charity and turn up anyway, which the organisers would >>probably rightly be a bit annoyed about if they knew.

Seems sensible, especially since you don't have to agree to their damnfool >rules.

Are you referring to h*lm*ts ? If so they seem to be optional. They
have lot of imprecations and recommendations and say they will be
selling them but they notably *don't* say they're mandatory.

https://www.bike-events.co.uk/Ride.aspx?id=678&n=y https://www.bike-events.co.uk/FAQs.aspx

The FAQ does have some damnfool stuff about tagalongs and dogs.
Also I notice a prohibition on tribars!

Also the Ts&Cs have this
| Cycling can be a dangerous activity and I accept that the
| organisers cannot be held responsible for personal injury,
| accident, loss, damage or public liability
which is clearly unlawful but it's unenforceable so "whatever".

--
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> These opinions are my own.

If I emailed you from an address @fyvzl.net or @evade.org.uk, that is
a private address which bypasses my fierce spamfilter.

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