Thank you, Chad for your openness and candor on this topic and sharing with us your history and knowledge. It's truly insightful, but I do want to point out one small thing. Community involvement.
I also think a decline in member retention / new members /events, also fall on all OBRA member's shoulders; we haven't been as close as a community as we have in the past. In the past, we had a motto of "OBRA TID" type attitude, [OBRA Till I Die], times change, we grow complacent, things are good until they're not. This is our wake up call, to find a way to get the ole ORBA TID momentum back and decide as a collective group how we want to move forward.
A few people doing the majority of the work isn't sustainable, and we are starting to see the impact of burnout as well as the other items you listed below.
I know this community will bounce back and move forward, but first, we need to vent all the problems then get to work fixing them. I know that sounds cliche, but it's true.
I would encourage people to show up at Saturday's annual meeting with ideas in hand so that we can make OBRA move forward.
OBRA Join OBRAScheduleResults
State of Cycling, Its Decline, and Events
��� Newer OBRA Chat Older ���
Rick Johnson
January 26, 2017 at 11:38 AM Reply
Well spoken Chad. Thank you.
Rick
Rick Johnson
Bend, Oregon
On 1/26/2017 11:18 AM, Chad Sperry via
OBRA wrote:
Ok so a lot has been going round and round about
why cycling is declining, why events are going away, and what
can be done about it.������ For the last month I have been
contemplating how to best write this email and best lay out my
humble opinion while creating productive conversation.������ So here
is my attempt and giving insight and background.������ It is up to
everyone to come to conclusion on how to fix it however.
For starters some of you may not know me or my company
Breakaway Promotions.������ My name is Chad Sperry and our company
has been putting on races in Oregon and across the country for
the last 20 years.������ We had humble beginnings cutting our teeth
with the OBRA Hillclimb championships as our very first event,
were with the tremendous help of Candi Murray, were able to
pull off a successful event back in 1997.������ Since then we have
run everything from small grass roots events like Gorge Short
Track to some of the largest in the country like the Tour of
Utah, Cascade Cycling Classic and 20+ national championship
events for USA Cycling, such as Mt. Bike Nationals, Collegiate
Road Nationals, Masters Nationals, Amateur Nationals, Junior
Nationals, Para Nationals etc.������ So I have learned a few things
over the past 20 years about races, rider behaviors, and the
market. ������
For starters lets talk about races and why they are
disappearing.������ Races are not solely funded by your
registration fees.������ Unless you are drawing over 300 riders and
offering little to no prize money, your favorite local races
are being funded by local sponsors and occasionally a national
sponsor.������ Local sponsors sponsor bike races in the hopes that
you will shop, eat, or stay at their establishments when you
come to the race.������ So when you do NOT stay at the official
race hotel, eat at the local sponsoring resaurant, or shop at
the local bike shop you are jepordizing the race by not
supporting the businesses that helped you race that day.������
Period.������ Most of the time funding will be between 25%-50%
covered by sponsors.������ I have always maintained that if I
wanted any kind of paycheck from a race it had to come through
finding sponsors as registration fees did not 100% cover the
cost of the race.������
Putting on races has gotten very very hard ������in the last 5
years.������ In some areas down right impossible.������ Finding a large
single loop road race course today is like finding a unicorn.������
Seriously.������ Why you ask (or maybe you didn't) because of
limited growth and expansion of new roads coupled with major
population growth tying up all the existing roads.������ When was
the last time anyone can remember a brand new "road" being
built and paved in your area.������ Not talking the 1/4 mile piece
of road into a new housing division, I am talking full fledged
several miles road.������ I personally can not think of a new road
in the past 20 years!������ So as our existing paved roads continue
to get more and more traffic agencies have clamped down and
said no to permits.������ This is not just your local roads but
also includes Forest Service and state roads as well.������ For the
past 3 years the Mt. Hood National Forest has allowed NO new
event permits for summer events and there is no plans to open
that up in the near future.������ Deschutes National Forest is
implementing new restrictions just this year for no new events
between July and September. ������ So if I were to try and create
the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Cascade Cycling Classic today
it would be impossible.������ I can remember doing the Blue Lake
Triathlon back in 1992 were the bike course went from Marine
Drive through Troutdale and out to the Corbett Overpass on
Interstate 84.������ We were actually racing our bikes on I-84!!!������
All of you that have been racing 20+ years have a similar
story about a race that no longer exists because traffic no
renders it impossible.������ If we still have access to roads and
city streets the cost to put on an event has sky rocketed.������ To
put on the Stumptown criterium in downtown Portland two year's
ago cost over $40,000 to put on.������ We had $30,000 in
sponsorship money (which is rare we see this much) and $3500
in entry fees.������ Some of you smart accountants just did the
math.������ That means I personally lost $7500.������ The cost of
putting on the Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium in downtown
Bend has literally increased by 10 times.������ No that is not a
mistake the cost is literally 10 times what is was to put on
10 years ago when adding all the new permit fees, required
engineered traffic plans, signage, barricades, man hours,
detours, etc. ������
Another big one is liability.������ Our sue happy country is
strangling us with frivolous law suits.������ New legislation in
Oregon is pushing to eliminate caps and render standard
release waivers useless.������ A number of permitting agencies are
now requiring double the limits on insurance certificates or
just plain denying event permits do to risk. ������ Our sport is
one of the riskiest sports out there.������ Compared to running,
triathlons, or any other endurance sports it has way higher
risk of injury.������ At a large criterium you can expect 30-40
medical occurrences with 4-5 of them resulting in broken
bones. Now compare that to the large marathon we own and
operate, the Columbia Gorge Marathon, were in the past 8 years
we have seen 7 medical occurrences such as, bee stings, and
small abrasions and sprains.������ By the way the marathon has 1500
people a year participating compared to a large crit that has
400. ������
Here is one more thing to consider when discussing races.
������90% of race organizers are volunteers.������ The remaining 10%,
who are professional race organizers, live very very
modestly.������ They do what they do because they love the sport
and have a huge heart for giving back.������ Only one company in
the country that I know of is making a strong 6 figure salary
for putting on bike races and that is because they are putting
on the largest, televised, races in the country.������ Everyone
else is scraping by.������ Wondering how to pay the mounting
medical bills, insurance, feed the kids, and support their
families etc.������ If it was not for my company's half marathon's
and marathons we own and operate I would have filed bankruptcy
year's ago.������ I use the runs to subsidize my cycling habit.������ So
next time you decide to write out that smart ass, snarky email
intended to flame a race promoter I ask you please
reconsider.������ If you think your frustrated and disappointed you
have no idea what that poor promoter is going through.������
Nothing is more discouraging than to donate huge amounts of
time and stress for peanuts and get ridiculed for your
efforts.������ It is a lot of times a thankless job and those kind
of responses have definitely factored into my decision to move
away from promoting more bike races.������ I have a tough skin and
can take it but why should I when there is little to no
reward.
Now the big topic is why are we in such a huge decline.������
Here is my humble theory.������ Actually I have two theories.������ The
first is our society as a whole.������ We are seeing more and more
people moving to inactive entertainment.������ Back when I was a
kid (yep I am an old dude now) our thrill was to ride our BMX
bikes.������ We lived for that.������ We would build sketchy jumps and
bomb down crazy trails.������ Nintendos and Atari's were just
coming onto the market.������ The baby boomer generation and the
one just following it embraced this outdoor physical exertion
and excitement.������ We have seen a huge portion of riders who in
the 80's, 90's and early 2000's were excited to endure long
painful races.������ The challenges were embraced and enjoyed.������
That cross section of riders we have watched cycle through the
ranks (sorry for the pun).������ In the early 90's they were the
25-40 year olds that came out in droves.������ In the 2000's they
were masters racers complaining there was not a 50+ category
but still coming out in force.������ That group is now retiring and
moving on as they hit their mid to late 50's and 60's.������ There
is no large group coming up to fill in and take their place.������
Today's youth as a whole want to entertain themselves with
video games, virtual reality, and other electronics as opposed
to getting out and finding entertainment in nature. ������ I have 4
boys three are in high school.������ I have coached wrestling, and
cross country for the past 12 years.������ Numbers in these sports
have seen a continued decline.������ We see only half the number of
kids turn out compared to what we did back 20 years ago.������ I am
taking this reference from my time coaching in the Gorge and
Central Oregon.������ Portland may be different, but I kind of
doubt it.������
The final reason for a decline is Lance Armstrong.������ Yeah I
know once again Lance is the root of all problems and a slime
bag.������ But before he was a slime bag he was a national hero.������
He was in movies (Dodgeball!) on TV, winning Espy's, dating
Hollywood stars and he was the biggest billboard the sport has
had probably ever had (Greg was a stud but never made it so
mainstream).������ When he raced the tour a nation watched and
followed.������ That is gone.������ Now coverage is a fraction of what
it was to the national audience.������ There is no longer a
professional athlete in the sport of cycling on par with Tom
Brady or Lebron James that is motivating and inspiring
people.������ You can not deny the impact that it had in inspiring
people to try the sport.
Final thought is early season races and bad weather.������ To
conclude that weather is a cause of diminishing numbers is a
little skewed.������ All you need to do is look back at historical
data to come to this conclusion.������ Back in 2005 there were no
less than 12 road events on the calendar before April 3rd
(there are now only 12 events for the entire year!).������ In fact
all three Banana Belt events were completed prior to March
13th!!!������ That same year huge numbers turned out for the Mt.
Hood Cycling Classic and Elkhorn in June and the Cascade
Cycling Classic in late July!������ Granted it is way more fun to
race in nice weather than in snow, rain, and wind in March but
that would take serious self control by the average cyclist to
NOT attend that early March race but wait till May to begin
racing.������ Which I will admit is really hard to do after
investing 3 months riding trainers and in crappy weather. ������
When it has come to our all of our events we have always
placed them in the best time of year for the region and really
never paid attention to trends or rider numbers.������ Our focus
was providing the best quality experience for our
participants.������ So whether is was the Cherry Blossom Cycling
Classic and Gorge Roubaix in The Dalles in April, when weather
is sunny and temps are moderate (you do NOT want to race in
the summer in The Dalles), to the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in
June to Cascade Cycling Classic in July it is has been about
the best conditions and weather for participants.������ If you look
at the 5 biking events we are putting on this year you will
see this continued trend with Gorge Gravel Grinder in April in
The Dalles, High Desert Gravel Grinder in June in Bend, Mt.
Hood Gravel Grinder in July up at elevation and Cascade
Cycling Classic in July also up in the mountains.������ That said I
completely understand why promoters will chase early season
participation especially with numbers being so low now days.������
My sincere apologies for the length of this email.������ I am
not trying to be insensitive of peoples time but to give folks
a peak behind the current of putting on races. My last words
of wisdom to all of you.������ When it comes to your local race
promoters always remember hugs not slugs go a lot farther in
getting the races you want!
Sincerely,
Chad
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
Candi Murray
January 26, 2017 at 11:36 AM Reply
Great great note
Candi
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 26, 2017, at 11:27 AM, Chad Sperry via OBRA wrote:
>
> Ok so a lot has been going round and round about why cycling is declining, why events are going away, and what can be done about it. For the last month I have been contemplating how to best write this email and best lay out my humble opinion while creating productive conversation. So here is my attempt and giving insight and background. It is up to everyone to come to conclusion on how to fix it however.
>
> For starters some of you may not know me or my company Breakaway Promotions. My name is Chad Sperry and our company has been putting on races in Oregon and across the country for the last 20 years. We had humble beginnings cutting our teeth with the OBRA Hillclimb championships as our very first event, were with the tremendous help of Candi Murray, were able to pull off a successful event back in 1997. Since then we have run everything from small grass roots events like Gorge Short Track to some of the largest in the country like the Tour of Utah, Cascade Cycling Classic and 20+ national championship events for USA Cycling, such as Mt. Bike Nationals, Collegiate Road Nationals, Masters Nationals, Amateur Nationals, Junior Nationals, Para Nationals etc. So I have learned a few things over the past 20 years about races, rider behaviors, and the market.
>
> For starters lets talk about races and why they are disappearing. Races are not solely funded by your registration fees. Unless you are drawing over 300 riders and offering little to no prize money, your favorite local races are being funded by local sponsors and occasionally a national sponsor. Local sponsors sponsor bike races in the hopes that you will shop, eat, or stay at their establishments when you come to the race. So when you do NOT stay at the official race hotel, eat at the local sponsoring resaurant, or shop at the local bike shop you are jepordizing the race by not supporting the businesses that helped you race that day. Period. Most of the time funding will be between 25%-50% covered by sponsors. I have always maintained that if I wanted any kind of paycheck from a race it had to come through finding sponsors as registration fees did not 100% cover the cost of the race.
>
> Putting on races has gotten very very hard in the last 5 years. In some areas down right impossible. Finding a large single loop road race course today is like finding a unicorn. Seriously. Why you ask (or maybe you didn't) because of limited growth and expansion of new roads coupled with major population growth tying up all the existing roads. When was the last time anyone can remember a brand new "road" being built and paved in your area. Not talking the 1/4 mile piece of road into a new housing division, I am talking full fledged several miles road. I personally can not think of a new road in the past 20 years! So as our existing paved roads continue to get more and more traffic agencies have clamped down and said no to permits. This is not just your local roads but also includes Forest Service and state roads as well. For the past 3 years the Mt. Hood National Forest has allowed NO new event permits for summer events and there is no plans to open that up in the near future. Deschutes National Forest is implementing new restrictions just this year for no new events between July and September. So if I were to try and create the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Cascade Cycling Classic today it would be impossible. I can remember doing the Blue Lake Triathlon back in 1992 were the bike course went from Marine Drive through Troutdale and out to the Corbett Overpass on Interstate 84. We were actually racing our bikes on I-84!!! All of you that have been racing 20+ years have a similar story about a race that no longer exists because traffic no renders it impossible. If we still have access to roads and city streets the cost to put on an event has sky rocketed. To put on the Stumptown criterium in downtown Portland two year's ago cost over $40,000 to put on. We had $30,000 in sponsorship money (which is rare we see this much) and $3500 in entry fees. Some of you smart accountants just did the math. That means I personally lost $7500. The cost of putting on the Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium in downtown Bend has literally increased by 10 times. No that is not a mistake the cost is literally 10 times what is was to put on 10 years ago when adding all the new permit fees, required engineered traffic plans, signage, barricades, man hours, detours, etc.
>
> Another big one is liability. Our sue happy country is strangling us with frivolous law suits. New legislation in Oregon is pushing to eliminate caps and render standard release waivers useless. A number of permitting agencies are now requiring double the limits on insurance certificates or just plain denying event permits do to risk. Our sport is one of the riskiest sports out there. Compared to running, triathlons, or any other endurance sports it has way higher risk of injury. At a large criterium you can expect 30-40 medical occurrences with 4-5 of them resulting in broken bones. Now compare that to the large marathon we own and operate, the Columbia Gorge Marathon, were in the past 8 years we have seen 7 medical occurrences such as, bee stings, and small abrasions and sprains. By the way the marathon has 1500 people a year participating compared to a large crit that has 400.
>
> Here is one more thing to consider when discussing races. 90% of race organizers are volunteers. The remaining 10%, who are professional race organizers, live very very modestly. They do what they do because they love the sport and have a huge heart for giving back. Only one company in the country that I know of is making a strong 6 figure salary for putting on bike races and that is because they are putting on the largest, televised, races in the country. Everyone else is scraping by. Wondering how to pay the mounting medical bills, insurance, feed the kids, and support their families etc. If it was not for my company's half marathon's and marathons we own and operate I would have filed bankruptcy year's ago. I use the runs to subsidize my cycling habit. So next time you decide to write out that smart ass, snarky email intended to flame a race promoter I ask you please reconsider. If you think your frustrated and disappointed you have no idea what that poor promoter is going through. Nothing is more discouraging than to donate huge amounts of time and stress for peanuts and get ridiculed for your efforts. It is a lot of times a thankless job and those kind of responses have definitely factored into my decision to move away from promoting more bike races. I have a tough skin and can take it but why should I when there is little to no reward.
>
> Now the big topic is why are we in such a huge decline. Here is my humble theory. Actually I have two theories. The first is our society as a whole. We are seeing more and more people moving to inactive entertainment. Back when I was a kid (yep I am an old dude now) our thrill was to ride our BMX bikes. We lived for that. We would build sketchy jumps and bomb down crazy trails. Nintendos and Atari's were just coming onto the market. The baby boomer generation and the one just following it embraced this outdoor physical exertion and excitement. We have seen a huge portion of riders who in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's were excited to endure long painful races. The challenges were embraced and enjoyed. That cross section of riders we have watched cycle through the ranks (sorry for the pun). In the early 90's they were the 25-40 year olds that came out in droves. In the 2000's they were masters racers complaining there was not a 50+ category but still coming out in force. That group is now retiring and moving on as they hit their mid to late 50's and 60's. There is no large group coming up to fill in and take their place. Today's youth as a whole want to entertain themselves with video games, virtual reality, and other electronics as opposed to getting out and finding entertainment in nature. I have 4 boys three are in high school. I have coached wrestling, and cross country for the past 12 years. Numbers in these sports have seen a continued decline. We see only half the number of kids turn out compared to what we did back 20 years ago. I am taking this reference from my time coaching in the Gorge and Central Oregon. Portland may be different, but I kind of doubt it.
>
> The final reason for a decline is Lance Armstrong. Yeah I know once again Lance is the root of all problems and a slime bag. But before he was a slime bag he was a national hero. He was in movies (Dodgeball!) on TV, winning Espy's, dating Hollywood stars and he was the biggest billboard the sport has had probably ever had (Greg was a stud but never made it so mainstream). When he raced the tour a nation watched and followed. That is gone. Now coverage is a fraction of what it was to the national audience. There is no longer a professional athlete in the sport of cycling on par with Tom Brady or Lebron James that is motivating and inspiring people. You can not deny the impact that it had in inspiring people to try the sport.
>
> Final thought is early season races and bad weather. To conclude that weather is a cause of diminishing numbers is a little skewed. All you need to do is look back at historical data to come to this conclusion. Back in 2005 there were no less than 12 road events on the calendar before April 3rd (there are now only 12 events for the entire year!). In fact all three Banana Belt events were completed prior to March 13th!!! That same year huge numbers turned out for the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Elkhorn in June and the Cascade Cycling Classic in late July! Granted it is way more fun to race in nice weather than in snow, rain, and wind in March but that would take serious self control by the average cyclist to NOT attend that early March race but wait till May to begin racing. Which I will admit is really hard to do after investing 3 months riding trainers and in crappy weather.
>
> When it has come to our all of our events we have always placed them in the best time of year for the region and really never paid attention to trends or rider numbers. Our focus was providing the best quality experience for our participants. So whether is was the Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic and Gorge Roubaix in The Dalles in April, when weather is sunny and temps are moderate (you do NOT want to race in the summer in The Dalles), to the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in June to Cascade Cycling Classic in July it is has been about the best conditions and weather for participants. If you look at the 5 biking events we are putting on this year you will see this continued trend with Gorge Gravel Grinder in April in The Dalles, High Desert Gravel Grinder in June in Bend, Mt. Hood Gravel Grinder in July up at elevation and Cascade Cycling Classic in July also up in the mountains. That said I completely understand why promoters will chase early season participation especially with numbers being so low now days.
>
> My sincere apologies for the length of this email. I am not trying to be insensitive of peoples time but to give folks a peak behind the current of putting on races. My last words of wisdom to all of you. When it comes to your local race promoters always remember hugs not slugs go a lot farther in getting the races you want!
>
> Sincerely,
> Chad
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
Chad Sperry
January 26, 2017 at 11:18 AM Reply
Ok so a lot has been going round and round about why cycling is declining,
why events are going away, and what can be done about it. For the last
month I have been contemplating how to best write this email and best lay
out my humble opinion while creating productive conversation. So here is
my attempt and giving insight and background. It is up to everyone to come
to conclusion on how to fix it however.
For starters some of you may not know me or my company Breakaway
Promotions. My name is Chad Sperry and our company has been putting on
races in Oregon and across the country for the last 20 years. We had
humble beginnings cutting our teeth with the OBRA Hillclimb championships
as our very first event, were with the tremendous help of Candi Murray,
were able to pull off a successful event back in 1997. Since then we have
run everything from small grass roots events like Gorge Short Track to some
of the largest in the country like the Tour of Utah, Cascade Cycling
Classic and 20+ national championship events for USA Cycling, such as Mt.
Bike Nationals, Collegiate Road Nationals, Masters Nationals, Amateur
Nationals, Junior Nationals, Para Nationals etc. So I have learned a few
things over the past 20 years about races, rider behaviors, and the market.
For starters lets talk about races and why they are disappearing. Races
are not solely funded by your registration fees. Unless you are drawing
over 300 riders and offering little to no prize money, your favorite local
races are being funded by local sponsors and occasionally a national
sponsor. Local sponsors sponsor bike races in the hopes that you will
shop, eat, or stay at their establishments when you come to the race. So
when you do NOT stay at the official race hotel, eat at the local
sponsoring resaurant, or shop at the local bike shop you are jepordizing
the race by not supporting the businesses that helped you race that day.
Period. Most of the time funding will be between 25%-50% covered by
sponsors. I have always maintained that if I wanted any kind of paycheck
from a race it had to come through finding sponsors as registration fees
did not 100% cover the cost of the race.
Putting on races has gotten very very hard in the last 5 years. In some
areas down right impossible. Finding a large single loop road race course
today is like finding a unicorn. Seriously. Why you ask (or maybe you
didn't) because of limited growth and expansion of new roads coupled with
major population growth tying up all the existing roads. When was the last
time anyone can remember a brand new "road" being built and paved in your
area. Not talking the 1/4 mile piece of road into a new housing division,
I am talking full fledged several miles road. I personally can not think
of a new road in the past 20 years! So as our existing paved roads
continue to get more and more traffic agencies have clamped down and said
no to permits. This is not just your local roads but also includes Forest
Service and state roads as well. For the past 3 years the Mt. Hood
National Forest has allowed NO new event permits for summer events and
there is no plans to open that up in the near future. Deschutes National
Forest is implementing new restrictions just this year for no new events
between July and September. So if I were to try and create the Mt. Hood
Cycling Classic and Cascade Cycling Classic today it would be impossible.
I can remember doing the Blue Lake Triathlon back in 1992 were the bike
course went from Marine Drive through Troutdale and out to the Corbett
Overpass on Interstate 84. We were actually racing our bikes on I-84!!!
All of you that have been racing 20+ years have a similar story about a
race that no longer exists because traffic no renders it impossible. If we
still have access to roads and city streets the cost to put on an event has
sky rocketed. To put on the Stumptown criterium in downtown Portland two
year's ago cost over $40,000 to put on. We had $30,000 in sponsorship
money (which is rare we see this much) and $3500 in entry fees. Some of
you smart accountants just did the math. That means I personally lost
$7500. The cost of putting on the Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium in
downtown Bend has literally increased by 10 times. No that is not a
mistake the cost is literally 10 times what is was to put on 10 years ago
when adding all the new permit fees, required engineered traffic plans,
signage, barricades, man hours, detours, etc.
Another big one is liability. Our sue happy country is strangling us with
frivolous law suits. New legislation in Oregon is pushing to eliminate
caps and render standard release waivers useless. A number of permitting
agencies are now requiring double the limits on insurance certificates or
just plain denying event permits do to risk. Our sport is one of the
riskiest sports out there. Compared to running, triathlons, or any other
endurance sports it has way higher risk of injury. At a large criterium
you can expect 30-40 medical occurrences with 4-5 of them resulting in
broken bones. Now compare that to the large marathon we own and operate,
the Columbia Gorge Marathon, were in the past 8 years we have seen 7
medical occurrences such as, bee stings, and small abrasions and sprains.
By the way the marathon has 1500 people a year participating compared to a
large crit that has 400.
Here is one more thing to consider when discussing races. 90% of race
organizers are volunteers. The remaining 10%, who are professional race
organizers, live very very modestly. They do what they do because they
love the sport and have a huge heart for giving back. Only one company in
the country that I know of is making a strong 6 figure salary for putting
on bike races and that is because they are putting on the largest,
televised, races in the country. Everyone else is scraping by. Wondering
how to pay the mounting medical bills, insurance, feed the kids, and
support their families etc. If it was not for my company's half marathon's
and marathons we own and operate I would have filed bankruptcy year's ago.
I use the runs to subsidize my cycling habit. So next time you decide to
write out that smart ass, snarky email intended to flame a race promoter I
ask you please reconsider. If you think your frustrated and disappointed
you have no idea what that poor promoter is going through. Nothing is more
discouraging than to donate huge amounts of time and stress for peanuts and
get ridiculed for your efforts. It is a lot of times a thankless job and
those kind of responses have definitely factored into my decision to move
away from promoting more bike races. I have a tough skin and can take it
but why should I when there is little to no reward.
Now the big topic is why are we in such a huge decline. Here is my humble
theory. Actually I have two theories. The first is our society as a
whole. We are seeing more and more people moving to inactive
entertainment. Back when I was a kid (yep I am an old dude now) our thrill
was to ride our BMX bikes. We lived for that. We would build sketchy
jumps and bomb down crazy trails. Nintendos and Atari's were just coming
onto the market. The baby boomer generation and the one just following it
embraced this outdoor physical exertion and excitement. We have seen a
huge portion of riders who in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's were excited
to endure long painful races. The challenges were embraced and enjoyed.
That cross section of riders we have watched cycle through the ranks (sorry
for the pun). In the early 90's they were the 25-40 year olds that came
out in droves. In the 2000's they were masters racers complaining there
was not a 50+ category but still coming out in force. That group is now
retiring and moving on as they hit their mid to late 50's and 60's. There
is no large group coming up to fill in and take their place. Today's youth
as a whole want to entertain themselves with video games, virtual reality,
and other electronics as opposed to getting out and finding entertainment
in nature. I have 4 boys three are in high school. I have coached
wrestling, and cross country for the past 12 years. Numbers in these
sports have seen a continued decline. We see only half the number of kids
turn out compared to what we did back 20 years ago. I am taking this
reference from my time coaching in the Gorge and Central Oregon. Portland
may be different, but I kind of doubt it.
The final reason for a decline is Lance Armstrong. Yeah I know once again
Lance is the root of all problems and a slime bag. But before he was a
slime bag he was a national hero. He was in movies (Dodgeball!) on TV,
winning Espy's, dating Hollywood stars and he was the biggest billboard the
sport has had probably ever had (Greg was a stud but never made it so
mainstream). When he raced the tour a nation watched and followed. That
is gone. Now coverage is a fraction of what it was to the national
audience. There is no longer a professional athlete in the sport of
cycling on par with Tom Brady or Lebron James that is motivating and
inspiring people. You can not deny the impact that it had in inspiring
people to try the sport.
Final thought is early season races and bad weather. To conclude that
weather is a cause of diminishing numbers is a little skewed. All you need
to do is look back at historical data to come to this conclusion. Back in
2005 there were no less than 12 road events on the calendar before April
3rd (there are now only 12 events for the entire year!). In fact all three
Banana Belt events were completed prior to March 13th!!! That same year
huge numbers turned out for the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Elkhorn in
June and the Cascade Cycling Classic in late July! Granted it is way more
fun to race in nice weather than in snow, rain, and wind in March but that
would take serious self control by the average cyclist to NOT attend that
early March race but wait till May to begin racing. Which I will admit is
really hard to do after investing 3 months riding trainers and in crappy
weather.
When it has come to our all of our events we have always placed them in the
best time of year for the region and really never paid attention to trends
or rider numbers. Our focus was providing the best quality experience for
our participants. So whether is was the Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic and
Gorge Roubaix in The Dalles in April, when weather is sunny and temps are
moderate (you do NOT want to race in the summer in The Dalles), to the Mt.
Hood Cycling Classic in June to Cascade Cycling Classic in July it is has
been about the best conditions and weather for participants. If you look
at the 5 biking events we are putting on this year you will see this
continued trend with Gorge Gravel Grinder in April in The Dalles, High
Desert Gravel Grinder in June in Bend, Mt. Hood Gravel Grinder in July up
at elevation and Cascade Cycling Classic in July also up in the mountains.
That said I completely understand why promoters will chase early season
participation especially with numbers being so low now days.
My sincere apologies for the length of this email. I am not trying to be
insensitive of peoples time but to give folks a peak behind the current of
putting on races. My last words of wisdom to all of you. When it comes to
your local race promoters always remember hugs not slugs go a lot farther
in getting the races you want!
Sincerely,
Chad
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