ronald strasser

In a perfect world everyone would have a massive, positive crowd cheering
them on when playing in that "big game" or racing that "big race". Truth
is that just does not always happen. Unlike grade school where everyone
gets big cheers and a ribbon, real life can be more mundane. I race where
and when they place me in the schedule. I might prefer another time...at
times, but it is what it is. If I race early and "really" want to hang
around to watch later races, I will do so. If I have other obligations, I
race and leave. I would think that the top level racers appreciate a big
crowd and cheering, but also are so committed to what they have chosen to
do... crowds size is not what is going to make them choose to do a race or
not. They are either looking for the competition or maybe points in a
series. They will be at that race either mid day or last race, just as the
people who really want to watch that or any given race time slot will...be
there. The truth is....there are fewer people racing cross than 10 years
ago. I say this based on what I have seen, not on actual numbers of racers
provided by obra. Just my feeling and opinion. Oh. Tomorrow is
BARTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes! Early or late...Barton is a challenge.
And the addition of the lovely east wind. Be there if you can make it
happen. ron

On Sat, Nov 17, 2018 at 5:19 AM Devin Bailly via OBRA
wrote:

> Hi Kevin/OBRA at large,
> I had thought of the concert analogy myself. However, I decided it
> doesn't apply to a CX race.
> People going to a concert are OBSERVERS. Most people going to a CX race
> are PARTICIPANTS (who happen to be observers of other races too).
> Also, a concert lasts only a few hours. People can choose to skip the
> opening act if they want, and just arrive for the "headliner".
> In contrast, a CX race lasts ALL DAY. Consider the CX racer who shows up
> for their own race at 8:30, 9:25, 10:25 etc. They can't skip the opening
> act. They ARE the opening act.
> And they are much more likely to stick around and watch the "Main Event"
> if it's at 1:10 than if it's at 3:05.
> If the goal of promoter is to provide an opportunity for the maximum
> number of people to cheer on the 1/2 race, holding it at 3:05 is
> absolutely, without question, indubitably counter-productive.
> I agree with Danny and others that swapping the 1/2 and the 2/3/SS race
> back the arrangement of 3 years ago is overall beneficial to the CX
> community.
> There are additional reasons I've pondered but I'll save that for another
> post.
> I posit it would behoove OBRA and/or promoters to create a survey to seek
> the "Voice of the Customer" on this issue (and others for which they may be
> needing guidance). This would be a great WINTER-time side project after
> #crossisover. I'd even be willing to help construct and distribute the
> survey if helpful. But for the time being, I'm looking forward to closing
> out the great cross season by valuing the amazing service that promoters
> and OBRA provide during the few remaining races.
>
> Oh and I don't understand your second comment. Bib numbers are a non
> issue if the 1:10 and 3:05 races are just swapped back to previous
> arrangement as proposed.
>
> On Fri, Nov 16, 2018 at 5:03 PM kevin thompson via OBRA <
> obra@list.obra.org> wrote:
>
>> Analogy.
>>
>> Would Led Zeppelin open for Tommy Tutone?
>>
>> If smaller races want to use the weekend bib numbers (and keep costs
>> down) they need to use the same schedule.
>>
>> kt
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Devin Bailly

Hi Kevin/OBRA at large,
I had thought of the concert analogy myself. However, I decided it doesn't
apply to a CX race.
People going to a concert are OBSERVERS. Most people going to a CX race
are PARTICIPANTS (who happen to be observers of other races too).
Also, a concert lasts only a few hours. People can choose to skip the
opening act if they want, and just arrive for the "headliner".
In contrast, a CX race lasts ALL DAY. Consider the CX racer who shows up
for their own race at 8:30, 9:25, 10:25 etc. They can't skip the opening
act. They ARE the opening act.
And they are much more likely to stick around and watch the "Main Event" if
it's at 1:10 than if it's at 3:05.
If the goal of promoter is to provide an opportunity for the maximum number
of people to cheer on the 1/2 race, holding it at 3:05 is absolutely,
without question, indubitably counter-productive.
I agree with Danny and others that swapping the 1/2 and the 2/3/SS race
back the arrangement of 3 years ago is overall beneficial to the CX
community.
There are additional reasons I've pondered but I'll save that for another
post.
I posit it would behoove OBRA and/or promoters to create a survey to seek
the "Voice of the Customer" on this issue (and others for which they may be
needing guidance). This would be a great WINTER-time side project after
#crossisover. I'd even be willing to help construct and distribute the
survey if helpful. But for the time being, I'm looking forward to closing
out the great cross season by valuing the amazing service that promoters
and OBRA provide during the few remaining races.

Oh and I don't understand your second comment. Bib numbers are a non issue
if the 1:10 and 3:05 races are just swapped back to previous arrangement as
proposed.

On Fri, Nov 16, 2018 at 5:03 PM kevin thompson via OBRA
wrote:

> Analogy.
>
> Would Led Zeppelin open for Tommy Tutone?
>
> If smaller races want to use the weekend bib numbers (and keep costs down)
> they need to use the same schedule.
>
> kt
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

kevin thompson

Analogy.

Would Led Zeppelin open for Tommy Tutone?

If smaller races want to use the weekend bib numbers (and keep costs down) they need to use the same schedule.

kt

Brad Petersen

Love the clear cut analogy.

But back to the topic, I noticed recently that a race series in WA will rotate which cats get which start times every year. So each year schedule shifts one hour within morning and afternoon. 11am race now becomes first race and last race is now at noon with other races moving down an hour. This way over time everyone gets the pros and cons of each start time within the two halves of the day. Maybe could work here for at least the 3 afternoon races? Personally I like the idea of building up to the elite race (course changes and the longer race make this almost necessary) but definitely understand how it can attention spans can wane for spectators and even racers.

Field sizes might also be driven by going from A, B, C to 1/2, 2/3, 4, 5s. I do wonder if smaller races could improve by combining more races/categories and making the day shorter (see Kruger CX). Not all races need schedules and CAT breakdowns built to accommodate 1000+ racers. Obviously promotors will do whatever proves to get the best turnout... however I will admit to consciously skipping Crossword and Crosstoberfest because I didn't want to race with fewer than 10 people till past 4pm at an empty venue... no course is THAT fun IMO.

Sincerely,
A 1/2 Newbie

Mike Schrankel

Agreed that moving the 1/2 fields have not had the desired effect. Seems a shame that some of the fastest and most exciting racing of the day goes unseen, whether it's because spectators have gone or teams are pre-occupied taking down the tents and packing it up. One of our Cat 2's even commented last week that it's like riding into an increasingly larger clearcut with every lap as the tents come down and the course is exposed.
On the other hand, it seems that whatever race is run last will suffer from poor attendance.

Danny Weikel

I am hoping with enough feedback that the different promoters for weekend CX races would consider changing the schedule back to the way it used to be and putting the 1/2 race back at 1 o'clock like we used to. It was told to me that it was changed to keep more people at the venues and from my experience it seems that it doesn't seem to achieve that goal and seems like more people are not present to see the last race of the day. It seems that more people stayed thru the race day to take part in the 2/3 and Singlespeed races than they do now. The fields have shrank in the 1/2 fields over the years I have taken part in it and wonder if it is partially due to the time of day the race happens??? This would also make it more desirable to add a second race after doing 1/2 race. If am completely wrong I'll just accept what it is and shut up but I have talked with enough people I feel like I'm not alone in this.

Thanks!! Danny