Build a better mousetrap.
- Thread starter ryderX
- Start date
keithsly
New Member
One of the best MTB Races we had in this state was the All-A-Muchy and if I remember the first and only edition was pretty well atttended.... This was my LAST MTB Race and if something simular was ever to come back I would enter ti as well. It was not part of a series and Ryder X put it on. Ryder X is actually one of the good guys who think outside the box.
I was for the past 2 years trying to breath life back into the old "Allaire" race that Wally used to put on. Here's my advices to anyone who wants to put on a race and have a modorate success.... Either make it legendary like Ryder X did and make it a 50k or put it on an odd part of the calendar where there is not much else .... like Wally used to on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Then you won't have to worry about ponying up your vig to the H2H guys to be part of their series .....
Just my 2 cents and BTW I'd come out of retirement for either format....
Yes, I will confirm this. I am no longer a promoter or have a vote on anything decided for the H2H series, but I attend a meeting on behalf of Paydirt and add my 2c on women's rules. There are no secrets to this. Most of what the promoters do is to try to improve and offer the best racing to the H2H series. Bids from new races are encouraged. You would need to contact Brian to get the current new race regulations. Last I recall, they were:
1. Previous race promoting experience
2. USACycling sanctioned
3. Must follow agreed formats
I personally would love to see a race at Allamuchy. That would be pretty cool. I really miss racing there.
the all-a-muchy was a great race. one of the few races i went to where the atmosphere was actually really fun. i still have the pint glass to this day.
the mountain man also captures that real fun atmosphere. others... not so much.
I've never done a mountain bike event that I thought was anything but fun before/after. I believe the atmosphere is mostly contained in the people that attend the event. By and large, we have a good group of people at the events, so by default, the events have a good atmosphere.
I find this to also be true about the cross races. I don't think there's a bad venue out there in this regard.
i don't know smack about cross races, but IMHO there are two types of races - ones that are "fun" and one's that are actually fun.
sure you always have a good time on your bike, your racing, pushing it, blah blah, but there are events where i have walked away from and i am thinking about it for weeks after - i have had so much fun i'm not even focusing on what i am going to do for my next rides, because it was an actual really good time.
i don't x/c race anymore because of a few factors, but one of them is that most of the time, i just think its on the "eh fun" level versus something more like "having a blast".
sometimes the vibe is right at an event and there's cool stuff going on both on and off the trails, and other times the vibe is good, but just not all that super-special.
i agree, its the people at the event that make it, but i think the people throwing/running the race definitely have an effect on what happens with the vibe. the mtn man has a vibe to it, and that vibe starts with the planning/promotion of the event (heck its on the year-old website they have) and ends when they break down the last piece of gear. i think a promoter needs to put thought into that part of it. when promoters take that part for granted; that they will just let the event take on its own coolness-factor, well, you might as well put up a clock, have people ride around in circles for a while, and they'll all go home when they are done.
xc62701
Well-Known Member
squared, no?
Actually it should be 4 W's since hopefully it's implying addition. If you're implying multiplication - that's one freaky Friday night
keithsly
New Member
Racing is always fun but I agree with the above how the promoter can make the event so much more "fun" then others.... a couple examples...
Sarah Frost promoted 24 Hours of Allamuchy - the vibe was right then Corporate America came in to try to make a profit.
W2 promoted All-a-Muchy short lived but a great event - LeMond style start and super cool promoters who know what it's like to toe the line and aren't in it for the profit.
Branchbrook Series run by Premier Cycling - Wanna feel like Cattle do one of these events put on back in the day... another case of a guy trying to make a living off promoting bike racing and in the process making the racers feel like you were lucky to have him grace your presence. He went belly up because oops ..... forgot to pay USA Cycling ...
I'm sure I can come up with other "Badly" run races that made me feel less than safe, poorly designed courses, and just outright rude promoters but the above was the worst in my opinion... and no need to go any further. I've done the Mountain Man Biathlon and it is a Great Event to where you can tell the guys don't care about profit... another one like that is the ODD Man Duathlon usually in March down in Medford...
All I see here is similar to what people in the industry call "vaporware". As far as I can tell, there's no such object as "vibe". Human beings make up this thing called "vibe". You would need to quantify what this means. What is vibe? I'm serious, tell me what this word actualy means to you.
What it seems to me is that you're outlining the difference between a race that tries to make a profit and one that doesn't. Is that all there is to it for you?
I can define what it means to me. But I want to know what it means for you. You're not allowed to use the word "vibe" when defining it.
What it seems to me is that you're outlining the difference between a race that tries to make a profit and one that doesn't. Is that all there is to it for you?
I can define what it means to me. But I want to know what it means for you. You're not allowed to use the word "vibe" when defining it.
Vibe:
1. The feeling roadies give mountain bikers who show up to group rides on aluminum bikes with 9spd.
"Frank didn't like the vibe at last night's group ride because all the skinny roadies were pointing and giggling at his 105 derailleurs."
Honestly though, I haven't been to a race where there was a negative feeling in the air. At the one h2h race I did (LMC), I could use the term "vibe" loosely to say that there was a very laid back vibe amongst the race organizers when it came to start times and whatnot.
1. The feeling roadies give mountain bikers who show up to group rides on aluminum bikes with 9spd.
"Frank didn't like the vibe at last night's group ride because all the skinny roadies were pointing and giggling at his 105 derailleurs."
Honestly though, I haven't been to a race where there was a negative feeling in the air. At the one h2h race I did (LMC), I could use the term "vibe" loosely to say that there was a very laid back vibe amongst the race organizers when it came to start times and whatnot.
Not that I have anything against making a profit...but at $81.50 to enter and trophies of plywood with rocks glued to them...im having a hard time with that one. Very nice hoodie though. But IMO, I think Maddawg charges about 1/2 that for the DH40 and its all the food you can eat, all free IPA you can drink, shirts, awesome prizes, money for the winners. I would like to do the mountain man sometime, but not at $81.50.
multiplication - that's one freaky Friday night
that's what she says
keithsly
New Member
Vibe - Slang a feeling or flavour of the kind specified
Now the Vibe I refer to at "Fun" or "Cool" events are the guys "Promoters" who have a sense of humor, have no attitude, put their personality into the events (example.... Sarah Frost after preRace announcements would say "Everyone raise your right hand, pat the person to your right on the back and say have a good race"), also state "You have jobs nothing we have to win is worth getting hurt for" ... I could go on and on about the "Personality or Vibe" whatever you want call it can be applied to an event.
Norm I know you've only really been racing the past couple years right ?? But guys like Chris G, Ryder X, Dan, and a couple other guys who I'm sure I know from back in the day know what I'm talking about. Sarah Frost gave ever promoter something to strive for as usually her events were well run, personalized to the racer where you felt as though your weren't just another 25 bucks....
DanBrodeen
Well-Known Member
I can define what it means to me. But I want to know what it means for you. You're not allowed to use the word "vibe" when defining it.[/QUOTE]
I have invited my friends, parents, and other family members to a few races. They're first comment after the experience is always; "I can't believe how nice everyone is". The vibe is the positivity we all show at races. A good event has a rider, organizer, or spectator leaving the race more enthusiastic for the sport compared to when they arrived. This is what keeps it going.
I have invited my friends, parents, and other family members to a few races. They're first comment after the experience is always; "I can't believe how nice everyone is". The vibe is the positivity we all show at races. A good event has a rider, organizer, or spectator leaving the race more enthusiastic for the sport compared to when they arrived. This is what keeps it going.
keithsly
New Member
I'm sure the reason for the rising cost is the event isn't as widely attended as it once was... Last year had like a 100 racers and usually he has food and beer too... also I know in previous years he gave away TVs, and MP3 players and such....It's been about 3 years since I've done his event though