Author Topic: VeloBirmingham?  (Read 39407 times)

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #50 on: 09 January, 2020, 10:05:15 am »
Velo Birmingham looks as though it may continue following divestment by CSM Sport and Entertainment to a new principal shareholder.   This follows a succession of heavy financial losses that exceeded a staggering one million pounds in 2017.  Whilst the losses have since reduced to £885k for 2018 (we will not yet know what they are for 2019), we can assume that they have decided it that is no longer a business model that is sustainable.  The renamed group, Active Sport and Entertainment, clearly see that a future does exist.  They have new staff and a new headquarters and presumably, a new business model with possible new backers.

CSM’s involvement was beleaguered from beginning to end.  The first Velo Birmingham was fraught with problems through lack of due process with the relevant local authorities;  Velo South in 2018 was cancelled due atrocious weather conditions; Velo North was cancelled due to lack of interest, and; Velo Birmingham 2019 was troubled by external factors beyond CSM’s immediate control such irresponsible drivers, a dead horse and a fatality.

Meanwhile the new organisers have been approaching venues, including the university, for a start and finish location for Velo Birmingham 2020.  Whether the new arrangements place these type of events on a more sustainable footing, only time will tell. 
Organiser of Droitwich Cycling Club audaxes.  https://www.droitwichcyclingclub.co.uk/audax/

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #51 on: 15 January, 2020, 08:19:25 pm »
Whatever they re-name themselves, I hope to goodness they stay away from the North Pennines.  Closed roads are the last thing we need.

Kim

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #52 on: 30 January, 2020, 04:36:44 pm »
Just spotted this change to the FAQ:

Quote
What type of bikes are not allowed?
The following are forbidden at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands for health and safety reasons: bikes with disc wheels, recumbent bicycles with full fairing or tricycle configuration, electronic bikes not compliant with current UK/EU legal requirements for ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs), unicycles, elliptical cycles, penny farthings, tricycles, quad cycles, BMX bikes, fixed gear bikes / singlespeeds / fixies (allowed with two independent brakes and a freehub) and handbikes / cycles. Any unconventional handlebars including triathlon bars, aero bars, clip-ons, prayer bars, Spinaci bars and cow bars, handlebar extensions bars without Bar end plugs fitted; and any other items which the Organiser considers may be a danger to the safety of other participants.

Can I ride my e-bike at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands?
For Vélo Birmingham & Midlands, e-bikes will be permitted on all distances. Only those cycles that comply with current UK/EU legal requirements for ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs) are permitted in the sportive. EAPCs still require the rider to pedal and the electric motor, with a maximum power of 250 watts, cannot provide assistance when travelling at more than 25 km/h (15.5mph). Participants using e-bikes must still meet the requirements for entering as per the Event T&Cs.

If you wish to participate in Vélo Birmingham & Midlands on an e-bike, you must inform us by emailing hello@velobirmingham.com (stating your full name) prior to purchasing your entry. These details are required so you can be placed in a suitable start wave for safety reasons.

Can I ride my recumbent bike at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands?
Recumbent Cycles (not full fairing or tricycle configuration) with a sufficient visible rear marker that is 2m in height will be permitted on all distances at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands. If you wish to participate on a recumbent, you must inform us by emailing hello@velobirmingham.com (stating your full name and image of recumbent) prior to purchasing your entry. These details are required so you can be placed in a suitable start wave for safety reasons.

So they're permitting part-faired or unfaired recumbent bicycles, as long as they've got a flag, but not - for some reason - tricycles or handcycles[1].

Sensible approach to electric assist.

Fixies are only permitted when fitted with brakes and a freehub  ???

And yes, magic hats still compulsory.


[1] Okay, handcyclists are going to be mostly excluded by the distance, anyway.

bludger

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #53 on: 30 January, 2020, 04:42:55 pm »
In my new experience 'inside' cycling basically a lot of the 'events people' have no involvement with cycling whatsoever.

We were recently asked if anyone from our organisation would like to be a marshal at a big walking event, 'if we bring our own bikes and helmets.' I responded that we would probably not have any volunteers forthcoming on the basis of them being told a helmet is 'mandatory' and that many of us don't own one. They came back to me saying that they assumed (!) it was mandatory anyway....
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Ban cars.

Phil W

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #54 on: 30 January, 2020, 05:31:38 pm »
So basically a safety recommendation for recumbents that is not evidence based. Quelle surprise.

Kim

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #55 on: 30 January, 2020, 06:13:02 pm »
Part of me would like to ask them if they've done a risk assessment for the use of flags.  I'm not sure what problem they think they're solving, but I reckon they're introducing an eye hazard by requiring them...

The rest of me can't be arsed.  I'm not entering.  I'll be at the York Rally instead.

Disappointing that they aren't permitting tricycles, though, given their popularity with disabled cyclists.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #56 on: 20 March, 2020, 03:07:02 pm »
Cancelled! No refunds or transfers.
Of no personal interest as I don’t do this sort of event, but much wailing and gnashing from people I know who do.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #57 on: 20 March, 2020, 03:14:23 pm »
I think theyre linked to velo Essex which I was considering due to the idea of closed roads but being tight and having other priorities this year didnt

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #58 on: 20 March, 2020, 03:53:14 pm »
I think theyre linked to velo Essex which I was considering due to the idea of closed roads but being tight and having other priorities this year didnt

They seem to be. They are now saying that Essex is closed for entries under the present circumstances, but if it does open up then Birmingham entrants can transfer.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #59 on: 07 December, 2020, 02:26:03 pm »
I booked my spot in this years Birmingham Velo - and when the sh!t happened emailed them regarding either...
- Full refund
- Partial refund
- Free entry on next event (Whenever that may be)

Basically got told...
Sorry, we have outlays we have had to pay for this year so sorry, no refunds or nothing

I was looking forward to it, although it probably would of killed me, but after taking about £80
(I bought insurance for if I COULDN'T do it such as injury illness - which apparently doesn't cover me if the organisers can't run it, granted pandemic happened)
and not even offering a place on the next Birmingham Velo (Like other events / festivals I believe were doing)
I don't think I'd be entering anytime soon - when ever it happens again.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #60 on: 07 December, 2020, 03:59:34 pm »
I entered it in 2019 but then went down with a very bad cold a few days before so was a non-starter.

Entered again for this year (2020) and the same for everyone else I suppose, so lost out twice!

With so many disappointed entrants not getting any sort of a refund, I very much doubt anyone would want to enter should the event re-surface next year so I also doubt that it will return.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #61 on: 07 December, 2020, 06:39:34 pm »
I know more than one rider who raised a dispute through their bank / credit card for non delivery of promised “service” and got full refunds.

Kim

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #62 on: 07 December, 2020, 06:41:03 pm »
With so many disappointed entrants not getting any sort of a refund, I very much doubt anyone would want to enter should the event re-surface next year so I also doubt that it will return.

I dunno, there seem to be plenty of people who've newly taken up cycling in 2020 who likely wouldn't consider that.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #63 on: 07 December, 2020, 07:35:39 pm »
I booked my spot in this years Birmingham Velo - and when the sh!t happened emailed them regarding either...
- Full refund
- Partial refund
- Free entry on next event (Whenever that may be)

Basically got told...
Sorry, we have outlays we have had to pay for this year so sorry, no refunds or nothing

I was looking forward to it, although it probably would of killed me, but after taking about £80
(I bought insurance for if I COULDN'T do it such as injury illness - which apparently doesn't cover me if the organisers can't run it, granted pandemic happened)
and not even offering a place on the next Birmingham Velo (Like other events / festivals I believe were doing)
I don't think I'd be entering anytime soon - when ever it happens again.

Contact your credit card company/bank and get a refund that way

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #64 on: 08 December, 2020, 06:04:29 pm »
Bemused at the fixie ruling - I can see they would want no brakeless track bikes, but I would have assumed my commuter would be kosher.
I have neither the time nor the money nor the inclination for this sort of thing anyhow.
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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #65 on: 08 December, 2020, 06:20:59 pm »
Should they not be expected to itemise exactly how much they've spent on "outlays" and how much they've received in entry fees?
Any surplus gets returned, pro rata, to entrants, no? 

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #66 on: 08 December, 2020, 06:31:30 pm »
Vélo Birmingham 2017 - Went ahead.
Vélo Birmingham 2018 - Announced and then postponed.
Vélo South 2018 - Protests expected, but cancelled due to storm. Full refunds offered.
Vélo Birmingham 2019 - Went ahead.
Vélo North 2019 - Cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Vélo Birmingham 2020 - Cancelled, no refunds.
Vélo Essex 2020 - Cancelled, 45% refunds.

Have I missed any?

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #67 on: 09 December, 2020, 11:03:11 am »
Not a great record.
I was supposed to have been on Velo South, to be honest I was relieved when it was cancelled as I was expecting a lot of trouble (I ride support moto).
I did Birmingham in 2019. I wasn't involved in the fatality or serious injuries, but I was the moto who escorted the vet to the horses through the cyclists (not a police biker as reported on some sites) and was the guy on the ground doing my best to help out the owners, later bringing in the knacker's wagon, again through the cyclists. That was a stressful day.

I have mixed feelings about these events. There was a lot of behind the scenes organisation. There were massive numbers of marshals on the ground. All the motos were very experienced guys - at a level where they are working on the big pro races, not "just" the small local ones. But there will always be disruption to locals (a large part of our work was to minimise that; get people safely through when they needed to cross the closures, including pre-booked and ad-hoc responses etc.). With the large number of participants there always will be incidents - which is one of the reasons we are there, to try to reduce their likelihood and deal with them efficiently should they happen. Part of the issue is also that towards the end there is such a large spread of times that the local impact is increased, so there is more frustration than from those at the start where the closures are gone by 10am rather than being all day.

Is it worth it? Is it more or less worthy than closing a road for a pro road race? I don't know. If it goes on again I'll probably be there, to help minimise impact. But I probably wouldn't enter it (partly because mass events like this generally don't appeal to me anyway).

robgul

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #68 on: 09 December, 2020, 02:20:52 pm »
Bemused at the fixie ruling - I can see they would want no brakeless track bikes, but I would have assumed my commuter would be kosher.
I have neither the time nor the money nor the inclination for this sort of thing anyhow.

It's not unusual to bar fixies in mass events - presumably as the control/riding etc is different (OK, I don't want an argument on that)

When I was running the MacRide Events at SuA with anything up to 1,250 riders in a single event our insurer stipulated no fixies, no spinetti bars, no tri-bars, no cowhorn bars - all for safety reasons (their words) - we did get the odd rider on fixed  ;)

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #69 on: 09 December, 2020, 03:40:20 pm »
-The Kidderminster Killer  - Refunds and commutation of fees
-Autumn Rivers - Refunds and commutations of fees
-Montgomery Madness  - went ahead
-Begwyns, Books and Stones - Refunds or commutation to postponed event
-Salt and Cotswolds - went ahead

Audaxes from Birmingham based Beacon RCC.  We saw it coming with Velo Birmingham.

No expensive fees, no headline sponsors, no goodie bags, no numbers, no gold standard times, no broom wagons and no pretending at the finish to have looked into the jaws of hell and survived. No con-artists, no premium entries and no empty promises.
Organiser of Droitwich Cycling Club audaxes.  https://www.droitwichcyclingclub.co.uk/audax/

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #70 on: 09 December, 2020, 05:57:38 pm »
It’s worth remembering that the Commonwealth Games are on, using various courses for running, cycling etc across the area.
Residents may feel they have had quite enough with these closures.

Kim

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Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #71 on: 09 December, 2020, 06:39:36 pm »
It’s worth remembering that the Commonwealth Games are on, using various courses for running, cycling etc across the area.
Residents may feel they have had quite enough with these closures.

AIUI the whole point in VeloBirmingham was to demonstrate that the city could manage a closed-roads cycling event as part of their Commonwealth Games bid.

Re: VeloBirmingham?
« Reply #72 on: 10 December, 2020, 09:48:01 am »
Contact your credit card company/bank and get a refund that way

I shall give them a call tomorrow.

Even though it got cancelled back in March for an event due in June - surely there is no time-limit for not getting what you were intending to purchase - especially as I booked my ticket in November 2019 - well before Covid-19 was [officially] heard of.