. . . glastonbury. They have had to invest (outsource) massively in their back end in order to cope with excess demand--of which to this day is still dramatically unable to cope and fails, unfairly, to equitably distribute tickets. I think once we get to the round where demand outstrips supply the faults will be exposed and there will be a lot of those who will feel "first come first served" was not delivered.
On pure capacity, they should have easily been able to foresee this given the data they have on worldwide participation growth. They have chosen to do nothing. Not good from a marketing perspective. If London to Brighton can handle 10,000(?) cyclists over 100km every year, I struggle to understand how one side of France can't handle the same every four years. They should adapt to the demand or risk appearing exclusive.
Or we could argue long-time, dedicated audaxers should have a place to celebrate their skills. On that basis then they should do away with the lower pre-qualifiers distances and general admission. Are we at a PBP crossroads?
Mark - I feel your dislocation-of-expectation pain but think you're being over-critical.
Don't you think that the system ACP are using seems designed to succeed, "fairly, to equitably distribute start" slots and seeks a reasonable way to avoid the "first come first served" syndrome? ACP recommended PBP aspirants, a year ahead, to ride a 400. AudaxUK recommended riding the "longest possible BRM in 2018" (a 200 is the shortest possible BRM). Do you think 'faults are being exposed'?
On pure capacity, they (ACP) did foresee the over-demand so set in place a mechanism to handle that by encouraging commitment 15 months ahead of time, hence their recommendation (above). They have recognised worldwide participation growth and have stretched the capacity to a maximum (6500). They want to maintain the spirit and ethos of PBP in line with its long history and the relationships built up with towns/communities along the route over decades.
http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/en/download/PBP-BROCHURE-GB.pdf (Page 10 of 43)
This event is powered by volunteers - the entry fee is £140. What is bad about the "marketing perspective"?
"If London to Brighton can handle 10,000(?) cyclists over 100km every year, I struggle to understand how one side of France can't handle the same every four years."
L>B is less than 100km and entries cost 'early bird' £50 (/£75 later?). Value for money? Melons (90 hours) and gooseberries (3 hours).
I have not ridden PBP (yet) but volunteered for 2 days before LEL (1500 riders) to help set up the start, and a day after my ride to see the full value riders in and then clear up the finish and similar volunteering last summer for Mille Pennines (not riding it that time). I think that it's easier to have an understanding of the complexity of organising a long audax with hundreds of volunteers in multiple sites across the country when you've ridden some longer ones (than a 200).
"They should adapt to the demand or risk appearing exclusive." Exclusive? 6500 riders.
"Are we at a PBP crossroads?" No, but I will be in August, with a sign telling me which way to go.
