300km event for a mere £159

[whosatthewheel]

As a sportive, there is an expectation to be rescued should you have problems/can't get round. Over that distance, its a long way to send a vehicle to pick someone up.

Given the route was all around London, surely anyone who had a problem could easily have walked to the nearest railway station.

Naaa, sportive bods use Speedplay cleats... you can't walk further than the counter in a cafe with those... 

[whosatthewheel]

I came across this in my inbox... interesting how they package a bunch of pointless services and charge a fortune... you can spend up to 125 quid to ride 52 km on public roads

For instance, who needs a VIP bike wash worth allegedly 10 pounds for a ride in mid July?
Or a training program by Luke Rowe to ride 52 km?

https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/50838452/select-race?e4p=4af99549-9f99-4294-a9ca-d19c5190d251&e4ts=1526564816&e4q=0f76bd49-6ea4-42b1-8d0c-9f83ca4a64c2&e4c=active&e4e=snawe00000000&e4h=ba54ef67643444dd46e44d7db5ab1693&e4rt=Safetynet&_p=6179515192963079

[Redlight]

Naaa, sportive bods use Speedplay cleats... you can't walk further than the counter in a cafe with those... 

Reminds me of the one and only time I rode the Etape du Tour. As soon as we came to the first proper climb there were people stopping to take their shoes off so they could walk up 

[whosatthewheel]

Naaa, sportive bods use Speedplay cleats... you can't walk further than the counter in a cafe with those... 

Reminds me of the one and only time I rode the Etape du Tour. As soon as we came to the first proper climb there were people stopping to take their shoes off so they could walk up 

Thanks to Luke Rowe's training plans, things are changing... I am generally in the top 10-20% of finishers in Audax events (occasionally I have been the first finisher), but typically just about in the first half of finishers in many sportives (Fred Whitton Challenge, Etape du Dales etc.)
People are getting incredibly fit and fast... I was passed by guys weighing 90-100 kg going up Tan Hill and I couldn't figure out what kind of power output they had to be able to do that

[tornandfrayed]

I came across this in my inbox... interesting how they package a bunch of pointless services and charge a fortune... you can spend up to 125 quid to ride 52 km on public roads

For instance, who needs a VIP bike wash worth allegedly 10 pounds for a ride in mid July?
Or a training program by Luke Rowe to ride 52 km?

https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/50838452/select-race?e4p=4af99549-9f99-4294-a9ca-d19c5190d251&e4ts=1526564816&e4q=0f76bd49-6ea4-42b1-8d0c-9f83ca4a64c2&e4c=active&e4e=snawe00000000&e4h=ba54ef67643444dd46e44d7db5ab1693&e4rt=Safetynet&_p=6179515192963079

I notice that this is based in Amersham, having stayed at a hotel there post LWL I expect the locals will be snapping these up as the bargain of the century. An eyewateringly expensive place for us country bumpkins from the south west.

[rob]

Thanks to Luke Rowe's training plans, things are changing... I am generally in the top 10-20% of finishers in Audax events (occasionally I have been the first finisher), but typically just about in the first half of finishers in many sportives (Fred Whitton Challenge, Etape du Dales etc.)
People are getting incredibly fit and fast... I was passed by guys weighing 90-100 kg going up Tan Hill and I couldn't figure out what kind of power output they had to be able to do that

You pay Rowe and King prices for coaching and complain about the PBP entry fee ?

[whosatthewheel]

CHiltern 100 is a popular sportive, but it was more popular when it was 15 quid and run by the local club

[whosatthewheel]

You pay Rowe and King prices for coaching and complain about the PBP entry fee ?

Who says I do? Are you mad?

I was mocking the all "coaching" thing

[mmmmartin]

Harrumph.
Some of us can recall paying a fiver to El Supremo and eating as much as we could stuff down. With the late, great Bob McHardy doling out gallons - literally - of tea.

Sadly, those days are gone.

[Exit Stage Left]

Thanks to Luke Rowe's training plans, things are changing... I am generally in the top 10-20% of finishers in Audax events (occasionally I have been the first finisher), but typically just about in the first half of finishers in many sportives (Fred Whitton Challenge, Etape du Dales etc.)
People are getting incredibly fit and fast... I was passed by guys weighing 90-100 kg going up Tan Hill and I couldn't figure out what kind of power output they had to be able to do that

You pay Rowe and King prices for coaching and complain about the PBP entry fee ?

To be fair, he did think £200 was expensive, when it was about half that in reality. The mistaken figure is probably a reflection of how little price means to some people. 

[Wycombewheeler]

Thanks to Luke Rowe's training plans, things are changing... I am generally in the top 10-20% of finishers in Audax events (occasionally I have been the first finisher), but typically just about in the first half of finishers in many sportives (Fred Whitton Challenge, Etape du Dales etc.)
People are getting incredibly fit and fast... I was passed by guys weighing 90-100 kg going up Tan Hill and I couldn't figure out what kind of power output they had to be able to do that

You pay Rowe and King prices for coaching and complain about the PBP entry fee ?

To be fair, he did think £200 was expensive, when it was about half that in reality. The mistaken figure is probably a reflection of how little price means to some people.

Or due to how small a proportion the entry fee is for the all up cost of PBP, travel, equipment, accommodation before and after (maybe even during) lost earnings. Also there are various extras which some people may consider part of the cost and others not.

[Exit Stage Left]

Or due to how small a proportion the entry fee is for the all up cost of PBP, travel, equipment, accommodation before and after (maybe even during) lost earnings. Also there are various extras which some people may consider part of the cost and others not.

Those expenses aren't as significant if you're French, and live close to the route. Especially if you ride as a club, and share transport and support.

The danger with ramping up the expense is that it can deter those who have a retinue of possible volunteers, i.e. family and club-mates. There's a crossover point between a volunteer-based event, and a commercial event. That's why there's a step-change in pricing, as paid labour enters the equation.