RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2015) Anyone?

[ianrauk]

With so many people entering the ballot and so many people disappointed at not getting a place.
Would it be fairer to allow those that have not done the ride before have a shout over those that have?

 

[zizou]

Personally id prefer it to be first come, first served. The waiting around for months after entering before knowing if in or not is a bit of an annoyance - would much rather find out immediately rather than wait months to be told one way or the other.

The not knowing can have knock on impact for other events too - last year there were 3 alternative events i would have been interested in on the same day (the Tour of the Borders, an Evans sportive in the Lake District and the Scottish crit champs) id have been happy doing any of them but by the time i found out i was in Ride London they were all full.

 

[Simontm]

Bugger... didn't get the main ballot but have just had an email from the MS Society saying that I have one of their places...

...Bugger....

Gonna have to start training....

....bugger.....

....Thought they might say no....

....bugger

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Oh, and just wondering...

The only time I agree to donate my entry fee (as opposed to paying only if I got a place) is the only time I got through the ballot. Now, three years is not a big set from a statistical point of view but I'm suspicious!

I'm one for two attempts on entering with agreed donation. I wouldn't read too much in to it.

Lots of people wanted to ride, only a few could. It's not really conspiracy theory fodder.

 

[Venod]

I see this ride is going the way of the London Marathon, a lot of entries saved for charities, or do these charities have to apply like everyone else? I suspect there are a number of places saved for charities who then insist on a certain amount of money to be raised if you want an entry through them, nothing wrong with raising money for charity but it does rob the runner/rider who just wants to run/ride for the fun of it of a place,

 

[derrick]

It's all very well raising money for the charities, but you can't keep going round asking the same people to sponsor you. And i find people you don't know are not interested.

 

[ianrauk]

It's all very well raising money for the charities, but you can't keep going round asking the same people to sponsor you. And i find people you don't know are not interested.

In these t'internet and email days.. people are charitied out. So many people now asking for sponsorship.

 

[Simontm]

In these t'internet and email days.. people are charitied out. So many people now asking for sponsorship.

Well I haven't done anything like this for years, so at least with my acquaintances I should have some money in the bank

 

[ianrauk]

Well I haven't done anything like this for years, so at least with my acquaintances I should have some money in the bank

But your friends may have been asked to death too...

 

[derrick]

I also find it hard to ask people for money for something i enjoy doing

 

[Nomadski]

Oh, and just wondering...

The only time I agree to donate my entry fee (as opposed to paying only if I got a place) is the only time I got through the ballot. Now, three years is not a big set from a statistical point of view but I'm suspicious!

Nah. I've selected to donate all 3 times, the first two times I got back a cancelled, this time, no idea yet but it hasn't been updated to cancelled yet.

 

[Simontm]

I also find it hard to ask people for money for something i enjoy doing

After doing Coombe Lane/Bottom this weekend, I don't think I'll enjoy it that much

 

[Simontm]

But your friends may have been asked to death too...

Hope not! Anyway, 75 people, tenner each, sorted

 

[Dogtrousers]

With so many people entering the ballot and so many people disappointed at not getting a place.
Would it be fairer to allow those that have not done the ride before have a shout over those that have?

For all we know perhaps that is part of the mysterious "weighting". (Although my personal anecdata suggests not) They're not likely to make the weighting criteria public.

I'm not too fussed at missing out. I'm really looking forward to doing Velothon Wales, to see what one of these kind of events is like.

When I was a runner there was a similar (probably worse) issue with the London Marathon. On the web there would be lots of po-faced "proper" runners complaining that they were being robbed of places by charity runners, who (shock horror) walk part of the way, and generally aren't "proper". But part of the fun vibe of these events is the fact that people are pushing themselves further than they would normally think possible, and doing it for cheridee. There are plenty of other (IMO nicer than London) marathons that are easy to enter, just as there are plenty of 100 mile plus sportives and audaxes, (not to mention the open road - which is free).

 

[ianrauk]

I'm not too fussed at missing out.

Nor me. I just entered for the sake of it and because one of my cycling partners in crime entered also. (he got a place)
Though one good thing about not getting a place is that I now don't have to fork out for a magic plastic hat.