RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2016) Anyone?

[mjr]

I think the ballot should replaced with a first come first served registration, like they do for the New York Five Boro's ride and the Cape Argus in South Africa. The riders that really want to ride make sure they're on the site to register when it opens.

Are you serious? That would probably be a big skew towards places with fast internet and screw anyone who lives in a rural area and has to go to work so can't spend registration day in London or another fast city.

And that's assuming RideLondon can build a website that wouldn't crumble under the volume.

 

[Louch]

Ballot seems to be fairest way. No way to please everyone, but plenty other sportives out there

 

[Nomadski]

Are you serious? That would probably be a big skew towards places with fast internet and screw anyone who lives in a rural area and has to go to work so can't spend registration day in London or another fast city.

And that's assuming RideLondon can build a website that wouldn't crumble under the volume.

They could use Ticketmaster.....what could possibly go wrong?!

 

[sleaver]

No way to please everyone

Ain't that true from reading this thread God help them is they have a check box or if charities try to get people to fundraise for them.

Don't forget we still have the moaning about people riding dangerously because they overtook someone, how start times are allocated etc. Can't forget how it is so inconvenient to have to pick up rider numbers

I entered the ballot for the London Marathon once and didn't get in. Rather than moaning or picking holes in it, I just entered another one!

 

[EltonFrog]

Are you serious? That would probably be a big skew towards places with fast internet and screw anyone who lives in a rural area and has to go to work so can't spend registration day in London or another fast city.

And that's assuming RideLondon can build a website that wouldn't crumble under the volume.

Yes I am serious, it works very well for the two events I mentioned above both much bigger and running longer than the RLS 100.

 

[sleaver]

Yes I am serious, it works very well for the two events I mentioned above both much bigger and running longer than the RLS 100.

It also worked for the Berlin Marathon when they were first come, first served.

They just had a simple page asking for your name and email address and when places had gone, the form was closed. An email was then sent to those who had filled in the form with a link to fill in full entry details and pay. It was simple and no one complained.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The only way that I can think of improving on the current system would be to leave it as it is, but give me a guaranteed entry.

A weighted ballot with reserved places for charities gives the right mix of fairness and funding. It only seems "unfair" if you don't get lucky in the ballot.

Other approaches, such as first come first served, cutting out the guaranteed charity places, making people ride qualifying events, would be more expensive to organise and/or would reduce revenue and/or would be less inclusive.

Even the seemingly stupid and wasteful magazine for sending out results probably has a role in bringing in advertising revenue.

The weighting in the ballot has the very important role of giving us something to speculate about endlessly.

 

[123456789]

Perhaps people should not be able to to re-apply for the ballot for the next year or even two after a successful year to give someone else a chance

That may cut down their revenue, which would never do

 

[srw]

And then what?

Do they ... Make you feel a bit guilty???? The horror.

From the terms and conditions for one charity place application...

I understand that [charity name] is required to report to the race organisers as “poor performers” any participant who fails to raise the pledged amount. (This could affect your chances of competing in any other running event; other charities will also have access to these details.)

(Yes, it does say "running"!)

So I suspect there is a naughty list maintained of miscreants who take advantage of the charity's investment in the guaranteed place.

 

[srw]

And, since the chair of the charity's trustees is sitting on the sofa next to me and is a member here I will post a link for her...

http://www.cclg.org.uk/support-us/RideLondon-100

£50 registration, £500 minimum sponsorship and the afore-mentioned condition if you renege on your promise. A small charity supporting paediatric oncologists with professional development and the families of children with cancer with information leaflets.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Perhaps people should not be able to to re-apply for the ballot for the next year or even two after a successful year to give someone else a chance

That may cut down their revenue, which would never do

I doubt that it would reduce revenue, as the event is already oversubscribed, but it would be very hard to police as people could just reapply with a different email address, our a subtly different name (with our without middle initial etc) and would just complicate matters.

Who knows, perhaps they already use previous success a part of the weighting (cue endless speculation).

 

[rb58]

IIRC four unsuccessful attempts in the London Marathon ballot means a guaranteed entry next time. Do they do that with Ride London? Not that I'm bothered as I have a 100% success rate. Just sayin'

 

[123456789]

I doubt that it would reduce revenue, as the event is already oversubscribed, but it would be very hard to police as people could just reapply with a different email address, our a subtly different name (with our without middle initial etc) and would just complicate matters.

Who knows, perhaps they already use previous success a part of the weighting (cue endless speculation).

You could always rely on the good and honest nature of people not to do..........meh who am I kidding.

Maybe obligatory membership of British cycling or CTC and you have to quote your member no. each time would be a way to police it and generate extra revenue

 

[mjr]

They just had a simple page asking for your name and email address and when places had gone, the form was closed. An email was then sent to those who had filled in the form with a link to fill in full entry details and pay. It was simple and no one complained.

Yeah, right, no-one complains(!) and it's not like running forums have comments about Berlin every year like "It just doesn't seem right and I'm sure there are many that thought they might as well register for nothing. [...] Not a well thought out plan from a runners perspective but an absolute goldmine for the organisers!" (from RunnersWorld about 2013's, from the first screen of DDG search results - I'm sure there's plenty more but that one has someone called "sleaver" discussing it )

 

[sleaver]

IIRC four unsuccessful attempts in the London Marathon ballot means a guaranteed entry next time.

It was five and with "was" being the operative word.

but that one has someone called "sleaver" discussing it

Well excuse me for not remembering what was said on a thread that is over three years old

and it's not like running forums have comments about Berlin every year

Berlin changed their system to be ballot based. You know, all those comments about ballot systems, similar to here I'm sure you will be able to find lots of negative comments about the change is system as well