An open letter to race promoters...

Or....how 'bout updating your website/blog once you have become a member of the NUE! A little professionalism never hurt.

I remember when there were no websites for races. You had to get a flier at a bike shop or ask people where/when a race was. I remember driving across the state to do races armed with a bad copy of a race flier that had very little info on it. No registration information on it at all. Just a date and an address (no google maps and no gps either).

Racing seemed pretty awesome back then.

But today I get worried making travel plans EVEN WHEN there's a detailed website, especially when we have to book airfare.

Back in the day we also relied on the pony express for our mail. It worked pretty good and we were gratefull. Times have changed and if your event wants to remain mainstream, you need to get with the times. I can internet search for races on open dates on my calendar. If your event web site isn't up to date, chances are I (and others like me) won't be doing it.

I can only assume some of you guys are talking about the Pierre's Hole event. The race director is an old acquaintance of mine. I'll give him a ring and let him know what is being said on the www. It is a fun race, great terrain and big views. Not being an NUE contender whatsoever, I think the 50 will be a nice tuner for Park City.

wheelhoss, I think a friendly nudge is probably a good idea. I did the race last year and it was a great event, very well organized and a fun course. The only real issue was the lack of details on the website. As the race got closer there was a part of me that was wondering if it was actually going to happen. It wasn't a huge deal, but we are a bunch neurotic weekend warriors.

I am thinking about the 50 mile option as a tune up for the PCP2P as well.

Pierre's Hole

wheelhoss said:

I can only assume some of you guys are talking about the Pierre's Hole event. The race director is an old acquaintance of mine. I'll give him a ring and let him know what is being said on the www. It is a fun race, great terrain and big views. Not being an NUE contender whatsoever, I think the 50 will be a nice tuner for Park City.

Click to expand...

I'm also looking for more info on this one. I posted a question on the blog but haven't received a reply.

jaytvt said:

Please, for the love of god, I'm begging you, post the LOCATION of your race on your website....maybe even on the home page!

I've looked into three races today that people have mentioned and none of the three even listed what state they're in.

Also, since many of us travel hundreds of miles to attend endurance races, such and such park/town is not a useful location to us.

Thanks and rant over.

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Holy Cow you are RIGHT!

So many race websites don't list the location, or they (locations) are hidden 3-5 clicks deep into the website.

:madman:

Let me add one more thing...Please try to vary your pre-registration time. February is a killer for me. I am out over $650 for race fees just in this month alone.

Pierre's Hole 100 website updated

www.ph100.org

Yup. I moved to MN. in oct 05 and was out of racing for awhile and I have only done a few 24 hr races but this year I'm wanting to do some 100 milers and 12hr races down in WI and it's like such and such park/town and I'm not from here and I can't even find what place they are talking about on the map.. It's some place near a town or city but they don't put the town or city on their web page I ended up finding some of them by looking at who is sponsoring the race and also where the camping is.

Slientfoe., I have also been saving to build a new bike and yes! it hits us all in like a one to three month time frame but most races if you don't get in by Feb or March you're not going.
I might be done after this year but I think I said that last year too.

Also start times. Both 24hr races I've been to didn't put the start time on their website.

Also having someone man the phone would be helpful, I think S#i* like what we'er talking about is what makes races go under,it make me think about G.G.

jaytvt said:

Please, for the love of god, I'm begging you, post the LOCATION of your race on your website....maybe even on the home page!

I've looked into three races today that people have mentioned and none of the three even listed what state they're in.

Also, since many of us travel hundreds of miles to attend endurance races, such and such park/town is not a useful location to us.

Thanks and rant over.

Click to expand...

I thought it was just me!!! I can't believe how many races I look at with no address. Today's technology is great, with the internet and GPS. Even if you don't have an address you can give GPS co-ordinates. It took me forever to find the location of Shenandoah 100 that I could plug into my GPS. Haven't found an address yet for the Hampshire 100???

Evil Banks- Updated the NEW website Pierre's Hole 100 :: Home (located in beautiful ALTA, WY based out of the Grand Targhee Resort)...send me an e-mail with your questions or to to the race discussion in this thread, and I will get back to you..or simply contact me directly. We are trying to create the best experience for you riders. If you continue to input, pls let us know.

Cheers.

TheOuvs said:

It took me forever to find the location of Shenandoah 100 that I could plug into my GPS. Haven't found an address yet for the Hampshire 100???

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I'm pretty sure that last time I checked, the SM100 race promoter specifically said NOT to use GPS to find the venue and gave very good directions to the site from the interstate.

Andrea138 said:

I'm pretty sure that last time I checked, the SM100 race promoter specifically said NOT to use GPS to find the venue and gave very good directions to the site from the interstate.

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Yep,I saw that. Now why would the promoter say that (Does he have something against GPS's)??

I am not from Virginia, I stayed at a B&B about 20 minutes from the race site. I really didn't want to be reading directions in the dark while driving to a race at 5:00 a.m. in the morning navigating through the windy, twisty roads of Virginia when I have a perfectly good GPS to show me the way (The morning before these big races is stressful enough, I don't want to have to worry about how I am going to get there too).

TheOuvs said:

Yep,I saw that. Now why would the promoter say that (Does he have something against GPS's)??

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I used a GPS two years ago, even though I basically knew how to get there since I've been doing the SM100 since 2006.

My car battery was going dead on me, and here I am on these stupid one lane gravel country roads that the GPS told me to take. Then there was the "bridge out" signs and a loooooong detour. Took me way longer to get there, and and I was sh!tting my pants wondering if I was gonna break down in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal.

Bridgewater exit, left turn, right turn, left turn, left turn for me now.

teamdicky said:

I used a GPS two years ago, even though I basically knew how to get there since I've been doing the SM100 since 2006.

My car battery was going dead on me, and here I am on these stupid one lane gravel country roads that the GPS told me to take. Then there was the "bridge out" signs and a loooooong detour. Took me way longer to get there, and and I was sh!tting my pants wondering if I was gonna break down in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal.

Bridgewater exit, left turn, right turn, left turn, left turn for me now.

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Should've jumped it. Bob Hope could have made that in his golf cart.


But yes it annoying when there is no address listed on a website, or the best when the just say the park its in and don't narrow it down from one of the many possible locations, roads.

teamdicky said:

I used a GPS two years ago, even though I basically knew how to get there since I've been doing the SM100 since 2006.

My car battery was going dead on me, and here I am on these stupid one lane gravel country roads that the GPS told me to take. Then there was the "bridge out" signs and a loooooong detour. Took me way longer to get there, and and I was sh!tting my pants wondering if I was gonna break down in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal.

Bridgewater exit, left turn, right turn, left turn, left turn for me now.

Click to expand...

It really is pretty easy, and my GPS has never really been able to find the place. I can find it on google maps on my cell phone, but most in-car GPS units don't have the ability to just tap a place and say take me here. The promotor's directions from the website are very easy to follow.

Here's another one. Does anyone know where the Syllamo's 125k race actually is? I know it's in Mountain View, AR, but that's a town and doesn't help me much... no info on their website, and absolutely nothing on their Bikereg page. :nono: