Real Man Cycling Challenge

[Ivor]

bad news:
http://www.realmancyclingchallenge.com/

This has been cancelled for 2008.

[quote]I would like to thank you for your support and enthusiasm for the Real Man Cycling Challenge. This flagship event for The Prostate Cancer Charity is creating a high level of interest in the cycling world and beyond and we are continuing to receive a good level of response thanks to the commitment and efforts of our valued supporters.

However at a meeting late last week with the authorities, who are responsible for the necessary road closures, we were informed that, due to concern for the disruption residents would experience, they could not support full closure of the route we want unless we could guarantee around 1500 participants. We fully understand their concerns, and although we are seeing increased sign-up for the event, we are not in a position to provide this guarantee.

It is with regret therefore that we have no choice but to postpone The Real Man Cycling Challenge until next year. It is important for us that the cyclists who complete this event fully enjoy it and come back in subsequent years. We are committed to achieving this for you with a big and exciting event in 2009. We thank the London authorities for their continued support.

[Antloony]

[quote] we were informed that, due to concern for the disruption residents would experience

[Jon H]

I can't believe it. It's like, unreal, man.

[Marek]

I seem to remember reading about this event and thinking what a load of rubbish. Am I right in thinking it was very short and just involved riding around a closed part of the Docklands. Not surprised they didn't get many takers if that is the case.

[Snoop Doug]

Yes a 34k quickie Nevertheless a good opportunity to raise money for a worthwhile casue seemingly blown, p'raps we should contact 'em and suggest they make it a proper(ish) race next time??

Snoop

[Marek]

I agree it is a worthy cause, I think it would be good to contact them to let them know that to get 1,500 people they would need to do some serious advertising and make the route attractive to a wide range of cyclists, so offering different routes distances and riding somewhere interesting. What was the route for this Snoop, I thought it was laps around the Docklands which to me had zero appeal.

[Snoop Doug]

Marek - not far off mate..... I'll see about giving them some feedback - my lot are one of the sponsors so may be able to find a route in there

Cheers - Snoop


The Real Man Cycling Challenge will start and finish at ExCeL Centre in London’s Docklands. The route includes two separately timed sprint sections – one to the east and one to the west of ExCeL. Cyclists will depart the arena to the east on Royal Albert Way and will complete a timed sprint on a section of runway adjacent to London City Airport to the north of Royal Albert Dock. Cyclists return to ExCeL and turn to complete this loop a second time.

Riders will then pass through the ExCeL site heading out to the west towards Canary Wharf passing over the Lower Lea Crossing with spectacular views of the O2 Arena and the River Thames. The 34KM route enters Canary Wharf with a separate timed sprint section here as riders pass through the loop around Cabot Square and Canada Square. Riders return to ExCeL before embarking on a second lap of Canary Wharf.

[Marek]

So, the most people that you would expect to have seen this advertised etc would be city and docklands folk. Now where would you choose to ride your bike if you work in the City or around the Docklands area. Hmmm, I doubt many would choose the Docklands. I may be wrong but I just don't see much of an attraction to this ride. If they want a big event to sponsor and get loads of people then why not sponsor a UK Etape that goes over the route that the Tour used last year. I was surprised that none of the event organisers tried to jump onto the Tour bandwagon and try to make the UK Etape a more regular event. I realise that this is probably an even bigger ask in regards to organisation etc, but would have thought British Cycling etc would be keen to help.

Cheers

MArek....

[Andrew G]

Was it to be done as a mass ride or a TT? I guess a mass ride which for 34k round Docklands isn't very attractive for most people. The riding on closed roads is an attraction but a mass ride event has to compete against sportives and the like.
[EDIT: just seen your post Snoop and still not sure what they were doing but looks a nightmare to organise and get sorted]


One option would be to run it as a TT for a smaller number of people but charge more money (how much was it?). Us TT-ers aren't put off by a fairly dull route and I for one would pay a decent amount for a one-off closed roads TT for a good cause. Do it like a proper Grand Tour TT with a start ramp, flame rouge, big finish banner. You'd have barriers for advertising, and the photos would be great to own and give another source of revenue - or bump the price by £5 and include a 7"x5" of you racing with your results sheet. I think a few people would order an extra photo too so they had one on the start ramp and one in action shot. I don't know what sort of numbers you'd need for this method but I think you'd stand a fair chance of getting 500 entries - 30 second intervals gives 250 minutes starting block being just over 4 hours, start first rider at 10am and you'd be able to do a podium mid afternoon. Startsheet would probably have to be done on a straightforward slowest first, fastest last method than any normal 0 number TT seeding - would be a bit of a pig to draw it up but I think feasible.

Too many sportives give us a closed roads TT .

[Ivor]

It was to be sort of TT ish in style with teams of four riding. I don't think the route looked too bad really given the area especially with the closed roads, it wasn't supposed to be a sportive.
I think it would have been an excellent bit of publicity for the cause.

[Snoop Doug]

Like it Mr

[Elliot M]

maybe the £500 (per team of 4) entry fee put people off?

[Mike I]

34km? Check
Canary Wharf? Check
Views of the Millenium Tent and the Thames? Check

The organisers have described my commute! The difference is that, instead of me having to stump up £500 to do it, I get paid for riding to and from Docklands every day. Yes, The Man demands that I interrupt my ride to do some proper work from time to time, but it's difficult to see the attraction here.

There are better opportunities to ride competitively and more attractive charidee rides out there.

[Ivor]

The £500 was per team not per person, and I think the idea/intention from the way it was presented was for companies to sponsor teams to enter.
I really don't think this was aimed as a mass participation sportive.

[Andrew G]

£500 per team of 4 no wonder they didn't get the entries. They were after 375 teams minimum as well. I think they need a new "ideas" department or they'll never get a penny if this is the sort of thing they come up with.