Southern California - Planet Ultra...WOW!

You do get "paid" with an entry fee which can be up to $80. Not bad if you ask me. I don't consider it work, I look at it as helping out my fellow cyclist.

That sounds like you're getting paid, at least in something that has value to you if not to Steve.

As far as tandem riding, it's off and on IMO. Somedays you can do 26 and nobody can catch you. The next you might do 14 if you're lucky!:D

It's very different on a tandem too. If one of you is having a bad day, then 'BOTH' of you are going to have a bad day. My hats off to the tandem riders on a double. We've done a few centuries on our tandem. Once we did 8.5 hours. I thought we did great but were one of the last ones in on the organized funride. Another time I thought we sucked but 70 miles into the funride, we started blowing by several other riders and finished up there. So you never know on a tandem!:giver:

Now now, no need for all the **** language. Don't get all butt hurt.

Who am I? The name's Jon Shellenbarger and I work and ride doubles. Who are you Euro-trash?

...but it's okay for you to call someone out on their ride time and :roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2: about it? Grow up Jon. Your replies as of late have been pretty pitiful. I don't know if you're trying to be the funny guy, or what. It's not working though. Your post to Cyclstev was cruel and childish and you deserve to be called out for it.

That was sad that you couldn't finish a double in 18 HOURS! :roflmao2: You are telling me that you couldn't handle 11MPH on a TANDEM! Not sure what your point is with this Jon. If PU held them back from leaving the stop for 10 minutes+ AND asked them to stay together as a group for the rest of the ride, then didn't allow them some leeway on the back end, that seems a bit unfair, doesn't it? They could have finished faster, but the organization didn't let them.

Not sure what your point is with this Jon. If PU held them back from leaving the stop for 10 minutes+ AND asked them to stay together as a group for the rest of the ride, then didn't allow them some leeway on the back end, that seems a bit unfair, doesn't it? They could have finished faster, but the organization didn't let them.

+1

I get upset when I go to Walmart and have to put up with the cashiers, but do I have to get a job there just so I can *****?

No, you need to pressure the cashiers to go back and finish high school. :D But your point was well put.

Damn dude, you came up with all that? It's like you've had that in your back pocket just waiting to use it.

:lurker:

I've known about this for a long time. I wanted to make sure you knew who you were defending.

Damn dude, you came up with all that? It's like you've had that in your back pocket just waiting to use it.

:lurker:

Seriously Jon...look at the links and tell me that what Planet Ultra did is not deceptive to the Bike Forums community. Instead of calling the people out who are bringing this to light, why don't you take the time to see other people's point of view.

Bottom line...Planet Ultra used this forum to advertise and promote their rides FOR FREE. They also used this forum under false pretenses to bash another event and promote their event. They knowingly "duped" their "friends" here and that is not only bad business...it makes me question their character.

If you want to keep aligning yourself with an organization like that, it's your choice. The rest of the community deserves to know the truth.

Why didn't you post this awhile ago? But it really doesn't matter because in the grand scheme of things we, as an internet sub forum make up for only 1-2% of PU riders and boycotting them and calling them out doesn't really change anything. If anything it might help them by getting other riders curious about there style and may end up riding and liking their events. :bike2:

As a recent prior lurker to this sub forum, I do not agree. You never know who is reading this forum. look at the number of guests (lurkers) constantly on here.

Lots of mixed feelings about the content of this thread. The info George posted was definitely eyebrow-raising however seems a tad obsessive
http://axgrind.com/forum/phpBB2/templates/subSilver/images/AxGrind_Logo_1.gif
It does however make me think twice about whether I want to support someone like that...if it's true.

On the other hand, I know several people who think PU puts on great events. As with anything, the people who have the bad experiences are often the most vocal about them.

I'd be interested to know what percentage of PU event participants thought it was Great/Good/Fair/Poor...though I don't think that's really possible.

I've been on two PU events and my overall experiences were fine, but PU is extremely thin skinned re. any criticism which is part of what puts people off. Check this out

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=6524121&highlight=#post6524121

I was somewhat appalled that PU a) blamed the riders for not behaving as they assumed they would; and b) blamed their volunteers. This is in contrast to other century organizers like julianactive and ShadowTours who have accepted criticism of aspects of their rides in good grace and have generally treated their customers like, well, customers.

BTW, isn't using a sock puppet grounds for banning around here?

Lots of mixed feelings about the content of this thread. The info George posted was definitely eye-opening however seems a tad obsessive

.

I was being thorough.

I know, :twitchy: I know but not finishing a double within 18 hours and blaming the organization is lame.

+1

During the Solvang Spring in 2006 I stayed with Maddmike when he had 5 flats, I also had 3 flats that day... and we finished in under 18 hours.... plus we got held up at the last rest stop to stay in a group so that the groups lights would increase safety.

mechanicals might be the problem, but if they had more problems than Mike and I.... then I am sorry for the situation.

and just in case you are wondering, the participants of the Solvang Double in 2006 suffered through almost 60 miles of rain, and that is why Mike and I had so many flats.


Overall, this thread was still started because Brandy had a beef and aired it here before independently verifying the information with the people she had a beef with...
Do people have bad experienced on rides, sure. Do people want to vent their frustrations, sure.
But to blame an organization for your own personal misjudgments is pretty harsh and uncalled for.

To expect a refund from TicketMaster for a concert ticket you bought is ridiculous. You bought a ticket, and a non-refundable one at that. Should you complain that band sucked or should you simply take that as a learning experience?

Now now, no need for all the **** language. Don't get all butt hurt.

Who am I? The name's Jon Shellenbarger and I work and ride doubles. Who are you Euro-trash?

If you disagree with what he said, that is fine. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. But how does it make any sense to belittle his accomplishment by personaly insulting his finishing time and calling it sad?

Love or hate Plant Ultra all you want, it makes no difference to me... I just think personal insults directed at the OP are uncalled for...