Originally Posted by
dz_nuzz
This is what I am driving at though. There seems to be this desire to turn the racing scene into a money maker. That is all well and good but from where I stand it just isn't feasible. USAC officials don't really make much, races need volunteers (who aren't paid), and so on. As much as I have some beef with USAC right now, what about them? If promoters say "We want to make a real profit!" why shouldn't the officials say that aswell? Then the "volunteers" will start to expect more than just getting a T-Shirt.
Fun rides are different. I have done a few Gran Fondos and while they aren't exactly my thing, I understand why people like them. Sure, make a profit in a market where you have enough participants to make the expense worth your while and the overhead costs are lower. But it seems like people are upset that races don't bring in the same kind of money that Gran Fondos, novelty Hill Climbs, or other "fun" events bring in. You can't just say: "People ride bikes at my event, thus I can expect to make profit X"
Are you kidding? Racing comes at a FAR HIGHER risk to the promoter than any century or gran fondo. To say that "racing" should be set aside as some charitable endeavor is ludicrous. It's already that in many respects, from my perspective anyway; it's the most under-priced endurance sport there is. Pound for pound, road bicycle racing is a complete steal compared to any other endurance sport. Unfortunately, it carries with it an attitude that everyone should take a vow of poverty to provide the race itself so everyone else can profit from it in the form of weekend entertainment for racers, or in the form of hotel charges, restaurants, and gas at the corner gas station. Screw that. It's my effort and risk that enables it all in the first place...
We pay everyone, by the way, in one fashion or another. This is the only way we are able to sustain an event like Battenkill. Let's be honest, if you're not directly involved in a cycling event and are deriving a benefit of some kind (either as a paid staff member, police/EMS, or as member of your local civic group in line for a post-event donation), then you're not invested at all and would probably rather it not clog up local roads on a weekend.