ijgoodwin

I just got my winter tires (Schwalbe Durano 25c) for a grand total of about $46 after the 10% off they had last week plus the PBK Rewards Points I got for registering and getting the newsletter. There are still some good deals to be had.

kensuf

Because they ran that killer blow-out deal two weeks ago. You could get an ergo 2 delivered to your door for $215 with the appropriate 10% off coupon code.

bostongarden

Oh dear, whoopsie indeed. Accordingly, I have submitted a followup email to PBK.

Dear PBK,

It's me again. Boy, do I have some egg on my face. In my last email asking you to offer the Continental 4000s clincher at $US 35, I erroneously indicated that BikeForums.com is the online community of folks who would appreciate this gesture. The correct forum is BikeForums.NET, where "net" stands for thousands of enthusiastic cyclists/members all over the the world with hundreds of millions of dollars/euros in purchasing power, who have, and will continue to, contribute to your NET proceeds.

I am a card-carrying member. When I shared my first correspondence to you with my colleagues on BikeForums.NET, the powers-that-be pointed out the error in my communication. That was embarrassing!! As an aside, I was hoping to earn "outstanding" on my annual review. This does create a bit of a muddle for me. However, I suspect that were you to come through with the special offering, I would be back in good graces. I would greatly appreciate your help!!!

Best regards,

Bruce

P.S. You still look marvelous!!!

kindablue

Ok, crank based power meters.

I understand they aren't making a fortune off of them, I just wish I didn't have to clear 2k to buy the PM, software, and the computer

bostongarden

As you probably experienced, a basic google search is not sufficient!! A google search for "Enervitene cheer pack" did return a vendor; however, I have no idea as to their legitimacy.

I posted the following tweet on your behalf "Dear cycling friends, can you please point me to someplace where Enervitene cheer packs are in stock?? Thanks!!" I have more than 15 followers; so, there is a chance that good news will come back soon. I'll keep you posted.

bostongarden

Pricing is funny isn't it?! First, I agree that "full information" about costs should be provided up front. This may be arguably worse than that "documentation fee" that auto dealers spring on us when we are finalizing the paperwork for our shiny new car. Second, from strictly a behavioral-pricing perspective, buyers might indeed be more satisfied paying $30 for a race that includes chip rental than paying $25 for a race that requires renting a chip for $5. Although, a $30 race might have less demand than a $25 race!! I would raise this issue with them. If you would like some assistance or want to arrange an intervention, let me know.

In Austin, when RunTex ran a TT, one could buy a chip and then use that (and, of course, then not have to rent it).

What's with the fee for same-day signup/registration? Indeed, there is paperwork and time involved. But, $5-$10 of paperwork and time?? There has to be more to it than this. Aki, Psimet? My guess is that it does help speed things up when someone can step up, show a license, sign a sheet, get a number, and move on. Also, for popular races, it's probably nice to know that when you show up, you are going to be able to race. Don't you hate it when you go to the movies and it's sold out? A remedy is PRE-purchasing your tix online before you go -- there is a fee for this.

shovelhd

Popular races sell out, so pre-reg is always a good idea. As for the day-of cost, I can only speak about our road race. We pay a woman to run the registration. We have lots of volunteers, but this woman is worth the money. She gets $X per rider. Pre-reg is less than day-of as she can prep the releases and numbers ahead of time. Day-of, she needs help, and it takes more time per rider, thus a higher cost. I do think that one reason promoters add day-of fees is to encourage pre-reg, which puts more money in the bank earlier, which makes it easier to cancel the race if the prize list is mainly from registration fees and pre-reg doesn't look promising enough to avoid a substantial loss.

bostongarden

Power coupon folks have nothing on you!! It so happens that my "dinner" tonight was all bars and gels: bar before I left the house for a race, gel just before the race, bar on the way home after the race. I have a feeling that I'll be hungry in the morning. As an aside, racing two nights in a row (and I did a mini sprint workout after last night's race) can take it out of ya.

shovelhd

They raced at Ninigret tonight?

bostongarden

Thanks. Interesting stuff. As for absorbing the cost of registration, I did that too for a conference I developed and ran recently. I used EventBrite conference registration service. I felt that the conference fee was enough, and I didn't want to annoy anyone with a nickel & dime fee. EventBrite has an option for event organizers to absorb the registration fee, which we did.

bostongarden

I went to Wompy. The 1/2/3 last night was cancelled due to debris being all over (from Hurricane Irene), so I did nearby Tuesday-nighter road race (you know some of the folks). Then, 2 amazing souls swept the Wompy course last night/ So, tonight's Wednesday 3/4/5/35+ was run. I was hesitant to do it given the expected experience of the riders, but, I wanted to race (and I concerned that Sunday Wells might be a rain out).

bostongarden

WOW. Wish I hadn't missed that one!! That is a smokin' deal!!!

bostongarden

I've already learned some cool stuff. I now know to only race or help out at races, and leaving the organization and planning to others.

Psimet2001 

Pre-reg is not only the way of the future but honestly I would hate to put on a race without it. The extra fee for day of is to persuade people to pre-reg. Pre-reg determines whether or not some races will actually be cancelled.

Psimet2001 

Also - there is no "cost impact" to day of. You're still going to run your race and the same number of people are going to register whether it takes 2 minutes or 5 minutes to reg. You're not getting some sort of bill by the hour for reg volunteers. The extra $ charged for day of serves to get people to pre-reg and as a sort of "reward" for the added "risk" taken that more than those who pre-reg'd will show up.

carpediemracing 

Although I pay the folks behind the desks (pre- and day-of- reg), pre-reg is really more for folks that want to commit. For Cat 5s it's kind of necessary since races close out. Bethel doesn't usually close out although we came close a few times. Our field limits for the 3-4 and P123 races are 125 so that's high to close (for an industrial park crit).

Usually Cat 2s and "credit-challenged" (i.e. they kind of live off the books) riders do day-of. I close pre-reg on Thurs relatively early (9 PM) so I can send out the release forms to be printed Friday AM and pick them up Fri PM. Then I drive to the venue Saturday for the Sunday race.

Pre-reg, for me, is a lot of work, because I do the work. It's a weekly stress for me, wipes out my Thursday and Friday evenings. Day of race is easier for me because the registration girls (because so far they've all been girls - they're daughters of racers and such) do that for me. It all goes into the same spreadsheet which automatically fills out the results for me (for whatever we pick, usually 20 places).

Personally I like day-of registrations. I get more money (I see a net difference of $5 per racer for a one week pre-reg). Day of reg money basically saves the race. It costs the racer almost the same amount as a single week pre-reg (including the fee it's $2.xx more for day of), the racer can back out at the last minute, and I never have to deal with refund issues. If someone crashes in the first of two races they're doing in a day, they get a refund/credit. If they call ahead and say they're sick, refund/credit. I'm easy, I race too, I understand that stuff happens. But I'm merciless if someone oversleeps for daylight savings or because they partied too much Sat night.

I declare every penny that comes in so there's no advantage to me taking cash "unofficially", i.e. day of race. In fact I can't even take stuff that I get for prizes, so I had to buy my own Podium ICE bottles even though I got about 50 for the race. Bought my own helmet even though I got a slew of Giro Atmos. I didn't even get to keep a Michelin mechanic shirt

There is an advantage to pre-reg with BikeReg - they pay weekly up to the race. Or something like that. So the few thousand dollars I lay out before the races, pre-reg pays for a lot of that. This year numbers cost something like $2500-3000 (including some flubbed stuff - it took until the 3rd week to get things right), in 2012 I expect to pay the same for just the numbers. Trophies, supplies, permit fees, promoter club fee, making sure the van works, etc. If everyone pre-reg it wouldn't be as healthy a race.

I guess it's a Catch-22. If no one pre-regs then everyone will go elsewhere. Who wants to race in a field of 15? But since the Bethel races are established, most people expect 70-90 rider fields in all but the 5s and Women, and the 5s will be 50 and women will be 25-40 riders. I only started listing confirmed riders this year because in prior years we used more than one online registration site. Now we only use BikeReg so we can display the pre-reg list.

carpediemracing 

I think this week AND next week they're off. The last one is during Interbike.

bostongarden

The Enervitene cheer pack unavailability is curious to me.

I sent competitive cyclist an email:

Howdy Competitive.Cyclist,

Do you have any plans to carry/sell Enervitene cheer packs?? I see that you have the gel. An online friend of mine (BikeForums.NET -- huge cycling community), and a darn good racer in Texas, is looking for it and can't find it anywhere!! I figured y'all would be the one to contact on this one.

Thanks!!

Best regards,

Bruce
Just a guy trying to help his fellow racer

waterrockets 

We just has all three Tour of Austin cat 3/4 crits close yesterday (100 limit), and the racers who missed it are freaking out. Cat 3s are acting like they're more important than the 4s who pre-registered, want them relegated to the 4/5 race, offering to buy spots off Cat 4s. It's pretty funny.

shovelhd

Nate552

I already emailed them a few weeks ago when I saw their enervit line up was updated, but no cheer pack. I got a response saying that they would not be carrying them. I can't find them anywhere on the internets, except some store in Australia, but shipping was too much. I love those things and only have left.

carpediemracing 

BG I retweeted your tweet. Nothing. I like Enervit too, it's like the magic bomb for me, I just forgot about it until now.

I tried and like the Maxxis tires (some super duty training one). Good grip in the rain, durable, etc. I paid retail, about $35 per tire. I want another pair but my LBS is out of them. I want to buy a Kenda tire since they're involved in the sport - anyone try them and if so what model? Looking for a backup racing tire (rain, rough surfaces, and if my race tire flats) that will be my normal training tire.

I hate Contis btw so that's out. Krylions work but I'm specifically looking for rain tires and I can't remember if I liked them in the rain or not.

topflightpro

This is exactly my point.

The additional day-of fee is intended to get people to pre-register. But if service charges of pre-registering cost about the same as the day-of cost, well, there really isn't any incentive, unless the race is filling up.

And around here, there has only been one race that I know of that filled up in pre-registration - it was a 4/5 RR - and when that happened, they made the Cat 3 race a 3/4 and allowed 4s to change to the 3/4 race if they wanted.

waterrockets 

Ok, so surely someone here who is witty can win this BF logo contest:
https://www.bikeforums.net/announcement.php?f=33&a=73

Nate552

I don't have permission to view that page.