JimF22003

If this post comes off as whining, and I should just HTFU, I apologize in advance, but I wanted to get this off my chest. It's way too long too, so skip it if that kind of thing bugs you.

Last weekend I did a hilly organized century ride a good distance away from where I live. I won't mention the name, because it's for a good cause, but it's easy to figure out if you're interested, or you can PM me.

I'd been looking forward to this event, because it was in an area where I used to live 20 years ago, and it involved some nice hill work including a 2500 ft climb on a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that I've always wanted to do. The century was 10000+ feet of climbing, and the metric was 6500 feet.

The ride was smaller than I expected. There were only about 100 riders. I don't know how many of them signed up for the century option originally. The day was very rainy. No downpours, but steady rain almost the whole way.

On the way off of the BRP it was very, very cold and the rain was as heavy as it had been all day. I seriously considered just doing the metric. We were advised that if we didn't make the "decision point" for the metric vs. the full century by noon, we should just do the metric anyway for time reasons. I made it to the turn-off by 11:15am. I'm not the fastest rider in the world, but I thought that was respectable. I was certainly riding in front of as many riders as were riding ahead of me.

I stopped for a minute to think it over, and then decided to go for it and push on. I was feeling pretty hard-core frankly. I was riding in the hills, in the rain, and was actually enjoying myself immensely.

Because of the rain, apparently only 5 or 6 people chose to do the full century option. Needless to say they were all faster than me (and 20 years younger.) By the time I got to the rest stop at about 60 miles, the SAG guy came up to me and asked me "the ride organizer wants to know how you're doing. Think you're OK to do the last 35 miles?" I thought that was kind of an odd question. I didn't think I looked all that bad. I was feeling fine. I said no problem, and took off a few minutes later.

At about mile 77, I was flagged down on the road by the SAG guy, who informed me that I was the "last one on the road". He said the ride organizer was complaining that everybody at the remaining rest stop and at the finish was ready to go home (it was only about 2:00pm at the time.) Nobody wanted to wait around for me to limp my way in. I was given the "option" of finishing the ride on my own, but there would be no remaining rest stop or other assistance in case I had problems.

I was pretty p*ssed. I didn't know the area well enough to take my chances on finding my way back. And why should I? I paid my money like everybody else. I felt like I had no option but to get in the SUV and drive back to the start. Here I was feeling pretty good, pretty hardcore for riding in the rain, and I ended up having to SAG in which I've never, ever done before in numerous organized century rides.

When we got back to the start the ride organizer was apologetic. She said, "I'm sorry you weren't able to finish the ride." I just said "I was able to finish the ride" and left.

I think this is really cheesy behavior on the part of any organized event like this. I won't be doing the ride next year, which is a shame, because it was beautiful country and a beautiful route.

roadwarrior

You didn't say when you left, so your times have no relevance.

If it was cold and pouring down rain and you were well behind everyone else (you don't say how far behind...and noted at a rest stop that you were asked how you were doing but don't say whether you were the only rider at the stop...which should have been an indicator to you) I would not have wanted to hang around for you either. But if you were smoking along at a 6 to 6.5 hour pace, then I'd agree with you.

Long post, not enough info.

EventServices

You need to write in a bigger gear.

patentcad

I would have told them to go F off, cranked up the iPod and ridden alone. F 'em.

botto 

that. is. beautiful.

chipcom 

You pays your money to race too...but you don't cry when you get pulled because you're way OTB.
Fogetaboudit...you lived to ride another day.

nitropowered

It took you 2:45min to do 17 miles. At that pace, it would have taken you another 3:45 to finish.

It was cold and raining and you have to think about the other people as well. You at least were riding, the other support people are just sitting in their cars waiting on just you, hoping you'll show up and you didn't fall into a ditch along the way.

jrobe

The next time (or maybe the first time) you volunteer to work at a charity ride and it is pouring rain, you will understand.

I have learned to do these things being self-sufficient (camelback, food, maps). I have been burned before with no water when I needed it, poorly marked roads, etc.. That is the nature of many of these rides - fairly poor planning and staffing. They are just trying to make a little money.

rodrigaj

You cross posted on the 50+ forum. I enjoyed reading the two sets of responses. Polar opposites.

I never do organized rides for exactly the reasons you cited.

Lucky07

I've heard similar complaints about the local MS ride. The organizers have a cute off time for the 100 mile route That info IS in the fine print of their site, but no one ever seems to see it, so they are faced with an angry group of slower 100 mile riders every year. I understand why the Ride would want to shut down the rest stops, SAG wagon & marshalls at some point, but that needs to be relayed to the riders beforehand. Last year when faced with this issue, some friends took off their ride numbers & finished the route themselves. They were perfectly happy to do so.

In your case, you can certainly understand why say a couple of dozen people wouldn't want to wait around in the rain for you. If you have a cue sheet & the route is marked, you can always finish on your own.

Pugsly

all those people manning the rest stops are volunteers. I would be embarassed to have all those people waiting on me to complete the course, standing in the rain, waiting for a solitary rider way behind all the others.

roadwarrior

I looked at that when I saw your post. I am still laughing.

Half the posters there think the world stops and starts at their command.

He averaged less than 7mph if the 2.45 for 17 miles is correct.

Maybe he was on an adult trike with a load of groceries in a big basket in the back.

patentcad

They're idiots.

The world stops and starts at my command on BF.

Everybody knows that RW.

mmmdonuts

^^^ This is the correct response.

kwrides

If you still had 23 miles to go and were the last person on the road. If that's the case, there were clearly not as many people behind you as ahead of you.

I'm honestly sorry your century got ruined. I wish I could have been on what sounds like an awesome ride. You can't expect 50 volunteers to wait at least another hour in freezing rain for 1 rider.

CastIron

You are that guy.

Coop500

Read comprehension is a skill...that was in the middle of the ride. He clearly states that after the decision point only 5-6 riders continued on to the century.

I can understand you being angry because you paid an entry fee, but you also have to think about the others involved. I would be embarrassed and not expect all those people to just wait on me. I don't think you were riding as strong as you "think" you were if you were that far behind.

Still sucks I agree, but next time try to put yourself in the volunteer's shoes at least. And you should have explained your beef better to the organizer and not acted like a spoiled kid. How can they expect to improve without rider input?

CyLowe97

You should sue the organizers for breech of contract.

MissKristen 

I honestly don't think you were treated "like crap" on this ride from the sound of it... in fact, I think they gave you a little more courtesy than most probably would have considering the circumstances. Perhaps they should've explained to you at the mid-point that there were only 6 riders doing the century and they were all ahead of you, and if you didn't reach X miles in Y time, you'd be solo. At least then you could've decided to take off your number or pedal harder.

Sorry you weren't pleased with the ride though.

patentcad

I'm surprised the didn't test you for PDD's (performance degrading drugs). That's more typical on MTB group rides.

Whoah.

kwrides

You're right, reading comprehension is a skill. So is writing.

He also clearly implies that he did not know there were only 5-6 riders on the century when stating

RobertFrapples

If he was riding in a pack of 20 people, the volunteers would have stayed.

The organizers should have set minimum times to hit checkpoints, not minimum number of people at the end.

I would be annoyed too.

MattDC

I can taste your salty tears
Warm and delicious
Cry no more, HTFU

urbanknight

This is why I rarely do organized rides anymore. They're public roads, I'm carrying my own supplies, so why the hell am I paying someone for the privilege? Unless it's a really good charity or I think I would get lost without their help, I'm riding alone, any day I want, at any speed I want.

GP

Were there time cutoffs at the checkpoints? If you missed those, rain or not, you're SOL. If there weren't, and the staff just wanted to go home, then the race organizer should have waited for you. He or she should have sent everyone else home and become your personal SAG.