[Closed] £55 race entry is that the norm these days?

Was it on closed roads though?

Yes.

Yes closed roads and thats what makes me think that the fee isn't too excessive, but just wanted some reassurance

Getting the Llanberis Pass closed for your pleasure is worth a few quid, I'd say.

Closed roads plus commercial events company organised (as opposed an amateur club) = high price.

It's a tough one but the mental block I have over cycling events is that 90% of the enjoyment is derived from the bike riding, and a day out with friends. Which pretty much costs nothing (or at least is an extra cost on top of the event itself, bike, petrol etc). The actual event itself is usually a lot of ££ for only incrementally more enjoyment.

E.g. a big 40mile loop in the lake district vs Ard Rock.

2 days bike packing vs Gravel dash

Chilterns CX sportive vs Gravel sunday club run

All those events are undoubtedly good fun and worth the entry fees, but sometimes you kinda think is it worth it vs just going for a ride.

All those events are undoubtedly good fun and worth the entry fees, but sometimes you kinda think is it worth it vs just going for a ride.

Indeedy.. I've stopped doing 'events' mostly because for 99% of times it's just not worth the outlay.

All those events are undoubtedly good fun and worth the entry fees, but sometimes you kinda think is it worth it vs just going for a ride.

Ard rock is a bit of an exception IMO, as you can't ride those trails at any other time of year, I'll happily pay 70 quid for an amazing weekend on what I think is about the best trails to race in the UK, flat out awesome rocky fun.

In general, most events are priced IAW their set up costs, it won't be much less than 55 quid to cover all their responsibilities*.

*8 quid tonight's hill race has cost me. 🙂

Agree totally Nobeer. We're doing the SDW event as it's a bit more than just riding the SDW as it's helping people/charity etc too, it's also great to have the food stops etc.. Sometimes i don't mind paying. But some/most events i think "i could do it tomorrow for free"

Closed trail type things, that's more worth it though, especially if a decent course too

£42 for HOTS in a couple of weeks (though it's not a race, it's more an off-road sportive).
That includes some trails that you can't normally access, camping, food (and cider) stops, and a couple of bands in the evening.
Worth every penny I think 🙂

WOTS HOTS?

Heaven of the south, in south Glos

Ard rock is a bit of an exception IMO, as you can’t ride those trails at any other time of year, I’ll happily pay 70 quid for an amazing weekend on what I think is about the best trails to race in the UK, flat out awesome rocky fun.

I've not done it so can't really comment, I just remember people moaning it was expensive.

I can see the appeal of racing if it's competitive (even the back end of a mass start race is good fun when it's the same few people each week and eventually you work your way up into a better group) but I can't quite see the appeal of making up the numbers in enduro or dh where you may never even meet your rival!

well I'm certainly making up the numbers if this fella and danny hart are racing

ardrock you are racing your mates and yourself (if you've done it before).
some of the best uk riding i've experienced, along with ardmoors , pit your skill against the course.

if you ride downhill and innerlethen weekly then if may be a bit easier for you.
i know I'm pushing myself to the limits on a trail bike, thats for sure.

regarding expensive? £70 for a weekend with racing,
cheaper than a night on piss, a days mtb coaching, a gig ticket, a new set of dmr vaults.

I'm doing this race at the end of July. A 24 hour race at Nurburgring in Germany and the price is 150 euros per person for a team of four!

All those events are undoubtedly good fun and worth the entry fees, but sometimes you kinda think is it worth it vs just going for a ride.

Indeedy.. I’ve stopped doing ‘events’ mostly because for 99% of times it’s just not worth the outlay.

I tend to agree with these guys.
I accept that everybody has their own motives for entering such events, but I'd much rather just go out riding my some friends, and have an adventure of our own making.

No expense other than sandwiches or a pub/cafe stop.
No ballots with a disappointing outcome
No psychological blackmail to perform on your workmates (i.e. Sponsorship for doing your hobby)
No wondering how much of the entry fee goes into the pockets of the organisation running the event
No having to go into London (Or wherever) the night before, to register
No sharing the roads/trails with thousands of others
No (less) queuing at the food stops
Having the option to modify the route on-the-fly
Having the option to not even turn up, if the weather is foul.

etc.

etc.

If you're bothered about charity, just make a donation yourself.

#oldgit

Racing is great fun and a totally different day out for me, but I won’t pay the prices anymore. Maybe it would be different if I was faster, but it just seems a waste of money now.
I hoped to take the kids to complete in the youth introduction to Enduro last month at bpw, but I just could not justify £50 each entry for a child’s hobby.
My local club are running a sportive this year which I’ll probably enter just to support a local event.

I stopped doing Polaris Challenge events when the entry fee went up to about £35.