Sportives and Gatecrashing
Discussion
Not advocating to do this but having done a fair few I have come to the following conclusion.
You sign in and get a timing chip and number, however, in terms of access and lining up / getting started and the actual route which is always signposted, why bother paying? You can still park for free, get your bike and join the crowd to start, follow the clearly signposted route often for over 100 miles, then roll in over the finishing line. I bet the unsuspecting medal awarders would still put a medal around your neck and award you a bag. If they questioned you just say the number fell off.
Even food stops, they are crammed with cyclists and nobody is checking who is who.
So to my mind the only things gained by paying is a timing chip ( GPS does this all for you anyway ) and an absolute guarantee of mechanical help or collection if needed, neither of which I am bothered by nor I hope would apply to me.
Is it just me that has thought of this?
You sign in and get a timing chip and number, however, in terms of access and lining up / getting started and the actual route which is always signposted, why bother paying? You can still park for free, get your bike and join the crowd to start, follow the clearly signposted route often for over 100 miles, then roll in over the finishing line. I bet the unsuspecting medal awarders would still put a medal around your neck and award you a bag. If they questioned you just say the number fell off.
Even food stops, they are crammed with cyclists and nobody is checking who is who.
So to my mind the only things gained by paying is a timing chip ( GPS does this all for you anyway ) and an absolute guarantee of mechanical help or collection if needed, neither of which I am bothered by nor I hope would apply to me.
Is it just me that has thought of this?
I am not saying I would claim the mdeal, goodie bag or anything else - you miss the point.
What I am saying is that you can turn up to a sportive, leave with the crowd, ride round, finish with the crowd then go home.
So you get the same result, less all the things that most of them pay for.
What I am saying is that you can turn up to a sportive, leave with the crowd, ride round, finish with the crowd then go home.
So you get the same result, less all the things that most of them pay for.
el stovey said:
You utter p 
ey. 
What is "gained" is the chance that there will be more sportive events because people pay to support them.
I could possibly get away with not paying for loads of things I use. If I and enough other people did though, they might not be around for much longer. How about museums, art galleries, you can often even get charity stuff without making donations if you try hard enough.
Fair point, and I agree, hence my first sentence about non advocation. It was more of an observation and opinion gatherer to be fair. ey. What is "gained" is the chance that there will be more sportive events because people pay to support them.
I could possibly get away with not paying for loads of things I use. If I and enough other people did though, they might not be around for much longer. How about museums, art galleries, you can often even get charity stuff without making donations if you try hard enough.
I support the notion of sportives and what they offer - I really do. And I am happy to pay for the experience, but, it just dawned on me that there is an easy avenue of abuse, which would never be seen.
Jimboka said:
Seems a bit cheeky, using the services that the entrants have paid for.
What if you have an off, their marshals or medics will go the help you. Perhaps meaning a fare paying cyclist could be neglected.
What if a Marshall gives you the all clear at a junction and you get wiped out.
Just not worth the risk, or the ire of others..
Bit like turning up and running the London Marathon without a number
But therein lies the answer.What if you have an off, their marshals or medics will go the help you. Perhaps meaning a fare paying cyclist could be neglected.
What if a Marshall gives you the all clear at a junction and you get wiped out.
Just not worth the risk, or the ire of others..
Bit like turning up and running the London Marathon without a number
If you have an off and the marshall's tend to you the onus is on them to recognise who they are dealing with. Any sportive will have untold random riders running through their route.
Junctions - I have never done a sportive where junctions are marshalled - please point me in the direction of one!
Steve vRS said:
Marshals at the circuit breaker last month.
Ok, so when your 22 miles in, or 67 miles in, or whatever it might be, and you arrive in a group of 2/3/5/7 e.t.c. al l of which display numbers - what do those Marshalls do?Not being antagonistic - but seriously - how can they identify you as a jumper on and what can / do they do?
These are open roads no?
Again not justifying this but it seems to me a no brainer.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff