Drum Roll, Boris said...............
Comments
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I'm in too.
I'd been given a charity place for Anthony Nolan - a charity which promotes a register of potential bone marrow donors and matches people on the register who need life saving treatment for blood cancers. I'll be handing back my charity place and instead raising money on my LEJOG in September. I'm hoping I'll be able to make a better job of raising cash on a bigger challenge and the charity will benefit by being able to re-sell my place in RL100
I fully understand why some don't want to or can't raise the substantial sums required by charities to ride the event, I suspect most will end up paying a hefty chunk of that £600 themselves. But I'm baffled as to why people seem to begrudge worthy causes the opportunity to raise some cash from an event like this. If they think they can 'sell' places for £600 a go then why shouldn't they? Times are tough for charities and they need to be somewhat ruthless in the way they raise funds.
And it's not like we have no choice - take your chance in the ballot, support a charity or try again next year.
Anyway, I'm sorry for those of you who didn't get in.0 -
d87francis wrote:B.M.R. wrote:For what its worth, I hope anyone who decides to "crash" the route without signing up and paying gets caught out and thoroughly embarrassed.
Why? The prospect of raising £600 in donations could be near impossible for some, whereas others will just pay this outright themselves in order to enter. Whilst others have stated on this very forum that they could afford to pay the £600 donation but if given a place will not donate this to charity. At the end of the day it will be a profit making exercise for all involved, charities and private companies. All taking part on publicly owned roads.
What happens if you don't raise the £600 etc. by the day and say only have £400?
Dispatches in 2010 found that only 25p out of every pound raised by the London Marathon went to charitable causes, the rest went towards huge salaries and fees to private companies. The charities themselves have to purchase the places for a significant fee to then sell on for fundraising. If this event was really about charity why not give those places to charities? Sadly it's not it's about private profits made off the back of 'charity'.
I tell you who I hope gets thoroughly embarrassed, those who were going to donate a significant amount to charity but got in on the ballot and now won't.
I wasn't referring to people who fail to raise money for their chosen charity, I was referring to anyone who wasn't even going to bother paying for a spot in the ballot but still turn up and ride. So no payment at all (not even to the organisers).
But now you mention it, if someone didn't get in on the ballot, and doesn't want to commit to a charity spot, then they shouldn't be there riding on the day either (obviously). It sucks if you wanted to ride but didn't get through the ballot, but your choice is clear, either get a charity spot or you'll have to try again next year. Unfortunately they've had to put a cap on the number of riders to make sure things stay safe (after all, the more riders the more money they make, so they do want as many as possible). Maybe next year they can increase (or even decrease if there are problems).
It may be taking place on "public owned roads" but when you factor in the costs of road closures/policing/ambulance/water and food for rest stops etc... it explains why there has to be a charge applied to entering. If you don't want to pay for that, then just ride the route at any other time (i.e. in traffic and unsupported). It's a simple decision. You don't have a right to take part in an event just because it's on a public road, it's a privilege you must pay for, and each person must decide how much they are willing to pay or raise in order to enjoy that privilege.0 -
Gross Nein!
Can't really say i'm 'that' bothered. Would have been nice to do a flat 100 sportive though.0 -
B.M.R. wrote:.. if someone didn't get in on the ballot, and doesn't want to commit to a charity spot, then they shouldn't be there riding on the day either (obviously). It sucks if you wanted to ride but didn't get through the ballot, but your choice is clear, either get a charity spot or you'll have to try again next year. Unfortunately they've had to put a cap on the number of riders to make sure things stay safe (after all, the more riders the more money they make, so they do want as many as possible). Maybe next year they can increase (or even decrease if there are problems).
It may be taking place on "public owned roads" but when you factor in the costs of road closures/policing/ambulance/water and food for rest stops etc... it explains why there has to be a charge applied to entering. If you don't want to pay for that, then just ride the route at any other time (i.e. in traffic and unsupported). It's a simple decision. You don't have a right to take part in an event just because it's on a public road, it's a privilege you must pay for, and each person must decide how much they are willing to pay or raise in order to enjoy that privilege.
+1. It's not a public road on the day. The roads are closed to non-participating vehicles.Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
Looks like I made it in through the ballot, absolutely euphoric about it!
This came in the post in this morning:
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it would be interesting to know what the split of charity to ballot entries there actually were. "I'm hearing a lot of I didnt get in" with the ballot vs a lot of "Ive got a charity place". Seems the ballot may be actually a lot lower ie 10,000 places.0
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Well doneTakeTurns wrote:Looks like I made it in through the ballot, absolutely euphoric about it!
This came in the post in this morning:
I got one that had 'commiserations' instead of 'congratulations'.
And in many places throughout the mag. Must have cost a fortune to print and send 50k mags out - though there is a lot of advertising in it which would have covered quite a bit of it.Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
Am I reading that right from the image that you need to travel to London the day before to collect your timing chip??0
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It appears so.Tom_UK wrote:Am I reading that right from the image that you need to travel to London the day before to collect your timing chip??
It's not that unreasonable, though - the event starts between 6 and 8 am, so it's not going to be realistic to travel from far away on the day. So I guess they figure that if people are travelling down a day or two before anyway...Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
Had already booked a room in the Premier Inn so will be there from the Friday.
Was not wanting to miss this so signed up with BHF and have my first £50 already.
Am doing the Freeride with my daughter on the Saturday. Anyone else going up as a Family?0 -
Just a quick update,
I had my magazine delivered this morning confirming I didn't get a spot in the ballot....
But I also got a cycling jersey in the pack as well!
It was a thank you from the Ride London team because I had agreed to donate my entry fee as a charitable donation should I not get a space through the ballot. Now if I'm honest I did that more because I would then be entered into a second ballot for a space (so two chances to get a spot) than because I was feeling particularly generous, but I'm happy that the money I paid is now going to a good cause, and I've got free jersey because of it.
Its not a bad top either, black with multicoloured edgings, and a RIDE LONDON logo in white on the front. Full length front zip with 3 rear pockets one of which is zipped, so all in all not bad considering I expected nothing but the "commiserations" magazine.0 -
Guessing the second draw has happened?0
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Having seen some the re-tweets from Ride100 a few of the people don't look like they could do 10 miles to the local shop let alone 100 in 8 hours!
I seriously hope they haven't made a farce of all this by accepting people that don't complete for the sake of serious cyclists who would have loved the opportunity0 -
Will be interesting to see how it pans out.
It would be awful if a lot of people get swept up.
Personally I do not think the London Marathon concept will transfer to cycling very well and feel there might be changes to reflect that next year.0 -
Carbonator wrote:Guessing the second draw has happened?
That's my assumption as they went to the trouble of sending out the magazine specifically telling me I hadn't got in, and the jersey as a thank you. I'm assuming if you got in via the second ballot you would get your spot but no jersey.0 -
Right so doing this log in thing it appears I have not made it despite donating the £48? I presume they are going to send me a jersey for an event I have been banished from..... what is the point of this?
Absolutely fuming if this is the case! I think the stragglers (of which there will be plenty looking at some the entries) should be swept up in the back of a van and shot!0 -
They could rename the event 'Death Race 2013'
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haha!! I hope the whole event is an absolute farce & it p*sses down with rain from start to finish!
I'm off to steal something from a charity shop to the value of £48 & if Boris thiks I'm gonna vote for him next time round he's got another thing coming!
Poxy cycling! easier to use the car anyway!
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You need a Snickers 0
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got tosay I feel a bit miffed - I was looking to do this and in a good time - I had a series of sportive s lines up with this as the culmination - Now I have to do another London 100 sportive - but that is in June so has stacked up my whole training plan
3 of us applied together and all 3 got turned down. Bah humbug0 -
Gazspurs wrote:haha!! I hope the whole event is an absolute farce & it p*sses down with rain from start to finish!
I'm off to steal something from a charity shop to the value of £48 & if Boris thiks I'm gonna vote for him next time round he's got another thing coming!
Poxy cycling! easier to use the car anyway!
You can't use a car the roads are closed. They 're closed for all us people that got in to have a brilliant day out with no cars trying to run us down.
It's going be great. Pity you're going to miss it :twisted:0 -
Yeah I feel a bit miffed, 4 of us applied (all between 25-30) and none of us got in, yet 3 woman I know applied all got in! Be very interested to see if that was an actual names out the hat ballot because I very much doubt it!
And to the fella getting angry over my previous comment, I'm only having a laugh buddy!0 -
I loved your rant, apart from the bit about it raining :shock:
I did not get in and felt sick. I am off work sick already so I was double sick!
I decided I could not miss it and got a charity place.
I will probably end up paying most of it myself but feel it will be worth it
If I get around in a good time I am hoping to help out on the sweep up lorry 0 -
Carbonator - not directed to you at all buddy, I enjoyed the Snickers/ diva comment because that's very much how I'm feeling! it was directed to the break guy taking me far to seriously
Personally I wouldn't do the event for a charity I have no personal connection with, I was gonna ride it & raise money for a mate of ours that died 2 years ago, really thought I'd get in but not the case.
Just reading some tweets make me even more annoyed! This one from Nick "My wife got in to @ride_100 although she doesn't have a bike & does 2 spinning classes a week" :shock: :shock: :shock: I'm so fuming I feel like putting my bike on ebay & jacking it all in!0 -
Sounds like these events are attracting the facebook generation who do these events largely so they can just post to their 'friends' they were there. A bit like those who spend a gig filming through a crappy camera phone rather than actually enjoying themselves.0
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Just wondering if distance made any difference, as Boris wants people to come and fill the hotels up, good for his business!0
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That's the spirit!!!!Carbonator wrote:I decided I could not miss it and got a charity place.
I will probably end up paying most of it myself but feel it will be worth it
I'm going to tap up my family over the weekend - I reckon they'll probably find a few quid. Then my OH is doing the Brighton marathon so I'll have to sponsor her (as well as being the support team!), so she ought to return the favour. Then there's her family...
I teach Maths and Physics to a few kids of friends, so a few of the parents will probably stump up a bit. One offered last night without even being asked.
So I reckon I'll get quite a bit of the 650 required by August.
And I reckon it'll be worth it too, even if I do have to top up myself. Those miserable sods that have done hundreds of charity sportives ain't going to rain on my parade - it's my first big one, so I shall make the most of it Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
Gazspurs wrote:Carbonator - not directed to you at all buddy, I enjoyed the Snickers/ diva comment because that's very much how I'm feeling! it was directed to the break guy taking me far to seriously
Personally I wouldn't do the event for a charity I have no personal connection with, I was gonna ride it & raise money for a mate of ours that died 2 years ago, really thought I'd get in but not the case.
Just reading some tweets make me even more annoyed! This one from Nick "My wife got in to @ride_100 although she doesn't have a bike & does 2 spinning classes a week" :shock: :shock: :shock: I'm so fuming I feel like putting my bike on ebay & jacking it all in!
I knew it was not me :-)
Guess I was showing my age with the 'Death Race 2000' comment :oops:
I have tried not to read twitter comments because they will wind me up!
The one you mentioned is a classic though and now I am doing the ride I might take a look.
As long as no idiot knocks me off I am now quite looking forward to seeing the 'spinning class' hero's on there pre 6 week check up bikes!
Box hill should be a laugh.0 -
Well, in fairness it's not until August, so maybe a few people are using it as a target to spend the next 6 months getting fit enough to ride the whole thing, and ride it well.
I know I'm the type of person who needs a comittment to a target to give me the enthusiasm to train (or is it the fear of turning up and looking foolish as I struggle up Box Hill whilst a granny on her shopping basket bike smoothly overtakes me), so maybe others are too.
I appreciate its frustrating to those who didn't get in and don't want to go down the charity route though.0
