RideLondon 2016
ajlowin1983
Posts: 99
Hi guys,
Please excuse the schoolboy question. First time ballot entry and on entering my details I said that I will give my entry fee to charity. Does this mean If I am unsuccessful on a place they will give the money to charity? When does the fee get debited from your account? Upon finding out on a place?
Thanks
Please excuse the schoolboy question. First time ballot entry and on entering my details I said that I will give my entry fee to charity. Does this mean If I am unsuccessful on a place they will give the money to charity? When does the fee get debited from your account? Upon finding out on a place?
Thanks
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Comments
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Yep, basically you are donating to charity if you don't get a place. Though (and I could be wrong) I think you get a jersey in return. I did this the first year and I believe I paid at the time of entry, may have changed since.0
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I got in for this years ride and i'm sure there was a box to tick/untick if you didn't want to give to charity on not getting a place?Bikes are OK, I guess... :-)
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It's pretty distasteful of the organisers to even offer this choice, which should be a very personal thing and not "pushed"left the forum March 20230
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You'd do more good to not enter at all; imagine what would happen if everyone did that...0
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Whats the requirement for getting a place? Does someone need to drop out? Can you turn up on the day? Im sure people will fail to turn up on ride day.Cube Attain SL Disc
Giant CRS 2.00 -
Yes, there's a section asking if you'd like to donate your entry fee to charity if you don't get a spot. They've kindly pre-ticked this box for you, so if you're not attentive you may assume that you have to enter your credit card details in case you get a spot, but this is not the case. If you choose not to donate your fee, they will not ask for any payment details at all.
I'm with Ugo on this one, it's a complete and utter scam. It's something that's been carried over from the London Marathon ballot system, what with them being run by the same parent company/organising committee/whatever. I think the offer of an extra 1000 spaces for those that "donate" is a bit deceptive as well, because (certainly for the London Marathon) they deliberately refuse to publish the data for the ballot (i.e. number of spots vs entrants, number of fee donors etc) so you have no idea how significant those extra 1000 spaces are. If there are only a few thousand people donating their entry fee then it might be worthwhile but if it's >10000 then it's basically pointless. Effectively, they're asking you to enter a lottery but refusing to tell you what the odds are, and all the time hiding behind the guise of a charity to avoid criticism.
It's incredibly deceptive in my opinion and I know several people that have (often unintentionally) got the consolation Ride London jerseys and London Marathon fleeces that have never even done the events themselves because they have never got a spot in the ballot. I think it's a disgraceful business practice, but obviously they feel that they should be leveraging the huge number of people entering the ballot system to maximum effect and the (frankly minimal) bad publicity that they get is worth it.0 -
Its a crazy logic that suggests anyone would ever want a souvenier jersey for an event that they couldnt ride!
I couldnt bear to look at the rejection magazine that told me how to prepare for an event I couldnt do!
2020/2021/2022 Metric Century Challenge Winner0 -
Same, I didn't even take the cellophane off mine and it went straight in the bin last year!Its a crazy logic that suggests anyone would ever want a souvenier jersey for an event that they couldnt ride!
I couldnt bear to look at the rejection magazine that told me how to prepare for an event I couldnt do!0 -
Same, I didn't even take the cellophane off mine and it went straight in the bin last year!Its a crazy logic that suggests anyone would ever want a souvenier jersey for an event that they couldnt ride!
I couldnt bear to look at the rejection magazine that told me how to prepare for an event I couldnt do!
Same, I'm yet to wear mine. Glad its been made a bit clearer this year though, as i didn't recall this option last year and thought I was just putting in card details on the chance I was successful.0 -
Can I register as a group? If so howWhen i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!
De rosa superking 888 di20 -
I'm just going to take a place with a charity. The one I did the ride with this year only wants me to raise a minimum of £450 next year which is perfectly do-able (I raised circa £750 this year).0
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I agree that a souvenir jersey for a ride you didn't do is daft.Its a crazy logic that suggests anyone would ever want a souvenier jersey for an event that they couldnt ride!
But last year I didn't get a ballot place (for the second year running), but this time did donate my entry fee.
So I still didn't get a place, so I rode it for Cancer Research UK instead. So I now have a very good quality jersey, as a souvenir of an event that I did ride (not that I will ever forget Hurricane Bertha).
In reality, the jersey is excellent, and you could easily pay 50 quid or close to it for a good quality, well-fitted, warm long sleeve jersey.
I also like the CR-UK jerseys I have - they send you one when you do the ride for them.Is the gorilla tired yet?0 -
BuckMulligan wrote:Yes, there's a section asking if you'd like to donate your entry fee to charity if you don't get a spot. They've kindly pre-ticked this box for you, so if you're not attentive you may assume that you have to enter your credit card details in case you get a spot, but this is not the case. If you choose not to donate your fee, they will not ask for any payment details at all.
I'm with Ugo on this one, it's a complete and utter scam. It's something that's been carried over from the London Marathon ballot system, what with them being run by the same parent company/organising committee/whatever. I think the offer of an extra 1000 spaces for those that "donate" is a bit deceptive as well, because (certainly for the London Marathon) they deliberately refuse to publish the data for the ballot (i.e. number of spots vs entrants, number of fee donors etc) so you have no idea how significant those extra 1000 spaces are. If there are only a few thousand people donating their entry fee then it might be worthwhile but if it's >10000 then it's basically pointless. Effectively, they're asking you to enter a lottery but refusing to tell you what the odds are, and all the time hiding behind the guise of a charity to avoid criticism.
It's incredibly deceptive in my opinion and I know several people that have (often unintentionally) got the consolation Ride London jerseys and London Marathon fleeces that have never even done the events themselves because they have never got a spot in the ballot. I think it's a disgraceful business practice, but obviously they feel that they should be leveraging the huge number of people entering the ballot system to maximum effect and the (frankly minimal) bad publicity that they get is worth it.
Agreed"You really think you can burn off sugar with exercise?" downhill paul0 -
i also agree well said. You should send that to the organisers. i would like to hear the response. Doubt you'll get one mind. Shady stuff.0
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Chopper fest...avoid getting crashed into and go for a 100 mile ride by yourself.0
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At least this (next?) year they have made it clear that UK entrants and overseas entrants pay different fees. Last (this?) year, they forced it upon you as you tried to pay, despite it stating £58. on the invoice. (Was able to change to a UK address though, so I avoided that.)
I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
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I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
A similarly sized event in Belgium, namely the Tour of Flanders, manage to get the same number of people along much smaller roads, without all that faff... no interminable queues, no start set at an allocated time slot, no need to enter 12 months in advance via a rip-off ballot. There are unavoidable bottle necks up the narrow steep cobbled climbs, but that's it...
I struggle to understand why in this country very few seem to be able to organise a bicycle ride without major cockups, while in the rest of Europe anyone seem to be able to do a sterling job with half the budget. I think there is the general assumpion that these people know their job, while I suspect they don'tleft the forum March 20230 -
C'est la vie!
It is a charity ride like the Marathon and is run as such but also a massive commercial venture, they send you crap even if you fail so the sponsors are happy, then drag you to the expo for the same reason and so on.
It was a fun day out for all the things we like to moan about but again, we are not really the target audience.
I'll only go if I get a team entry again otherwise need to look at the Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo or something else a bit more racey.0 -
I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
A similarly sized event in Belgium, namely the Tour of Flanders, manage to get the same number of people along much smaller roads, without all that faff... no interminable queues, no start set at an allocated time slot, no need to enter 12 months in advance via a rip-off ballot. There are unavoidable bottle necks up the narrow steep cobbled climbs, but that's it...
I struggle to understand why in this country very few seem to be able to organise a bicycle ride without major cockups, while in the rest of Europe anyone seem to be able to do a sterling job with half the budget. I think there is the general assumpion that these people know their job, while I suspect they don't
Having done both RL and the Tour of Flanders now, I have to say this is true in re: on-the-day organisation (even the feed stops flowed a lot better). But the queues on the iconic climbs of the RVV (Koppenberg, etc) take away from much of the appeal of doing that event in the first place and, to be fair, the RVV isn't 10x oversubscribed.0 -
I have never understood why they think you might want a jersey for something you won't ride...I guess they donate to charity on your behalf as well though. I have ridden all three years, and the event has been progressively worse each year
A similarly sized event in Belgium, namely the Tour of Flanders, manage to get the same number of people along much smaller roads, without all that faff... no interminable queues, no start set at an allocated time slot, no need to enter 12 months in advance via a rip-off ballot. There are unavoidable bottle necks up the narrow steep cobbled climbs, but that's it...
I struggle to understand why in this country very few seem to be able to organise a bicycle ride without major cockups, while in the rest of Europe anyone seem to be able to do a sterling job with half the budget. I think there is the general assumpion that these people know their job, while I suspect they don't
Having done both RL and the Tour of Flanders now, I have to say this is true in re: on-the-day organisation (even the feed stops flowed a lot better). But the queues on the iconic climbs of the RVV (Koppenberg, etc) take away from much of the appeal of doing that event in the first place and, to be fair, the RVV isn't 10x oversubscribed.
I agree, but there is no solution... the Koppenberg is what it is and if you remove those climbs, then it is no longer the Tour of Flanders. They could and they should do something about it, but I don't know what.
However, Ride London is a 2012 creation with no heritage and one could move it to Hertfordshire or anywhere in the Home counties without any particular problem. Those who enter it, do it for all reasons but the course.
RL is over subscribed, it's the typical case of mass hysteria... FOMO and need to be seen as part of "the thing to do" in the absence of a spark of flare or imagination... basically it is the result of mankind trying to resemble more and more a flock of sheep...left the forum March 20230 -
Er - then it wouldn't be "Ride London" ..... ?! No Heritage? No, but every event has to start somewhere.Ride London is a 2012 creation with no heritage and one could move it to Hertfordshire or anywhere in the Home counties without any particular problem.
The hysteria is because cycling in the UK is seen by many as unusual, wierd, only something those with lycra fetish do and generally a PITA ... until those ppl "get it" then organising any cycle event with closed roads is going to be a PITA...
Yup - well over subscribed, which is exactly what the organisers & sponsors want - guarentees full entry sheets ... not good for your average layman wanting to do the ride, but it is what it is ...Those who enter it, do it for all reasons but the course. RL is over subscribed, it's the typical case of mass hysteria... FOMO and need to be seen as part of "the thing to do" in the absence of a spark of flare or imagination... basically it is the result of mankind trying to resemble more and more a flock of sheep...
How many "non cyclists" do you see doing ToFlanders or the other big Euro rides? I'd guess not as many as do RL - because RL isn't aimed at the same market - RL is aimed at fund raising for charity - like it or not, that's what the event has been marketed as, so it will attract those who want to ride in fancy dress, those who believe they can't ride 100 (flat!) miles etc etc ...0 -
They could and they should do something about it, but I don't know what.
Maybe they could allocate start times to ensure people are spaced out through the bottlenecks
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They could and they should do something about it, but I don't know what.
Maybe they could allocate start times to ensure people are spaced out through the bottlenecks
Pointless, as the bottlenecks come a few hours after the start after 100-200 Km, depending on the course, so it won't really make any difference. It doesn't even work fro London, where the climbs are much wider and frankly a hell of a lot easierleft the forum March 20230 -
Chopper fest...avoid getting crashed into and go for a 100 mile ride by yourself.However, Ride London is a 2012 creation with no heritage [...]
That and that... I can't think of anything that better represents the 'cycling boom' in this country, in all of its commercial, hyped, marketing-driven glory. As much as sharing the road with the idiots with pro cycling fantasies but no bike handling skills or etiquette is a tempting proposition, it's just a passing phase; give it 5 years or so and they'll go back to golf.0 -
It's good to see cycle snobbery towards new riders is still alive and well. How dare they enjoy themselves..0
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I don’t agree with the comments about the Flanders sportive compared to Ride London at all. They’re both mass participation events, so the roads are going to be busy, you’re going to be surrounded by people of questionable cycling ability and the food and aid stations are going to be a bit of a scrum. If anything I found this year’s Ride London to flow a lot better than the two times that I’ve done the RVV sportive and I think the wave start does a very good job of dispersing people before the inevitable hell-for-leather dash around the tight turns of Central London.
Correct me if I’m wrong Ugo, but am I right in thinking that you haven’t even done the RL sportive? I don’t see why you’re piling on here with all the criticism, because if it’s based on second-hand experiences then (again as with all big events) you’re going to find as many people praising it as you will criticising it. You say that it’s a 2012 creation and that it has no heritage, well the London 2012 Olympics is its heritage! Ride London is aimed at novice cyclists who may have become interested in the sport by watching it at the Olympics, for whom going out and riding the “Olympic Road Race Route” will feel like a pretty good achievement. To say that you could move it to Hertfordshire and that it would be the same event is pretty short-sighted, I’d say that most people ride it specifically for the opportunity of riding on their regular routes through London and the South Downs on closed roads.
And as iPete says, I don’t see why there’s so much hate for newcomers to the sport. The way I see it is as the sport grows and more people get off their sofas and out on their bikes, the more recognition cyclists are going to get, be it in the form of better road infrastructure, more investment in professional and amateur cycling events around the country, or just more day-to-day respect and consideration from the general public. This is an event specifically designed for novice cyclists and everyone seems to be criticising it for that. At the end of the day it’s not a road race or a criterium and if you go into it expecting that then you clearly don’t know what you’ve signed up for!0 -
It's good to see cycle snobbery towards new riders is still alive and well. How dare they enjoy themselves..
The problem is that because they are happy to be scammed in the name of charity and togetherness, then the all industry turns into scam mode. The entry fee of events has escalated vertically in the past few years.
The average sportive was 15 quid, then it became 25 and now is around 40, but many cost much more than that... this in the space of 6-7 years. What you get is the same as you got 6-7 years ago... profits have become bigger, and big charities are a bigger, meaner money sucking machine.left the forum March 20230 -
I don’t agree with the comments about the Flanders sportive compared to Ride London at all. They’re both mass participation events, so the roads are going to be busy, you’re going to be surrounded by people of questionable cycling ability and the food and aid stations are going to be a bit of a scrum. If anything I found this year’s Ride London to flow a lot better than the two times that I’ve done the RVV sportive and I think the wave start does a very good job of dispersing people before the inevitable hell-for-leather dash around the tight turns of Central London.
Correct me if I’m wrong Ugo, but am I right in thinking that you haven’t even done the RL sportive? I don’t see why you’re piling on here with all the criticism, because if it’s based on second-hand experiences then (again as with all big events) you’re going to find as many people praising it as you will criticising it. You say that it’s a 2012 creation and that it has no heritage, well the London 2012 Olympics is its heritage! Ride London is aimed at novice cyclists who may have become interested in the sport by watching it at the Olympics, for whom going out and riding the “Olympic Road Race Route” will feel like a pretty good achievement. To say that you could move it to Hertfordshire and that it would be the same event is pretty short-sighted, I’d say that most people ride it specifically for the opportunity of riding on their regular routes through London and the South Downs on closed roads.
And as iPete says, I don’t see why there’s so much hate for newcomers to the sport. The way I see it is as the sport grows and more people get off their sofas and out on their bikes, the more recognition cyclists are going to get, be it in the form of better road infrastructure, more investment in professional and amateur cycling events around the country, or just more day-to-day respect and consideration from the general public. This is an event specifically designed for novice cyclists and everyone seems to be criticising it for that. At the end of the day it’s not a road race or a criterium and if you go into it expecting that then you clearly don’t know what you’ve signed up for!
My criticism is not directed at the level of participation... my criticism is directed towards the "salesman techniques" they use to lure people into this event. I couldn't care less, if it wasn't that it sets a bad standards other look at and try to imitate, so that the all Sportives scene become hunting ground for profiteers... the genuine local events are disappearing (I can name a few), replaced by these mass participation, multi million pounds suckers...R London was first, now it's Velothon Wales, this is my issue...left the forum March 20230 -
It's good to see cycle snobbery towards new riders is still alive and well. How dare they enjoy themselves..
The problem is that because they are happy to be scammed in the name of charity and togetherness, then the all industry turns into scam mode. The entry fee of events has escalated vertically in the past few years.
The average sportive was 15 quid, then it became 25 and now is around 40, but many cost much more than that... this in the space of 6-7 years. What you get is the same as you got 6-7 years ago... profits have become bigger, and big charities are a bigger, meaner money sucking machine.
Sorry that wasn't wholly aimed at you, I see where you are coming from.
Some Surrey events have started to suffer as the council has decided it can charge highe rfees, put up bigger admin barriers and fail to acknowledge the longer running grass roots events.
Can only hope some of the participants move onto other events (even the bargain world of audax), clubs or even support some of the grass roots stuff.0 -
It's good to see cycle snobbery towards new riders is still alive and well. How dare they enjoy themselves..
The problem is that because they are happy to be scammed in the name of charity and togetherness, then the all industry turns into scam mode. The entry fee of events has escalated vertically in the past few years.
The average sportive was 15 quid, then it became 25 and now is around 40, but many cost much more than that... this in the space of 6-7 years. What you get is the same as you got 6-7 years ago... profits have become bigger, and big charities are a bigger, meaner money sucking machine.
Sorry that wasn't wholly aimed at you, I see where you are coming from.
Some Surrey events have started to suffer as the council has decided it can charge highe rfees, put up bigger admin barriers and fail to acknowledge the longer running grass roots events.
Can only hope some of the participants move onto other events, clubs or even support some of the grass roots stuff.
As far as I am concerned, there are way too many events in Surrey. Some "historic" and great events in the North and in Wales have disappeared, as there is too much competition from "easy buck" pointless sportives organised by Spinoffs of Wiggle and the likes. If serious cyclists like yourself turn their back to the "good events" and rather enter RL or VW, then there is no future... horses for courses, but seriously, what are you doing among folks dressed like bananas and panda bears? If you want to compete with the others, then choose an event where there is some competition... how about the Tour of Wessex instead?left the forum March 20230
