Velo north cancelled

k3vinjam3s

Just got the unfortunate news of the velo north being cancelled due to lack of interest.

Very dissapointed in this news as a closed road event in north east would have been great.

ugo.santalucia

k3vinjam3s wrote:

Just got the unfortunate news of the velo north being cancelled due to lack of interest.

Very dissapointed in this news as a closed road event in north east would have been great.

Probably too many of these events around. 20K have already done Velo Brimingham and they won't fork out again this year... then there is the one in Scotland which is well established, then of course another 20+K will do the RL100... there are only so many cyclists out there prepared to fork out 200-300 pounds (once you include travel and stay) to ride a bike for a few hours. There might also bea lack of accommodation availability close to the start

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I read claims that local accommodation hiked up their prices big time for the event weekend, of course supply and demand does apply to some extent, but perhaps they were too greedy.

ugo.santalucia

NitrousOxide wrote:

I read claims that local accommodation hiked up their prices big time for the event weekend, of course supply and demand does apply to some extent, but perhaps they were too greedy.

For the Eroica in Tuscany, local B&Bs double the prices and impose a minimum of 3 nights stay. Despite that, the event keeps growing. It's whether people want it bad enough, which ultimately is supply and demand... there is not enough demand for that price, because these events are the carbon copy of each other, done one, done all

lakesluddite

I was really looking forward to this, damn it! I'm surprised they can't fill it to be honest.

At least they are offering to refund travel and accommodation as well as the entry fee. Might cost them a pretty penny.

ugo.santalucia

LakesLuddite wrote:

At least they are offering to refund travel and accommodation as well as the entry fee. Might cost them a pretty penny.

That's generous. Although I suppose most accommodation can be cancelled free of charge, given it's two months before the event and as for travel, not many travel with a bike on the train/plane, so there will be hardly anything to refund

mr_mojo

The accommodation refund only applies to official booked accommodation with Velo North and not anything you have booked privately.

LakesLuddite wrote:

I was really looking forward to this, damn it! I'm surprised they can't fill it to be honest.

At least they are offering to refund travel and accommodation as well as the entry fee. Might cost them a pretty penny.

lakesluddite

Mr_Mojo wrote:

The accommodation refund only applies to official booked accommodation with Velo North and not anything you have booked privately.

LakesLuddite wrote:

I was really looking forward to this, damn it! I'm surprised they can't fill it to be honest.

At least they are offering to refund travel and accommodation as well as the entry fee. Might cost them a pretty penny.

Yes Mojo, I have literally just seen this. Looks like a weekend in Durham sightseeing it is then. ffs.

ugo.santalucia

LakesLuddite wrote:

Yes Mojo, I have literally just seen this. Looks like a weekend in Durham sightseeing it is then. ffs.

Can you not ride the route on open roads by yourself? The traffic is hardly worth bothering with road closures in Northumberland...

cruff

ugo.santalucia wrote:

LakesLuddite wrote:

Yes Mojo, I have literally just seen this. Looks like a weekend in Durham sightseeing it is then. ffs.

Can you not ride the route on open roads by yourself? The traffic is hardly worth bothering with road closures in Northumberland...

I think that was one of the main problems with it. Why bother having a closed road event when you can ride for ten miles on roads up there and not see more than three cars in that period?

matudavey

now you can just spend the entry fee on cafe stops and have a nicer time!

fenix

Only done one closed road sportive - it was fun but you still had to be careful. Single track lanes - if you're on the wrong side of the road on a blind bend - you've more faith than me. And caution pays off or I'd have been in the front of a farmers Landrover. It's impossible to guarantee 100 miles of closed roads.

I'd just do the ride anyway. Presumably you have the GPX track ?

me-109

It would be a damn sight quieter and less dangerous on any normal day than with however many thousands on supposedly closed roads.

Darius_Jedburgh

I received an invite to enter, can't remember where from. Strava? BCF? Not important.
I looked at it, and thought the entry, even at discounted rate was excessive. The logistics of accomodation and travel were also heavy on time and £££. I didn't take up the offer.

I got an e-mail with a survey as to why I hadn't entered. Multi choice answers, but many of the options were about costings and logistics. I ticked most of those boxes. Seems like they know that the overall cost and compication of getting to the entry line is too much.

Yes, it's closed roads, but as said above^^^ roads round there are quiet on a busy day and there didn't seem to be an overwhelming need to spend the sort of time and money needed for a closed road ride.

Does anyone have a gpx of the route?

durhamwasp

What do they expect at £80 a head to ride on roads that are very quiet 365 days of the year. Just like Etape Pennines, no surprise.

Go and ride the route anyway, it's a beaut!

edward.s

I guess that is some of the reason RideLondon remains popular. Plenty of people close to London so travel costs low for them. Roads that are normally lethal are much nicer with no traffic and go through a lot of historic places (and Kingston :-) )

flite

Sorry for those who paid huge entry fees and for accommodation etc.

But as someone who lives, bikes and pays my taxes in the Durham Dales, I'm delighted.
Residents were going to have roads closed most of the day, and customers of local businesses would not be able to get to them - there just aren't alternative routes up here. Add in problems for carers, farmers, vets etc.
I don't live on the route, but I would not be able get to a meeting about 7 miles away, even by bike. Last time there was a closed road sportive I was not even allowed to cycle across the route!
Co Durham Council throwing £250,000 at the event didn't go down well either....

There was huge opposition locally from a population who are naturally welcoming to cyclists - we have plenty of smaller events - sportives, races and audax - and the Sustrans C2C brings in riders who are actually of benefit to the area.

The antagonism towards cyclists this event could have created is not needed.

As others have said - come and ride anyway.
The roads in the Dales (the best part of the route) are always quiet, other road users are mostly considerate, the scenery is stunning, the hills are challenging, the cafes are cycle friendly and accommodation will be nicer than in the City.

k3vinjam3s

All valid points and i see both sides.

Im surprised the option of having it on open roads wasnt an option. For a reduced cost of course.

flite

The Winking Sheep Sportive has been held for a few years.
On open roads.
Organised by local folks, involving local businesses, profits to local charities, low entry cost, food stops, choice of routes in the Dales without a long boring trek round East Durham.
Good support from the community.

Cancelled this year largely due to Velo North.

From their website:
The Winking Sheep Cycle Event scheduled for 25th August 2019 has been cancelled.
The Velo North closed road sportive is scheduled for the following Sunday which is likely to have an impact on both participants and residents of the dale.
As a community event we rely on the goodwill of local people, and with their support are planning to return in 2020, perhaps on an earlier date.
We Apologise for any disappointment and thank everyone for their understanding

durhamwasp

Winking Sheep - a great locally organised event cancelled.

Our wonderful DCC who scrapped the fairly popular Durham Big Ride weekend for families, and Durham Beast sportive, and a couple of years later decide to plough £250,000 into an event that will cost people £75 to enter anyway! No back handers anywhere, of course...

As a cyclist from Durham, i'm pleased its cancelled. Check out the Winking Sheep Sportive amongst many others and stick it in you diary for 2020! Wonderful cycling country Weardale and Teesdale.

craigus89

I'd rather ride the route with limited traffic than with 20K other riders.

I bet there will be quite a few riding the route that day anyway if they've booked accommodation. Might a bit busier than usual at all the pubs/cafes on the way round.

ugo.santalucia

yeah, all you need is to create a hashtag and people will gather for a ride

mrb123

The Winking Sheep should relaunch for this year on the weekend that Velo North was due to take place. They'd probably get a cracking turnout now as there must be plenty of people who booked travel and accommodation and plan to come to the area regardless of the cancellation.

k3vinjam3s

MrB123 wrote:

The Winking Sheep should relaunch for this year on the weekend that Velo North was due to take place. They'd probably get a cracking turnout now as there must be plenty of people who booked travel and accommodation and plan to come to the area regardless of the cancellation.

I would be keen on this. Already looking for an alternative ride on that weekend.

ugo.santalucia

MrB123 wrote:

The Winking Sheep should relaunch for this year on the weekend that Velo North was due to take place. They'd probably get a cracking turnout now as there must be plenty of people who booked travel and accommodation and plan to come to the area regardless of the cancellation.

Might be a bit late to set up a sportive... it take time to get organised, find volunteers etc...

On a more general note, I don't understand how these people can operate with such a flaky business model that half of the time makes a loss.
They take money well in advance in cash, they probably have a 20% overbooking built in (I am being conservative here), with no refunds to worry about, much better than airlines and hotels. They employ an army of volunteers, who work in exchange for a T-shirt. They even share the costs with local councils.
For comparison, in an Audax you charge 10% of the fee of a closed road sportive, typically offer more in terms of food and typically you would operate with a 20-30% profit margin, that allow to donate to charity, plan for future event or sponsor your club activity, if you have one.

In financial terms, the all thing is an absolute farce

poweredbyidris

ugo.santalucia wrote:

MrB123 wrote:

The Winking Sheep should relaunch for this year on the weekend that Velo North was due to take place. They'd probably get a cracking turnout now as there must be plenty of people who booked travel and accommodation and plan to come to the area regardless of the cancellation.

Might be a bit late to set up a sportive... it take time to get organised, find volunteers etc...

On a more general note, I don't understand how these people can operate with such a flaky business model that half of the time makes a loss.
They take money well in advance in cash, they probably have a 20% overbooking built in (I am being conservative here), with no refunds to worry about, much better than airlines and hotels. They employ an army of volunteers, who work in exchange for a T-shirt. They even share the costs with local councils.
For comparison, in an Audax you charge 10% of the fee of a closed road sportive, typically offer more in terms of food and typically you would operate with a 20-30% profit margin, that allow to donate to charity, plan for future event or sponsor your club activity, if you have one.

In financial terms, the all thing is an absolute farce

Think you've also described the Olympics there Ugo!

ugo.santalucia

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Think you've also described the Olympics there Ugo!

SO basically the economy of scale, which works wonders in manufacturing, distribution and services, seemingly works the opposite way round for sport events. :roll:
It would explain why football clubs seem to have hundreds of millions in revenue but operate at a loss

flite

Velo29North
Another sportive has been hurriedly organised by Velo 29 to replace the cancelled Velo North on 1 Sept. Not closed roads, but a lot less expensive!

webboo

ugo.santalucia wrote:

LakesLuddite wrote:

Yes Mojo, I have literally just seen this. Looks like a weekend in Durham sightseeing it is then. ffs.

Can you not ride the route on open roads by yourself? The traffic is hardly worth bothering with road closures in Northumberland...

I thought this event was in County Durham, so why would you have road closures in Northumberland.

k3vinjam3s

Flite wrote:

Velo29North
Another sportive has been hurriedly organised by Velo 29 to replace the cancelled Velo North on 1 Sept. Not closed roads, but a lot less expensive!

Seen this but not keen. Initially wanted to do velo north for the closed roads aspect and to encourage more like this in north east.

Not a fan of sportives unless theres a charity or community element. I know ill get flamed as obviously velo north wasnt charity minded or community spirited but it was on closed roads and i was doung it supporting prostate cancer uk.

wongataa

Webboo wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

LakesLuddite wrote:

Yes Mojo, I have literally just seen this. Looks like a weekend in Durham sightseeing it is then. ffs.

Can you not ride the route on open roads by yourself? The traffic is hardly worth bothering with road closures in Northumberland...

I thought this event was in County Durham, so why would you have road closures in Northumberland.

It starts/ends in Durham. As it was 100 miles long you couldn't have a suitable route just in Durham so it went into the neighbouring counties.