Reluctance to do Advance Registration

[OakLeaf]

I usually pre-register for foot races, just because the commitment gives me motivation to train and run.

For overnight cycling tours, usually pre-registration is required.

Not so much for day rides. If the weather's crummy, I won't ride, I'm a wuss, I'm only riding for fun and nasty grit is not my idea of fun. So I'll eat the $5 or whatever pre-registration discount and just show up on the day-of.

But a charity ride, I would think that (1) most of the financial support should come from corporate sponsors, not riders, so the "lack of support" probably has more to do with the organizers not doing their job, not you; and (2) pre-registration is usually required so that people can donate online, riders can meet their minimum donations, etc.


ETA: Now that that much of the work's been done, why not turn this into a fundraiser for YOUR club, on a later date? I get that there's still a LOT of work involved - marking the route, arranging insurance, sag service, etc. - but it would be better than letting your planning go to waste, n'est-ce pas?

[Pedal Wench]

I usually pre-register for foot races, just because the commitment gives me motivation to train and run.

For overnight cycling tours, usually pre-registration is required.

Oh yeah - for my big goal rides, I absolutely sign up - I'll probably ride them rain or shine, so the big rides I sign up for early.

I also figure the day-off extra money goes to the cause, so that's not bad, right?

[maryellen]

In the past, I've sometimes waited until the "day of" the event if:

--it was a ride I would only do if the weather was nice
--the ride was run by a charity (not a bike club)
--it was a ride where I was making the charitable contribution myself (rather than collecting money)

[Geonz]

I usually pre-register for foot races, just because the commitment gives me motivation to train and run.

For overnight cycling tours, usually pre-registration is required.

Not so much for day rides. If the weather's crummy, I won't ride, I'm a wuss, I'm only riding for fun and nasty grit is not my idea of fun. So I'll eat the $5 or whatever pre-registration discount and just show up on the day-of.

But a charity ride, I would think that (1) most of the financial support should come from corporate sponsors, not riders, so the "lack of support" probably has more to do with the organizers not doing their job, not you; and (2) pre-registration is usually required so that people can donate online, riders can meet their minimum donations, etc.


ETA: Now that that much of the work's been done, why not turn this into a fundraiser for YOUR club, on a later date? I get that there's still a LOT of work involved - marking the route, arranging insurance, sag service, etc. - but it would be better than letting your planning go to waste, n'est-ce pas?

I'm thinking that even though we weren't set up for pledges and all that... that if that's the model they were thinking of, then our model would be very nervous-making, since they don't see any real inflow until they've done most of the outflow and they're not deailing with their ongoing relationships with corporate sponsors, but the vagaries of the general public. Doesn't mean I like it, but it makes more sense.

The folks in town were going to hold the ride, take donations and give it to the charity; two of the folks generally go for a fund-raising ride for them (but raise the funds for our local branch), so it might go into their pledges... I don't know. I do know that they were worried that cyclists might be reluctant to pledge for them after this happened (The route was directly connected to the charity's work, too, but that we could work with.)

[Irulan]

as someone who helps to put on events. I really hate the last minute thing. It really screws up the planning. How many Tshirts to order, how much food etc.

I like the model where there is a cut off date to get in. While I do understand the spontaneity thing, I think that registering ahead is the courteous thing to do.

[Geonz]

Yea, and I think that is where the whole communication thing completely broke down. The folks who have tossed together cycling events (not the big fundraising kind... just the "bring in enough to pay for the stuff we do" kind) didn't realize that lots of pre-registration was, simply, expected, period, thank you. There were also people who they thought would donate food and stuff who didn't. Now, unfortunately, they're emailing telling us to let it rest and that gosh, *they* knew it might not come off, so *what* is our problem, because it's for a good cause? Thing is, it's been four days since anybody said anything, so far as I know it *was *resting 'til this last little jab. I can't tell if they're annoyed that folks are going to do the ride anyway... if they were *actually* concerned with the cause in question, then you'd think an independent fundraiser for htem would be appreciated and they'd be glad we were expressing our frustrations in a positive way instead of talking about them at all. Now things are stirred up again...

[ILBikeGirl]

I almost always do advance registration now. I've had events close on me and that's a bummer.

Often times my husband and I are both doing the ride and it's definitely worth it to get the advance discount.

I registered us for 4 events at one time this spring. Got our spring and early summer taken care of and the events are blocked out on our calendars.

That's too bad it was cancelled like this.

[Geonz]

I think I'm glad I'm not there It's probably going to happen in one form or another...

[TrekTheKaty]

We pre-registered for our century--we trained all summer and were going to ride rain or shine. (I believe approx 50% or the riders registered day of-based on the numbers from when we showed, to when the ride finished). However, there are numerous local "fun" rides that we drop in to, if we don't have to work and the weather is good. I wonder how many riders showed up unaware that the ride was cancelled? They probably benefited from your maps and the charity didn't get any money.

I always preregistered for 5K's, marathons and half marathons because I wanted a t-shirt and there was a chance of a sell-out. Doesn't seem to be a problem in cycling though.