Got my Cinderella Registration Form!

[aka_kim]

Other than alleviating some problems at registration, how would technology improve things? I think the Cinderella, like many Bay Area rides, has just gotten too popular for its own good in recent years. Having only the one course on Cinderella, yet 2000+ riders, also makes the ride seem more crowded than other events, which often have multiple route options. Then of course Cinderella does specifically attract and invite new riders. But it is nice to see how much women's cycling has taken off over the decade or so that I've been riding.

I'm not doing the ride this year, but I think the Valley Spokesmen do a great job, and a great "service" to the cycling community, in continuing to put the ride on.

[SadieKate]

Online registration would allow spaced out starts. There are rides that are now giving timed starting slots to space people out. On line registration would allow you to sign up for a time and then someone just has to enforce the start. Runs have been doing this for years. Usually this is not too critical but, I agree, the 2,400 women all on one course in a highly urbanized setting is really a problem. They have a unique problem due to this.

Technology isn't involved with night before registration, but it would help alleviate the crowds that get bunched up at the start and maybe the huge lines at the rest stops. Somebody creative could come up with a way to get your "boarding pass" online the night before and anything to be picked up (like a patch) could be collected at the end of a ride (the way it used to be done at rides).

Support is for the most part pretty good but I think they really need to put a few course marshalls out at some of the high traffic intersections. Safety for the cyclists as well as goodwill with the community. I think that is why Party Pardee goes so well on those narrow roads.

Unfortunately, this is the only ride that I ever hear a significant volume of negative remarks (and from people not on this forum). It is really too bad.