All points north cycling/BPing event

[ScotRoutes]

I see that the entry fee includes the provision of a GPS tracker. I guess they've had to hire those.

[redefined_cycles]

I see that the entry fee includes the provision of a GPS tracker. I guess they've had to hire those.

That's right Colin. Can't have been cheap whether hired or borroed from friends and family. Gonna enter shortly and have a low threshold for not getting all the checkpoints...

[redefined_cycles]

*if I can get in

[Bearlegged]

*if I can get in

I see they're giving priority to "under-represented groups", which in cycling is pretty much anyone who's not white and male, might count in your favour?

[redefined_cycles]

*if I can get in

I see they're giving priority to "under-represented groups", which in cycling is pretty much anyone who's not white and male, might count in your favour?

Yes. I saw that too. Feel like I'm cheating but won't complain

[ton]

I see they're giving priority to "under-represented groups", which in cycling is pretty much anyone who's not white and male, might count in your favour?

i wonder ifi will get a place for being a fatty...........

[redefined_cycles]

I see they're giving priority to "under-represented groups", which in cycling is pretty much anyone who's not white and male, might count in your favour?

i wonder ifi will get a place for being a fatty...........

No but I bet if you tell em your cardiac history Tony you would. Pretty sure they're under represented.

[fatbikephil]

Dosh aside, the idea of pedaling round the north of England does appeal but I wouldn't want to trek down to Sheffield for the start given that the route nearly hits the border. I may use this as a basis for next years cycle tour

[jameso]

They're unlikely to be making a profit.

Especially given APN is run by a not for profit... http://www.allpointsnorth.cc/event-organiser/

True, although being a not-for-profit doesn't debar them from making money from this event to fund other events/activities, though I doubt that's what's happening.

I'm not sure the audax comparison is necessarily helpful here. Audaxes are generally run on the most threadbare shoe-string and entirely by volunteers. That an organiser is willing to go to the trouble of cooking and serving a big meal at the end - the ingredients you might be paying for, the time certainly not - for the love of it shouldn't be used as a guage for what someone else is willing to do for free.

I think AUK also provide overall cover for audax organisers and being a temp or full member of AUK for the event makes insurance viable. For a single event organiser outside of AUK or BC etc it's trickier.

Try sorting insurance from Brexit Britain for an event going between Italy and France..

[Ian]

As a slight aside to the main thread, I’ve been looking for a while at the Pan Celtic Race, for which the APN event was well timed as a “training event”. Entries for Pan Celtic opened last night, and I was poised to enter until I saw the cost…

Er, no thanks. I’m sure it’ll be great, but race entry fee, travel to Pembroke, ferry to and from Ireland, travel back to Scotland is a cost I can’t justify. I’m planning a road tour on the Scottish islands instead, starting from Perth.

[redefined_cycles]

As a slight aside to the main thread, I’ve been looking for a while at the Pan Celtic Race, for which the APN event was well timed as a “training event”. Entries for Pan Celtic opened last night, and I was poised to enter until I saw the cost…

Er, no thanks. I’m sure it’ll be great, but race entry fee, travel to Pembroke, ferry to and from Ireland, travel back to Scotland is a cost I can’t justify. I’m planning a road tour on the Scottish islands instead, starting from Perth.

Yes... I think my main worry was that increasing my 'budget' from the regular £30 entries to a £100 entry might see me next wanting to enter the £500 events (I think the Pan Celtic is alot more right). Hopefully this'll be my limit.

For anyone that doesn't know - after just completing the entry form which is quite thorough - the APN event egen gives riders one of these m9nkey belts https://www.adifferentgear.com/product/ ... yellow/666 for night riding. Worth another £20 so it seems they've gone all out to ensure most pennies are spend to invest back into the riders (as well as other good projects I suppose).

So well done them and happy to have entered. Not sure how I manage the whole of the North checkpoints but I'll try (if I get in)...

[Dyffers]

For anyone that doesn't know - after just completing the entry form which is quite thorough - the APN event egen gives riders one of these m9nkey belts https://www.adifferentgear.com/product/ ... yellow/666 for night riding. Worth another £20 so it seems they've gone all out to ensure most pennies are spend to invest back into the riders (as well as other good projects I suppose).

So if you don't wear it it was your own fault the car hit you? Sorry, but unless the country you're riding in dictates wearing reflective kit by law, any event rule that mandates this won't be getting my money.

[redefined_cycles]

For anyone that doesn't know - after just completing the entry form which is quite thorough - the APN event egen gives riders one of these m9nkey belts https://www.adifferentgear.com/product/ ... yellow/666 for night riding. Worth another £20 so it seems they've gone all out to ensure most pennies are spend to invest back into the riders (as well as other good projects I suppose).

So if you don't wear it it was your own fault the car hit you? Sorry, but unless the country you're riding in dictates wearing reflective kit by law, any event rule that mandates this won't be getting my money.

I suppose that's one way of looking at it. Could argue that they're (trying to) doing their bit to keep their entrants safe

[woodsmith]

For anyone that doesn't know - after just completing the entry form which is quite thorough - the APN event egen gives riders one of these m9nkey belts https://www.adifferentgear.com/product/ ... yellow/666 for night riding. Worth another £20 so it seems they've gone all out to ensure most pennies are spend to invest back into the riders (as well as other good projects I suppose).

So if you don't wear it it was your own fault the car hit you? Sorry, but unless the country you're riding in dictates wearing reflective kit by law, any event rule that mandates this won't be getting my money.

I suppose that's one way of looking at it. Could argue that they're (trying to) doing their bit to keep their entrants safe

Its this type of mandating what riders must/must not do do from a safety point of view which I think puts the organisers onto very thin ice from a liability standpoint.

[thenorthwind]

So if you don't wear it it was your own fault the car hit you? Sorry, but unless the country you're riding in dictates wearing reflective kit by law, any event rule that mandates this won't be getting my money.

And I thought I was cynical!

[jameso]

I suppose as 'Ultra Distance' gets to be a thing the Tough Mudder effect comes in. Not in every case but many people like to say they've done something that's recognised by their friends or peers. We all do to some extent. So if you can create the next must-do well known event you can charge for the 'tick' people get from doing it. It's not all the 'what you get for your £' value question, it's also 'what prestige or rep is there for doing this particular event'?

Some understand that you can get into the HT550 or similar for less money but more experience. Or you could solo LEJOG in under 3 days and not tell anyone outside your social group and have more credibility (late edit for clarity, more cred vs a named road-packing event, perhaps). But they're not the mass market, widely recognised ticks, or at least not the most promoted ticks. I can't blame event organisers for doing what they do when races in the USA get sold for big money to groups looking to be the next 'Ironman' type company.

Back to Shafiq's Q though, these smaller less expensive events seems like a good experience. You get to ride with others and do something significant, it'll be memorable They might be the sweet-spot size of event.

[redefined_cycles]

Just an update. Entered yesterday (well completed the application form without making it sound too grovelly or that I was capable) and today made a preliminary route. Don't think I'm actually capable of getting all 10 control points and/or enjoying the whole experience. Especially since I cant think of much worse things than having to bivy up in the moors after becoming so knackered.

I'm out and will stick to enjoyable type events

[redefined_cycles]

Will just go and ride my Yorkshire500 loop that I've been waiting patiently to explore

[Boab]

Thought I'd apply for shits and giggles. The application form is FIFTEEN pages long!

[whitestone]

I suppose as 'Ultra Distance' gets to be a thing the Tough Mudder effect comes in. Not in every case but many people like to say they've done something that's recognised by their friends or peers. We all do to some extent. So if you can create the next must-do well known event you can charge for the 'tick' people get from doing it. It's not all the 'what you get for your £' value question, it's also 'what prestige or rep is there for doing this particular event'?

Some understand that you can get into the HT550 or similar for less money but more experience. Or you could solo LEJOG in under 3 days and not tell anyone outside your social group and have more credibility. But they're not the mass market, widely recognised ticks, or at least not the most promoted ticks. I can't blame event organisers for doing what they do when races in the USA get sold for big money to groups looking to be the next 'Ironman' type company.

Back to Shafiq's Q though, these smaller less expensive events seems like a good experience. You get to ride with others and do something significant, it'll be memorable They might be the sweet-spot size of event.

An interesting point.

I'm membership secretary of the Bob Graham Club. There's no entry fee or any organisation, it's a personal challenge and up to each person how they approach it. I did a quick query on the membership database for the 50 years the club has been going to determine the numbers of those who are members of a running club vs those who aren't. (Ignore 2016, the data hasn't been added) It does look like there's been a shift away from running club membership in recent years.

We've had approaches from sportswear companies looking to be "associated" with the Club/Round but have rejected them all - it wouldn't be long before there'd be pressure about it being renamed "The XXXX Bob Graham Challenge".

Apologies for the lack of formatting!

year | attached | unattached | percentage
1971 | 4 | 0 | 0.00%
1972 | 2 | 0 | 0.00%
1973 | 5 | 0 | 0.00%
1974 | 10 | 3 | 23.08%
1975 | 9 | 5 | 35.71%
1976 | 9 | 4 | 30.77%
1977 | 20 | 13 | 39.39%
1978 | 19 | 3 | 13.64%
1979 | 18 | 13 | 41.94%
1980 | 23 | 13 | 36.11%
1981 | 27 | 8 | 22.86%
1982 | 16 | 18 | 52.94%
1983 | 28 | 10 | 26.32%
1984 | 30 | 9 | 23.08%
1985 | 42 | 12 | 22.22%
1986 | 41 | 28 | 40.58%
1987 | 35 | 20 | 36.36%
1988 | 61 | 15 | 19.74%
1989 | 59 | 20 | 25.32%
1990 | 33 | 7 | 17.50%
1991 | 43 | 9 | 17.31%
1992 | 33 | 27 | 45.00%
1993 | 31 | 6 | 16.22%
1994 | 43 | 10 | 18.87%
1995 | 58 | 17 | 22.67%
1996 | 44 | 6 | 12.00%
1997 | 37 | 6 | 13.95%
1998 | 35 | 6 | 14.63%
1999 | 28 | 4 | 12.50%
2000 | 34 | 6 | 15.00%
2002 | 7 | 4 | 36.36%
2003 | 21 | 6 | 22.22%
2004 | 17 | 5 | 22.73%
2005 | 37 | 11 | 22.92%
2006 | 32 | 9 | 21.95%
2007 | 45 | 9 | 16.67%
2008 | 62 | 17 | 21.52%
2009 | 51 | 17 | 25.00%
2010 | 72 | 16 | 18.18%
2011 | 72 | 21 | 22.58%
2012 | 45 | 28 | 38.36%
2013 | 54 | 11 | 16.92%
2014 | 23 | 34 | 59.65%
2015 | 39 | 32 | 45.07%
2016 | 8 | 71 | 89.87%
2017 | 76 | 33 | 30.28%
2018 | 46 | 43 | 48.31%
2019 | 68 | 57 | 45.60%
2020 | 45 | 39 | 46.43%
2021 | 80 | 62 | 43.66%
|

[redefined_cycles]

Thought I'd apply for shits and giggles. The application form is FIFTEEN pages long!

Took about 4 mins to complete. Should take you about 2 Bob as I'm a slow typer (I think). Really straightforward..

[Boab]

Thought I'd apply for shits and giggles. The application form is FIFTEEN pages long!

Took about 4 mins to complete. Should take you about 2 Bob as I'm a slow typer (I think). Really straightforward..

I dunno about that... Twenty minutes in and I was only on page nine. What's my estimated completion time...!?! :shrug:

[Bearbonesnorm]

Is it really 15 pages long? Want do they want to know? If I saw a 15 page 'application' I simply CBA and walk away but maybe that's the reasoning behind it?

[woodsmith]

Is it really 15 pages long? Want do they want to know? If I saw a 15 page 'application' I simply CBA and walk away but maybe that's the reasoning behind it?

I hope you never want to get a B1/B2 visa for the USA then.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I hope you never want to get a B1/B2 visa for the USA then.

Probably not but it does seem somewhat different to riding a pushbike, no?