Events, Bike culture »
Here We Go Again! or How A Promoter Gets Convinced To Do It One More Time
Long time readers of The Biking Hub might recall my stories about the Trans Iowa ultra endurance event. The event is promoted, organized, and run by two bicycle mechanics that love long distance cycling. One of those mechanics is me, and the other is Jeff Kerkove, who is also an endurance off road cyclist for the Cat Eye Enduro Team.
Since the event is stretched out over 300 miles of gravel roads, and the route changes each year, the work load for planning this little outing is pretty heavy for two fellows. After each running of the event, Jeff and I say, “No more!” It’s partly a feeling of relief to be done with the event, and the pain of putting it on is still fresh in your mind.
So, how does it happen that we are doing this crazy event again?
Power to the people. I always go back to the people who take part in the event. If it weren’t for the people that I’ve met and their encouragement for Jeff and myself, I know that we would never have repeated Trans Iowa after the first one. But it’s the relationships with others that make doing this all over again something to look forward to. I suppose you could say that Trans Iowa is an excuse to see some friends again that I would not ordinarily see at that time of year.
Uncovering the hidden explorer. Another thing is the love of the sport and the specific tasks that are necessary to putting an event like this on. Pouring over maps, selecting a route, and exploring the actual course are fun activities that sometimes are seen as a hassle by the time the event is over. A little time away from it renews the passion, and the difficulty of the effort we put out to make the event successful is forgotten. It’s funny how that sneaks up on you. At first, you are ready to swear the whole thing off forever, and a few weeks later, I find myself looking at maps again. The next thing you know, the ideas start to gel, and then Jeff has a new header up on the events website. I guess we’re on again!
Feedback counts! If there is anything that you as riders and event participants can take away from this writeup, I would suggest it be this:
Make an effort to leave an impression of your experience with the promoter of the next event you attend.
Even if you are dissatisfied, try to communicate that, albeit in a nice way (if at all possible)! Because it’s not the swag or the prize money (at least it shouldn’t be if you are not a professional) that keeps these things going, it’s the interaction between the people who take part in an event that gives the event real value. It’s about people and the experience that you share with them that makes for lasting memories. In the end, that’s all we really get to keep anyway, right?
Leaving that impression and building that relationship with the promoters and other participants gives the events more value and it just might ensure that your favorite event happens again next year. I know that’s why there will be another Trans Iowa (version 3!).
Look for further updates about the planning and preparation for this event as we move closer to April 2007.