The Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer

slalom_ · Veteran Member

Even better if....

ricky · Veteran Member

I'm not positive about this but I think we have Mayors Ford and McCallion to thank (blame) for the congestion this year. If you believe in this sort of thing then let your local councillor know that you support closing roads for events like this.

I'm also ashamed of the Toronto Star today - the only report they had was to talk about a crash on day one and they question the safety aspects. No mention of the $17.5M raised. Disgraceful.

Sushiboy21 · Member

Plus 1. As a first time rider, I was amazed at how well the event was run. Really, everything came off beautifully. The volunteers and crew were all really helpful and efficient.

I didn't mind the hold ups coming out of Toronto. I liked the occasional breathers as I warmed up and a chance to chat with other riders. The bike path was a bit of a snag, though, so maybe should be avoided next year.

Worth noting:

* Baggage delivery was really easy and smooth. Bike parking went off without a hitch.
* The showers were incredible. Lots of hot water and water pressure. I waited only about 2 minutes.
* Food was plentiful and tasty
* Route selectors chose really well-paved roads for the most part.
* Impromptu cheerleaders on the route were inspiring.
* The climb up Hamilton Mountain is long but not as steep as expected.
* Excellent job arranging tailwinds on both days. That was amazing.

My suggestions for an even better ride in 2012:

* Reminders for slower riders to stay to the right. I often had to pass people riding two abreast by pulling into oncoming lanes.
* Could have used a few more veg or gluten-free options, especially for dessert.
* Don't run out of beer at 8 pm. Seriously, Steamwhistle, I'm not going to complain after drinking two free pints but I would have bought more if you had it. Also, more beer servers. The beer line was the longest anywhere at camp.
* A DJ instead of a live band. Very few people seemed interested. A DJ would be cheaper, anyway. Or, maybe movies?
* WiFi and phone charging station at camp.

Thanks again to organizers, crew and volunteers.

kayp · Member

And the reporter kept calling it "the race". It's not a race!

kayp · Member

My suggestion would be to have two shifts for massage. People working 11:00 am till 6:00 pm have put in a very long day, and I didn't mind waiting 2 hrs for the wonderful 10 minutes of massage. But there were many more riders arriving later, and they were not able to get a massage anymore. Having a second shift working till 8 or 8:30pm, would allow everybody to get a little help with aching muscles.

Being able to charge the phone would have been very helpful.

I was grateful to end up in the tent alone. Those tents are really small to be sharing with a stranger! Could there be a row of single tents available?

Overall, I don't really have any complaints. The event was very well organized, and staff and crew amazing! Way to go!

Barrierider · Veteran Member

I think they need a few massage therapist that are just for the 200m riders. When we got to camp around 2:30 there was already a giant line of 200k riders waiting for massages! Not really fair that we ride further which means we get in a little later and can't get a massage. Makes me feel like I should have did the 200k so I could race in just to beat the line. But all said it was a great 2 days and it was run nearly perfectly! Too bad there is not a 200m route next year. No matter which of the challenge route you do there is only 1 day at 100m and 1 day at 100k. I can only assume its due to low numbers on day two of the 200m route.
A few of those rodes were pretty rough hopefully everyone avoided the pot holes.
Very proud to have been part of such a great event

MysteryBee · Senior Member

As always, the event was impecably organized and managed. This is my third year and I'm continually impressed with the efforts put in by our volunteers, as well as the support of regional police forces. I hope you all took the time (as I did) to thank the volunteers and the police officers who made sure we all had a safe ride!

A few suggestions:

1. The site posted the recommended parking area in Niagara Falls. Great idea. They should have also included a recommended approach/departure path for drivers to avoid the cyclists coming and going from Mohawk on Saturday afternoon / Sunday morning.
2. Last year, the organizers clearly communicated with riders to wear event jerseys day 1 and team jerseys day 2. I thought that made for an impressive sight at the start. I regret that they didn't make a similar effort this year. I, for one, made sure that my entire team wore the event jerseys on Saturday.
3. I understand that the event has reached its volume capacity and they needed to add routes in order to grow, but I'm very concerned that adding so many routes (7) and adding different start/finish locations will dramatically reduce the impact of coming into the finish by the Falls. As successful as the Ride is, I fear they risk diluting the impact of the event if it grows too far too fast.

4. This one is for the riders. I was disappointed at the sight of so many obviously experienced riders on $10k bikes who elected to cop out and do the K route, when the M route has plenty of room to accomodate more riders. If you're so lazy that you insist on taking an easy ride, then you have no business complaining about the congestion that you're helping to create. For some people, the K route is a serious challenge. Why should they have to face extra traffic just because you're lazy? The M route is not that bad... and this is a coming from a guy who has only done 100 miles 4 times in in his life... twice last year and twice this year.

twobrokenarms · Senior Member

MysteryBee - that's so awesome, finishing the miles course, I'm starting to think that I might be able to try that next year. And you're right, the km course was challenging to me! I was pulled off on day one, but I finished day two, and I'm so proud that I did!

twobrokenarms · Senior Member

Suggestions: Not many of those, maybe meals that are a little more friendly on the diabetics in the crowd. I couldn't eat as well as I wanted too, as the choices were too carb-heavy. What I did eat was delicious, though!

MysteryBee · Senior Member

Thanks TBA!
I'm very happy with my result and I'm very proud of the effort of our team. It was a great weekend.

When I shifted to the M route, I knew it would be a huge challenge for me but that was the point. I did the K route on a mountain bike my first year and although I did pretty well I was left with several nagging injuries over the summer. Given the popularity of the Ride and the number of people who want to sign up, I feel it's a bit selfish for someone who could do the M route with their eyes closed to sign up for the K route instead and take that opportunity away from someone else who wouldn't be able to do the longer ride.

Anyway, if we're both on the same route next year, be sure to say "hi!"

Cheers!

slalom_ · Veteran Member

MysteryBee wrote:

4. This one is for the riders. I was disappointed at the sight of so many obviously experienced riders on $10k bikes who elected to cop out and do the K route, when the M route has plenty of room to accomodate more riders. If you're so lazy that you insist on taking an easy ride, then you have no business complaining about the congestion that you're helping to create. For some people, the K route is a serious challenge. Why should they have to face extra traffic just because you're lazy? The M route is not that bad... and this is a coming from a guy who has only done 100 miles 4 times in in his life... twice last year and twice this year.

MB...don't be so fast to judge. I dropped down to the K route to support my training partner who had surgery two weeks before the ride. It was awsome that she rode at all, and I apologize if my (not nearly 10K) bike added to the congestion. I'm sure others had valid reasons (injury, life-got-in-the-way-of-training, etc.) and I don't think you should be so harsh. I thought the 200K (215, actually, by my count) was a great challenge despite having completed a 200M before.

....and on your point about being lazy and having no business complaining about congestion....you didn't see it and don't know what it was like, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a K rider at the back of the pack who thought the congestion was a good thing.

-- Edited by slalom_ on Monday 13th of June 2011 07:36:19 PM

adiamond · Senior Member

The Star article is disappointing as it suggests the cyclist was at fault. In the group i was in a couple of us had our lives flash before our eyes as we were waved through a red light by an officer in Mississauga only to have a car come charging through the intersection. We all swerved right and the two guys on my left bumped each other as they slammed on.

There were a couple of things I could not figure out: The cop was standing in such a way that he may not have been easily seen by the car but never the less how hard is it to see a group of 10 plus riders in bright yellow jerseys?

adiamond · Senior Member

I am thinking of taking a pass next year for a number of reasons so I have not paid any attention to the proposed route changes, what is up?

MysteryBee · Senior Member

I'm sorry you interpreted my comments as a personal attack slalom.... but the fact remains that the major limitation on this event's growth thusfar has been the unwillingness of riders to take on the M route, which is virtually empty by comparison. Aside from the Ride, I do maybe 500-700 km TOTAL of riding the rest of the year. I'm no cyclist and I don't pretend to be.... but if I can finish it then I don't see why someone who blew five thousand or more on a high-tech carbon racing bike can't do it.

This isn't a personal attack on EVERY experienced rider. It's simply a general observation that people who are better riders can help out the fundraising cause by taking on the M route and leaving the K route to people who don't have the same level of training, experience or conditioning. If the M route had as many entrants as the K route, maybe they wouldn't have to split the event up into seven different routes next year, thereby increasing the corresponding cost and logistical challenge.

MysteryBee · Senior Member

For adiamond:

There are, to my understanding, SEVEN proposed routes for next year:

1. the classic 200K route.
2. the classic in reverse, from Niagara Falls to Toronto
3. the Toronto turnaround, from Toronto to Hamilton and back
4. the Niagara turnaround, from Niagara Falls to Hamilton and back
5. the 100M route to Hamilton and the 100K route to Niagara Falls
6. the Toronto turnaround challenge, 100M route to Hamilton and the 100K route back to Toronto
7. it isn't listed but presumably the classic 200M route will remain.

Anyway, the basics of it are that there will be a starting and finishing line in Toronto and a starting and finishing line in Niagara Falls.
Essentially, the goal is to thin out the 200K group by letting them choose between 4 or 5 different events.

adiamond · Senior Member

I was pleased to see more than a few black 100 k plates on the 100 mile course on Sunday so the stats will not be accurate.

However my favorite story is I was standing next this guy at the start who looked a little sweaty like he had ridden his bike to the Ex. When I asked him he confirmed that yes indeed he had ridden from his house that morning. Oh where do you live I asked (not being able to see the plate on the back of his bike (and this was not a $10k carbon machine)? Georgetown he tells me.

This guy had started riding at 5 am to get to the Ex so he had already riden 70 k before starting...yes wait for it...the 100 mile course.

And day two he passed me leading a train down the Niagara River. He was passed me too quickly to find out if he planned on riding home from Niagara Falls too.

-- Edited by adiamond on Monday 13th of June 2011 08:30:06 PM

kayp · Member

I heard that some riders got a cup of coffee thrown at them from the car. Has anybody seen it?

-- Edited by kayp on Monday 13th of June 2011 08:23:58 PM

twobrokenarms · Senior Member

Heard about it. Got hit by a car on Day one myself. Stupid driver trying to go around the traffic by going into the pyloned lane. He hit my handlebar with his mirror and ended up smashing his mirror and scaring the living tar out of me! Then he had the nerve to argue with me saying that I have to pay for his mirror and that I was too fat to be riding, and then trying to run me off the road. I was able to slow down, thankfully, and the A.H. zoomed away, nearly hitting someone else! Silly drivers!

dgoldman · Member

It seems that some people are much more in the 'know' than others and I'd appreciate your help.

Who organized the volunteers?. They were so positive and encouraging.

How do I contact Haig(?) who happened along just as I discovered I had a flat, and was so quick in getting me back on the road.

Are the police paid or is their time voluntary?

While the change of route near Sunnyside in Toronto was interesting, the subsequent delays and stoppages soon afterwards, were not. Who was responsible for that change? This was my 4th ride and it took over an hour and a half longer to get to camp.

And is that same person or persons responsible for next year's changes? And who was consulted? It seems that there is an unaccredited partnership that needs to recognized and engaged - the partnership of the organizers/fund raisers and the riders/fund raisers.

Will the proposed new routes lead to increased costs? And if so, how can I honestly say to my donors that the RCC is costing less than the current 32% to administer? I strongly suggest that the RCC engage the riders in discussion, at least.

Angelfox27 · Member

My sister and I were first time riders, since we knew we weren't as fast as the hard core riders, we stayed more to the right unless we had to pass. We learned alot from other cyclists but because the two of us are shy, we didn't meet alot of people on the ride. Alot of people passed and said hello and one woman rode with me for a distance to chat for abit. But the cheering stations and people on the route were awesome. Saw a couple of wipeouts that kind of scared me a little including one girl who stopped beside me and promptly fell over almost knocking me off my bike as well.

The backup in Mississauga definitely delayed us even longer than expected. The hills in the first day, killed my sister's legs more than it killed me. I was riding with an injury to my calf and was worried I would not make the full ride and I did. My only big disappointment was that when I arrived at camp, they had closed the massage tent and no one could registered. I was counting on that massage to help with my injury. So I spent all nice icing and massaging it myself so I could ride the next day. Took alot of drugs too! LOL! So yeah, if they could have had more massage therapists or two shifts, that would have been great. It would have helped me greatly. Thankfully when I got home, my cousin is a massage therapist and she met us at the finish line so I was able to get a quick one right when I arrive to help the injury.

The ride ran really smoothly and I really did enjoy it. I'm sorry I'm so shy to meet new people but it was nice to see how friendly people were when they passed us by saying hello and such.

In Hamilton, I nearly got hit by the bus and he saw me, my sister was behind me and he was trying to squeeze me to hop onto the sidewalk. It was ridiculous and I was pissed. It was the first time I nearly got hit by anything on the ride. I expected more but I did not expect it from a bus that clearly saw me.

breezy rider · Veteran Member

second time rider of the K route, I'd just like to say the toronto to mississauga portion was disappointing, especially when comparing it to last year when i hardly had to stop!, was the difference just lakeshore vs the queensway?

The good

the finish line

the food and camp entirely

the cheering stations and pit stops again were amazing

and basically every person i passed and talked to

I'm not entirely sure why they're doing 6 new routes, and how will the routes work? they wont be able to have riders on the same roads at the same time, but will they use the same pitstops? One positive is that the starting lines will be a little less conjested. But personally i think a majority will stick to the "classic" and most of routes will be tossed

BAM · Veteran Member

dgoldman - feel free to contact the office and offer to administer the group, I feel that planners have done a great job and every year have revised the route to take out some of the trouble spots and add new and exciting routes but they are NEVER going to please everyone. Was the saturday morning backup frustrating, of course it was! did we have to stop at more lights than previous years, yes we did! But lets put ourselves into the shoes of the drivers waiting at those intersections, they may not have know what they were running into and if they had to do something on the other side of The Queensway there would be no way to get across quickly. Think about your plans for this Saturday morning and then add 45 mins onto your trip and see how understanding you might be!

As a 4th time rider I really liked the change but could they please take out those rolling hills on the way to Lunch on Day 1! They kill me every year and then add the stop sign at the top of a hill and people start dropping like flies, I'm really only kidding, I love the feeling of conquering that rode and then heading into Lunch to see my wife!

Great weekend and can't wait to possibly try one of the new routes next year, the Niagara to Toronto route would be interesting and then you get to remove the Hamilton Mountain, yahoo!!! LOL

See everyone next year!

lilEagle · Member

This was my first time doing the ride and I couldn't have imagined a better time. You all had talked about the emotions of the event and how organized it is, but I was blown away by the entire experience. Thank you all for making it such a memorable weekend!

The Good:
- Every rider on the mile course I met. I didn't have a team but everyone I met was great to chat and ride with.
- Luggage transport and claim. It was quick and easy; no worrying about finding my gear at all.
- The food was plentiful and quite tasty, although opening up a pre-sealed sandwich at the lunch stops felt a bit strange.
- Every volunteer/crew member there. You all were amazingly supportive and helpful, regardless of what my question may have been. A special shout out to he medical tent crew members who always had an ice pack or some Rub A5-35 for my knee. You were a HUGE ride saver!
- The majority of the mile route. No route is going to be perfect and without it's pot holes, so I rather enjoyed the entire mile route. When I talked to some km riders who said they rarely had any room around them over the entire day, I was thankful I took on the mile challenge. I never felt congested and (for the most part) riders knew how to handle themselves on the road. Great job by all!
- 98% of the police patrolled intersections. The vast majority of police were fantastic and incredibly supportive. Thank you!

Suggestions (I wouldn't really classify anything as "bad"):
- More organized finish. Riding across the line was great, but then I ended up riding right into the bike loading buses. There were so many spectators around that area as well that I had no clue where I was supposed to go. I would suggest having a "riders only" area consisting of where you ride in, stop and rack your bike (either on the racks or into a truck). I loved the support of the spectators, but after riding 320km, I didn't enjoy having to convince them to move out of the way so I could rack my bike and grab some well deserved food and beer.
- KEEP THE ENTIRE MILE ROUTE! If the changes to next years' route are exactly as they are published (i.e.: only a Day 1 mile route), it will severely hinder the event's enjoyment and smoothness. It sounds like the km route is congested enough as is. Could you imagine having ALL riders on one route for Day 2?
- 2% of the police patrolled intersections. There were a few busy intersections where the police were present, but barely. They just sat in their cruisers on the side of the road. This was rather troublesome as it killed our momentum and put a damper on the amazing work of the other 98%.

All in all I had an incredible weekend. Thank you all for being such amazing and inspiring individuals :).

equestrian56 · Member

First, this was my first year and once I got sorted out, I thought things went really well. A couple things off the bat are that as a new rider, it was all very confusing for me at the start. All the volunteers were stationed throughout the Ex but there was nobody coming up to it to direct us where to go first and the signage wasn't very clear until you got right into it to know where to go. Even Information was inside where a newbie might have trouble locating it in all the chaos. Also, I was extremely disappointed that even though I was there fairly early, when I went to collect my jersey I had to accept a medium (which was far too big) because all the smalls were taken. I specifically ordered a small months ago, so I would like to know why someone who clearly did not, got my jersey instead. I feel like if I ordered a size and did my online registration (kit didn't get sent because of the mail strike) my jersey should have been set aside for me in the size I requested.

I also have a point to make from my family's point of view. They tried to go to a few cheering stations but without knowing the area inside out, got lost because the maps did not label any of the streets that got you to them. You had to combine the Ride map with a Regular map or GPS. Sadly, my parents forgot their GPS at home.

Also, I think it would have been nice at pit-stops or even just at camp to have some sort of way to let other riders know if riders that went down were okay. I passed a couple pretty nasty accidents and although I didn't know the injured riders I certainly thought/worried about them the rest of the ride.

Another suggestion is that I wish the site had a way to look up riders by the numbers that were on their bikes for the ride days. I met a couple people I'd like to get in touch with, but I don't know their last names so I'm out of luck.

Overall however, these are small things that really were minor and didn't at all discourage me from wanting to ride again. I didn't mind some of the stops and luckily I didn't have any trouble with nasty drivers. I thought everyone was fantastic and I had a great time.

About the route changes...not sure I love that idea. I really like having everyone on one route travelling together and helping each other. It seems like jumping up to six new routes is going to cause even more traffic aggravation and the need for a lot more volunteers and organization etc. People's experiences will be more divided even if we all meet at the same camp and I don't know what it will do to cost. I hope it doesn't take any away from what the hospital already recieves, or cost the participants more for minimum participation.

equestrian56 · Member

Oh and I only found a couple of roads on the day 2 KM ride to be potholed and awful...if those were changed that would be good. I killed one tire on one of them. I swerved to avoid one and landed in another that came up fast! Unfortunately a lot of other riders had trouble on that same area. It was in between the final pit stop and the finish.

mmgirl · Veteran Member

I had a good experience and even signed up to do the ride next year (trying to put a team together, contact me if you want to join it ;) my goal, same as this year is to bring awareness about Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that no one has really heard of, but what I have, and had a stem cell transplant at PMH last year for. I had a jesery on day two that was red and had Myeloma Canada "Making Myeloma Matter" on the back.

Anyway the first part of the ride we ended up at the back of the pack, and then got furthur and further back, from congestion, and then helping to clear a women who fell and got picked up by ambulance. My fiance was a bike tech so stopped to help. We were behind the pace cars and the cops were all leaving the intersections! We managed to catch up at the two rest stops, and then by the time the hills started before lunch were about a third of the way through.

Got into camp at like 5:30 day one. I rode all the hills! felt disapointed that things were wrapping up and running out by the time we got there. no massages. food was at the last bits, etc. So we didn't have time to shower and change, had to just grab food and eat, but then started to get a chill etc so we left for Mcmaster to shower and sleep!

Day two riding was much easier! Talked with a few other survivors.

I felt like the survivors and people really challenged by completing the ride were being overshadowed by teams of very experienced riders. All the "passing on your lefts" and some clichey ness was discouraging at times for me. Like these riders so focused on being the first people to reach the finish by a certain time they forgot what the ride is truly about. Surviving cancer and raising money to do that. Not about how many riders you pass (yes I heard people keeping tabs) or how fast you finish

Day one i got seperated from my partner as he was working and felt pretty alone and emotional, tears running on my face. Wasn't that good. (remember we were at the back?) my partner caught up and some coaching and hugging later we started our catch up!

My advice is don't forget was the ride is about people! Be freindly, ask people their stories, ride with them a bit (even if they go half the speed you want to go) you will learn a lot!

SilverFox · Senior Member

Compared to what the 200K riders apparently put up with, this is just nit-picking.

I have to give it to the planners of the 200M route. The Day 1 portion was mapped out so well that at lunch one of our group members asked when we would climb the escarpment. We had already crested and favourable wind had made it an easy job. Perhaps too easy. Many of us would have liked at least one grade that left us winded at the top. Not only did we miss a good climb, there was no memorable descent either. Yes, it makes the 200M more accessible to more riders, but it does detract from the sense of accomplishment for the more experienced rider.

Would anyone be up for a 1 day, 200k route?

Overall, I the event is very well organized. I found the food was definitely better this year on just about every account. Yes, more access to massages would be nice, but the addition of a Yoga tent looked well received.

The finish line in Niagara Falls is a nightmare to navigate once you are off you bike, particularly for first time riders. I understand there a limited places to fit the crowd and the location is magnificent.

There were a number of riders on the 200M who initially registered for the 200k and later switched routes. Unfortunately their name plates weren't updated. I was with such a group and as we crossed the finish line the announcer credited them as 200K riders, and I was singled out for doing the 200M. I felt they got short changed because of the colour of their nameplates.

Hats off to all the crew, volunteers, servers, police, security and organizers. A great event.

Last night I was resolved this would be my last RTCC. As I biked into work this morning, straight into a cold, north wind, my resolve firmed. I don't know why, but by mid-afternoon I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, I will do it once more.

jamesbissonjr · Member

Barrierider wrote:
I think they need a few massage therapist that are just for the 200m riders. When we got to camp around 2:30 there was already a giant line of 200k riders waiting for massages! Not really fair that we ride further which means we get in a little later and can't get a massage. Makes me feel like I should have did the 200k so I could race in just to beat the line. But all said it was a great 2 days and it was run nearly perfectly! Too bad there is not a 200m route next year. No matter which of the challenge route you do there is only 1 day at 100m and 1 day at 100k. I can only assume its due to low numbers on day two of the 200m route.
A few of those rodes were pretty rough hopefully everyone avoided the pot holes.
Very proud to have been part of such a great event

Speak for yourself in the massage dept.!!!! Being an inexperienced rider, and much slower than most of the riders out there, I have yet to be able to get a massage including 2008, 09 and this year. I missed last years ride. This was my first year riding as a survivor and being only 4 months since I completed my treatments, a massage would have been a welcome bonus at the end of day 1. Unfortunately they are always all booked up by the time I get there so as each year, it's straight to the beer line then! A later shift would be nice, and maybe even dedicated therapists for survivors only? I can only hope that I can get faster by more training this coming year so I can maybe enjoy it just one time during the RTCC.

Otherwise I enjoyed the ride completely once again, and more so as a survivor. The emotions quite often could not be controlled while riding and I had to pull over because I couldn't see through the tears! I started riding in 2008 because my brother in law lost his fight with leukemia at 35 yrs old! Last October I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and three weeks after I finished my treatments my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer! I Ride for all of us and those who endured the same **** I had to just 4 months ago! This disease chooses who it wants, when it wants, young and old. It's about damn time we find a cure and the Ride in my opinion is the best fund raising event out there that funds one of the best damn research centers in the world! I'll never forget the people and staff I met when I went through my treatment.

rusty · Member

I could have used a simple, obvious link to the route maps from the mobile web site (or through the app). I missed a turn on the M route after lunch on Day 1 and added about 12-15 k to my day. I tried calling the hotline, but the calls kept getting dropped due to lousy service in the area where I ended up. Data coverage was fine, and I managed to figure things out but not without a great deal of frustration for 30 minutes or so.

I also didn't even know there were pocket maps of the route. Even that would have helped me figure out where I went wrong and sort things out. Needs to be a better way to get these out to people.

SilverFox · Senior Member

Pocket maps of the M200 were very hard to come by. I received one before the start and lost it by first pit stop. None were to be had at camp. I did prefer the new format, a large foldable map, to the booklet that was distributed previously.

twinpro · Veteran Member

MysteryBee wrote:
For adiamond:

There are, to my understanding, SEVEN proposed routes for next year:

1. the classic 200K route.
2. the classic in reverse, from Niagara Falls to Toronto
3. the Toronto turnaround, from Toronto to Hamilton and back
4. the Niagara turnaround, from Niagara Falls to Hamilton and back
5. the 100M route to Hamilton and the 100K route to Niagara Falls
6. the Toronto turnaround challenge, 100M route to Hamilton and the 100K route back to Toronto
7. it isn't listed but presumably the classic 200M route will remain.

Anyway, the basics of it are that there will be a starting and finishing line in Toronto and a starting and finishing line in Niagara Falls.
Essentially, the goal is to thin out the 200K group by letting them choose between 4 or 5 different events.

Here are the official details: http://to12.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=to12_aboutevent

-- Edited by twinpro on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:03:16 PM

Phillh · Veteran Member

@MysteryBee You're comments about people with 10k bikes and that they shouldn't be so lazy doing the 200k route, that they add to congestion is just plain silly and naive. Just because someone has money doesn't mean they know how to ride a bike, or are in great shape (I would argue that in general the more expensive the bike the lower the riders ability and conditioning with some exceptions). If you think about what you're saying, you're then implying that someone who can only buy a CCM from Canadian Tire shouldn't be allowed to ride the 200M route because they don't have an expensive bike and therefor can't possibly be in shape (see how silly that sounds?).

Anyway, the real reason for my post... This was my 4th ride and I fear it is my last. This year I thought the event was the best run of them all with the minor exception that on the 200M route I was really looking forward to the big climb up the mountain. But really that's just a minor detail, I can get my hill training in plenty of other times. That's not why I'm not doing the ride again, the reason I'm not signing up for 2012 is due to all the new routes added. I don't see this as a logistical decision to reduce congestion but as a plan for trying to get even more riders and raise even more money. Yes, more money is always good for PMHF but it's not worth creating a logistical nightmare and putting rider saftey at risk. With the added routes they'll most likely need twice as many volunteers and twice as many police officers, which most likely won't happen meaning these resources will be spread thin. I just don't think it will end well and I fear there will be many more close encounters and actual encounters with cyclists and vehicles.

Sometimes I think organizations need to come to terms with the fact that a certain type of event can only (safely) raise so much money, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's like the event is being run by CEOs trying to please stock holders by always increasing profits. There were almost 1000 more riders this year yet the incremental money raised shows that it's not worth adding 1000s more riders, you could double the numbers from 4600 to 10,000 riders but it won't double the money raised, not even close (It will more than double the risk of accidents though).

I wish everyone the best of luck for next year and I thank all the volunteers for donating their time for such an amazing cause. I'll continue to support the fight against cancer, but sadly I don't think it will be at this event.

-- Edited by Phillh on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 06:31:51 PM

mmgirl · Veteran Member

Phillh - what you are talking about is an economic principle called "the Law of Diminishing Returns"

Yes I'm not sure how it will work either, will need twice the volunteers and I'm a bit concerned about having riders going tow ways on the same roads... could be messy. (towards niagara, and from niagara)

SilverFox · Senior Member

mmgirl, There will be 3 routes heading to Hamilton on day 1, 100M and 100K from Toronto and 100K from Niagara Falls. On day 2 there are 100k routes, going to Toronto & NF. Cyclists will not be passing each other headed in the opposite direction.

mweerasinghe · Veteran Member

MysteryBee I am a little tired of your arrogance. This event is early in the year and with a dismal spring few people, I am sure, had enough time to train and condition themselves for a 200M ride. I for one have the money to afford two expensive bikes as I LIKE THE SPORT and don't mind spending the money on good bikes...they do help my results. I once rode competitively when I was younger but an idiot driver put an end to any thought of competing with the likes of some of the guys on here. I am lucky enough to have come out alive and in two years of rehab been able to take part in this event. I now ride a good 25-31km/hr average and that's good enough for me. I also fatigue faster since my accident and longer distance more than likely will make me more prone for injuries which will affect future summer rides. My practice and livelihood also keeps me busy and during the winter months I have little time to train...an indoor trainer doesn't add up for me. I start out in the spring once the snow has stopped and can condition myself enough to do the 200K in a respectable time. I will be doing a few charitable rides and have done the Ride for Karen in recent years. I also will be out for the Centurion competing in the 25 or 50 mile course,not sure at this point. Whatever I do satisfies me and I really don't care what others like yourself think about us 200K riders. I am proud that you rode the 200M and continue to do this event. Like you in time I may choose to ride farther but for now I am content with what I have done. So in the future don't be quick to judge, we all have our reasons for doing what we have done. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN SOME WAY AND WE ALL HAVE RAISED MONEY FOR THIS GREAT CAUSE.

twinpro · Veteran Member

I can easily ride the 200M route. I have an expensive bike. I'm on a race team. None of these points matter because I chose to ride the 200K route with my buddies. The joy of freewill...

RSinfield · Veteran Member

Fresh brewed coffee... Nice! Day two detour to Tim Horton's averted.

It's the little things :)