Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Fw: [RC] humbled - Barbara McCrary


----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Truman Prevatt" <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] humbled


I think multi-day rides ARE a big contributor to the decline in interest
in
100 milers.  Perhaps people haven't the time to spend conditioning horses
for 100s?  Perhaps people prefer a little more body comfort than riding
100
milers allows?  It was tough when I was younger; I'm not sure I'm
interested
in beating myself up that much any more.  I'm not sure what is the reason,
or combination of reasons.  I certainly would like to see more attendance
in
our 100 ride that we manage.  We love to manage it anyway, but a greater
attendance would be gratifying.

Barbara McCrary
Ride manager, Swanton Pacific 75/100

----- Original Message -----
From: "Truman Prevatt" <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Cindy Collins" <ccollins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] humbled


The issue is how to revive the interest in 100 milers. Over the last 6
or so  years the you see very few new faces doing 100 mile rides. In the
early 90's there were always new people "trying their hand" at the 100.
At that time it was the ultimate challenge to which people responded. If
you look at the numbers in endurance riding since 1996, you find that
there has been a small sustained growth in the 50 mile distance, a
larger sustained growth in the 25 mile distance and sustained
contraction in the 100 mile distance. If you talk to riders today that
have been in the sport for only a few years, you will find very few that
have any desire at all to do a 100.

The question to ask yourself is why. Some claim it is multiday rides.
However, while that may be a contributor to the decline in 100 mile
rides, there has been no significant growth in multiday rides in the
east. In fact there are very few (Shore to Shore, Ft. Valley and for a
two year period the Big South Fork) three or more day rides in the East.
So multiday rides are not the only culprit.

If we riders want to keep the 100 mile ride from becoming extinct or
becoming "FEI only" events for aspiring FEI riders to punch their
mileage tickets, then we need to figure out exactly why their appeal has
tarnished and push our AERC directors to take measures to revive this
format. If new blood is not forthcoming in the 100 mile distance, it
will die along with a bit of our history.

Truman

Cindy Collins wrote:

Please forgive any arrogance displayed by my admiration of Tom Sites'
quote.  I do realize that we all will come to a day when we can no
longer
ride any distance due to physical limitations.  My enjoyment of the
quote
had more to do with my love of 100 milers as the classic distance and
my
dismay that so few new "endurance" riders aspire to that distance.  The
people who responded paid their dues long ago and have nothing but my
respect.  And, as usual, my friend, Frank, made me realize how inept I
can
sound and how elegant he is!  Wish I had said THAT, too, Frank.  Cindy







=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=






=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=