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[RC] Hundred mile rides - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: ti Tivers@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== On Ridecamp, we've had a lengthy discussion on where the 100-mile rides have gone, or perhaps where have the 100-mile RIDERS gone. There have been a lot of thoughtful answers, and a lot of speculation. I was talking to a vet a couple of days ago, and it was his question to me, and my answer to him, that the multi-day rides are becoming the ultimate competition, rather than the 100-mile ride. All I can say at this moment is: for our 75/100 miles rides coming up soon, the entries for the 75 compared to the 100 are over 4 to 1. We will not offer the 100-mile ride in the future if there is no more response than this. It is considerably more time- and energy-consuming to offer both distances than to offer just the one, probably 50% more effort, because of the logistics of trails used and the necessity of maintaining the extra mileage for the 100. If 100-mile rides are so desired, then support them, or they will disappear in favor of lesser mileages and multi-day rides. Don't just sit there and complain about where the 100s have gone.....get out there and ride one! Barbara McCrary, ride mgr> It will only get worse. At one time, TBs typically had a Sunday afternoon's race that consisted of 3 4-mile heats. These days, finding TBs fit enough to safely run a mile is difficult. Tracks like Finger Lakes seldom write races longer than 6 furlongs. The reason: Earlier golf tee times for the trainers. In endurance, only those serious about the competitive aspects are going to race 100s. Those interested in other things will become more and more like boaters--they'll all drive to a location, set up, and sit around gabbing for a couple-three days. The riders themselves will eventually become unfit to sit on a horse for 100 miles. It's human nature. There's no incentive to do the extra work. Everybody already wins. International competition is all politics and not worth pursuing on the US team basis, and too expensive for most on an individual basis. You're witnessing the key symptom of the slow death of a sport. ti =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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