Sorry to confuse the issue - really wasn't trying to solve
anything. Just thought there was a common thread of ideas of ways
to present an endurance event that would attract an
audience...
I was just throwing out a "gee,
wouldn't it be cool if..." kind of idea.
I am the one who should apologize. When I said "you," I didn't mean
specifically you, Cindy, but all of the people involved in the
discussion,
most particularly Paul who originated it. I didn't mean
to put you on the
spot. So many people had good ideas, but they weren't really talking
about
the same thing. It is one of the reasons this discussion keeps
repeating
without ever converging toward a solution--nobody can agree on
just which "problem" it is they want to solve. They can't even
agree it's a problem :-)
I agree, my suggestion isn't a way to gather a live audience, but I
just thought it would be a cool TV show to watch. And wouldn't be too
unusual for it to be edited and repackaged, seems like a lot of Olympic and
equestrian events are shown that way...it would be a great way for me to
show my non-endurance family and friends what endurance is all about so they
would understand it. Otherwise, I'll just stick to showing them the
youtube videos of Cougar Rock LOL.
I actually agree with you. I think an edited-together-after-the-fact
show
about Tevis or OD is the best and easiest way to make an interesting,
watchable
story about an endurance race. I've always wanted to see that
Japanese
show about Tevis. Remember when the Discovery Channel did that
half-hour segment where the host did the first 20 miles or so of
the Tevis accompanied by Potato Richardson? The host fell
off when his stirrups slipped off the saddle going up Cougar Rock.
:-)
They showed life at the ridecamp and interviewed people like Julie
Suhr.
It was darned good.
But that doesn't seem to be the problem Paul wants to solve.
And while I'm mea culpa'ing, let me also apologize to Paul for
unintentionally
trivializing his proposal by saying that I knew he was just joking.
He clearly
isn't joking.
But my question still hangs out there, despite Paul's subsequent
clarifications.
In one sentence, what problem is it that he is trying to solve with this
event?
He's said various things in different replies, including some
reasons that
don't have anything to do with audiences at all, but have to do with
providing a controlled environment for improving the participants'
teamwork
and sense of pace.
Most lately Paul's said that it might increase *ridership*:
However, TV, web casting and other electronic media
is a way to promote our sport. Promoting our sport isn't a bad thing. I
went to a ride last week in good weather that had 5 entries in the 50
mile distance and 10 in the 25 mile ride. Promoting the sport so we might have
a few more riders is a good thing.
To which my reply would be: Perhaps...if
what you want is to attract
people who think it would be cool to ride 100 miles around a 1 mile
track!
It is always the most important question to answer, "What is it you
are
