[NCNCA] Women's Races

Wed Apr 30 20:13:10 PDT 2008

Hi NCNCA Racers and Promoters:  

When I started getting involved in race promotions, I took over the reigns from Dave Walters, and pretty much copied what he was doing until I learned a few things.  I realized the huge costs involved in putting on events, and that to have these events continue in the future, I had to make money to pay the bills.  Unfortunatly,  the women's and Jrs categories did not fill up, and put a financial burden on the  entire event.  

I got many, very nasty emails,  calling me a male chauvinistic pig,  because I didn't have enough women fields.  Why did I not have separate cats for women like the men, where were their 45/55+ cats? etc.   I was discriminating!!  After responding to these women and letting them know that I too was a women,  and that I understood their frustrations, I went ahead anyway, and against my better judgment and included a women's 45/55+ cat and picked 3/4  fields separately.  But, in the long run, I did not get the Numbers to substantiate more women cat's. I had 10 racers for the 45/55+ women.   I lost alot of money.  I am sure most promoters agree, its not that we don't want to, its just that we can not afford it. 

I did the registration for the First women's Crit for the Tour of California, and ladies, I am sorry, but we did not fill up at all.  we needed about 35 more to fill up.  Yes, it was refreshing to see such a large group of women in one race, and I was so glad to see that many show up,  but guess what, it did not make any money. Laura was lucky enough to have AMGen foot the bills, if not, this would never  have happened.     Now if the TOC Women's race can not pay the bills, as they do not get enough  women entries, how  can you expect local race promoters to add more women cats? Its not financially sound. 

I am bringing back the Two Rock Road Race, Sunday July 13,  Casey has approved the race flyer, and I am sending in the $ this week, and you should see on the calendar soon.  I struggled with the Women's Cats.  We have to limit the # of fields on this road, in order to get permits from two different counties.  Plus at this point, my budget to put on this event is over $20,000.00.  In this economy right now, sponsorship money is lean.  Putting in women's cat's will lower my income, it was a hard decision, and I am sure I am going to get complaints.  I have the 3/4's racing together. Ladies, I just can not afford to give you more, and I am limited on time, per county permits.   I wish I could give you more.

It all comes down to numbers,  entry  field numbers and $ numbers.

Ladies, you really do have the power to change this, by your actions. Stick together and show us promoters, by registering ( including pre reg) and showing up in droves,  that you want to race, and you want more choices in Cat's.   Give us a reason to add more women's fields and we will. I will gladly take away a men's field (quiet guys,) if you can make it worth my while and show me that there is a market for this field. You will never be able to match the # of men racers, and promoters need to keep this in  mind,  but when I get 15 in a race, it tells me their is no market for a women's field.

 Prove us wrong ladies, unite, show up and race!! ( same goes for you too Juniors!)

Rene Goncalves
A women race promoter.

Leslie René

> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:01:01 -0700> From: sarah at secadvertising.com> To: ncnca at ncnca.org> Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races> > Hi, > > I'm a 2nd year racer, Cat 4 woman, and try to be very> involved in the cycling community. I just learned of> this particular email list today since a couple people> forwarded this thread to me.> > I greatly appreciate that the option to race at Cat's> Hill has been brought back for the W4 women. I may> register just to support that decision, even though I> do not plan to race. However, I will add my opinion> that I do not enjoy racing in mixed fields and will> only add mixed-field races to my schedule if I have a> big gap and nothing to fill it. > > The reason I don't enjoy mixed fields is that I> struggle to stay in the pack fitness-wise. I can> usually hang in a W4-only crit, but when faster> categories are included, it's all I can do to hang on,> let alone participate in the tactics. Since this is my> 2nd season, I feel like I've improved greatly on race> awareness, skills and tactics, and would like the> opportunity to try some things where I am competitive.> Clinging desperately to the back of a whipping tail> does not provide me with an opportunity to hone my> racing skills or assist my team mates. My feelings> about mixed fields have absolutely nothing to do with> prizes and picking separately. I don't care if I ever> win any money/merchandise/t-shirts racing. I do it> because I love it and want to learn to be better!> > In any case, I agree that staggering starts can be a> good compromise, and I hope that promoters will> consider that when combining W3/W4 or W4/W35+/W45+.> I've participated in 2 races where starts were> staggered and it worked well both times.> > Sarah Clatterbuck> Team Velo Girls> > > > > > > --- Kelly Snow <ksnow1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:> > > So far, this statement "Do the promoters a favor and> > pre-register. " has been made several times. If> > members of this list want to promote that sentiment,> > I'd recommend a different communication channel.> > Half the people you are trying to reach to probably> > aren't on this list. Most Cat 4 women are new to the> > sport, new to anything related to cycling> > organizations and events; They aren't aware of this> > email list. > > > > Dare I mention, getting people to pre-reg by simply> > telling them to do so ass-backwards without> > incentive to change existing behavior. It is not> > clear to racers, especially new ones, what the> > benefit of pre-registration is. From your average> > Cat 4's (or any women's field) point of view, the> > races don't sell out so why bother? It's worth $5 in> > late fee to have the flexibility of deciding last> > minute. It's pretty easy to configure> > sportbaseonline and others to add a $20 late fee if> > they don't pre-reg. Or do what sea otter does and> > don't offer same day reg. It seems this is a much> > easier strategy than trying to get every newbie to> > understand pre-registration makes a promoters life> > easier, and therefore saves women's cycling for> > years to come. C'mon. You know how the world works -> > "what's in it for me, today?"> > > > I'm sorry there isn't more participation - it's> > makes us all better competitors to have bigger> > fields and more races to choose from. It's only> > after a year of racing that I tuned in to these> > issues as they are not really obvious. I'm hearing a> > call for someone to step up - and i'm not convinced> > a women's event for women by women for one day is> > solving the issue. It's a step to be sure. > > > > I'd love to help solve this problem constructively.> > Feel free to contact me for that purpose. > > > > Kelly Snow> > Dolce Vita Cycling, Board Member> > Cat 4 (and probably will be for life)> > > > -----Original Message-----> > >From: Stephen Langone> > <Stephen.Langone at flextronics.com>> > >Sent: Apr 30, 2008 7:41 PM> > >To: Eric Smith <redbike at earthlink.net>, Daniele> > Rossdeutscher <daniele at glotrans.com>,> > ncnca at ncnca.org> > >Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races> > >> > >Is there a book out there like Race Promotion 101?> > >Everyone needs to understand and consider the> > implications with running> > >such an event(Financial, Legal, Logistical, etc. ).> > > > >The crux of the issue is getting the fields to> > fill. Do the promoters> > >a favor and pre-register. Lessen the burden on> > them and help support> > >the growth of "our" sport.> > >> > >my .02cents> > >> > > > > >Steve> > >> > >-----Original Message-----> > >From:> >> ncnca-bounces+stephen.langone=flextronics.com at ncnca.org> >> >[mailto:ncnca-bounces+stephen.langone=flextronics.com at ncnca.org]> > On> > >Behalf Of Eric Smith> > >Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 4:20 PM> > >To: 'Daniele Rossdeutscher'; ncnca at ncnca.org> > >Subject: Re: [NCNCA] Women's Races> > >> > >Daniele,> > >> > >Why not promote a women's only race on a Saturday> > where there are no> > >other races. Make it a short day and have limited> > purses or go heavy on> > >merchandise. Would be fairly inexpensive to run and> > would hopefully draw> > >some new women to the race. If it catches on, a> > series would be the next> > >step.> > >> > >Eric > > >> > >-----Original Message-----> > >From: ncnca-bounces+redbike=earthlink.net at ncnca.org> >> >[mailto:ncnca-bounces+redbike=earthlink.net at ncnca.org]> > On Behalf Of> > >Daniele Rossdeutscher> > >Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:53 PM> > >To: ncnca at ncnca.org> > >Subject: [NCNCA] Women's Races> > >> > >As a cat 4 (52-year-old) woman in her 2nd year of> > racing, I would like> > >to send a request to race promoters: please hold> > separate races for> > >women in all categories: W1/2, W3, W4 and masters> > (45+); Don't bother> > >with masters> > >35+ as many of the strongest women are over 35.> > >> > >Sure, the number of racers may be low but if you> > hold the races, they> > >will come; it may take a few years but women's> > cycling will grow and> > >prosper. If you don't hold the races, the door> > remains shut. If there> > >are no masters categories and I have to race with> > W3s, I am very likely> > >to stay home.> > >> > >If prize money is an issue, then offer fewer> > prizes; we do not race> > >because of prizes. > > >> > >Daniele Rossdeutscher> > >Left Coast Racing Team> > >> > >> > >_______________________________________________> > >NCNCA discussion list> > >NCNCA at ncnca.org> > >http://lists.ncnca.org/mailman/listinfo/ncnca> > >> > >_______________________________________________> > >NCNCA discussion list> > >NCNCA at ncnca.org> > >http://lists.ncnca.org/mailman/listinfo/ncnca> > >> > >Legal Disclaimer:> > >The information contained in this message may be> > privileged and confidential. It is intended to be> > read only by the individual or entity to whom it is> > addressed or by their designee. If the reader of> > this message is not the intended recipient, you are> > on notice that any distribution of this message, in> > any form, is strictly prohibited. If you have> > received this message in error, please immediately> > notify the sender and delete or destroy any copy of> > this message> > >_______________________________________________> > >NCNCA discussion list> > >NCNCA at ncnca.org> > >http://lists.ncnca.org/mailman/listinfo/ncnca> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________> > NCNCA discussion list> > NCNCA at ncnca.org> > http://lists.ncnca.org/mailman/listinfo/ncnca> > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> _______________________________________________> NCNCA discussion list> NCNCA at ncnca.org> http://lists.ncnca.org/mailman/listinfo/ncnca
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