Tripleshot Cycling

Ideas and thoughts.... Larry Pommen organizer of the Tuesday Night TTs sent out the e-mail below last night. I asked if I could post it on the TS forum. He's all for hearing your ideas. Please write directly to Larry......

Larry's e-mail .....

Feedback Requested – last season and this season have seen a dramatic drop-off in time trial participation to almost half of previous seasons, and the lowest since before 2002 when we started to keep attendance records. This season is close to the break-even point financially at the current ride fees and also in terms of the volunteer effort required to stage the event for a small number of riders. You are the riders who have ridden the time trial for the last few seasons, perhaps you can tell us:

Why has participation in the time trial declined? If you have any personal insights about why you no longer ride the time trial or insights about local bike racing trends in general, please tell us.

Thank you for your assistance.

Larry Pommen
Secretary-Treasurer
Sidney Velo Cycling Club
800 Sea-Aira Heights
Victoria, B.C., V9E 2A2
Tel: 250-652-5815
Email: pommen@telus.net

I can't help explain the drop-off in participation (since I've never participated ), but I've often thought that if these fun-sounding, weekly TTs were held somewhere in metro Victoria, I'd probably be a regular. The extra hour of driving or couple of hours riding there and back makes the time commitment too great on busy weeknights.

And perhaps fewer over a shorter time...Or maybe once a month?

I think doing the TT weekly is really helpful. I doubt that we could get a course in town, would be great. It is a perfect distance to warm up though! I sent Larry some thoughts. I don’t know if folks agree? The TT is an awesome addictive challenge and I recommend that you try it out!

Larry,
I think that having the Masters Nationals in town had a big impact especially with such a climby course a lot of folks worked on climbing through the winter. Folks were very focused on the early season and planned to shut things down after the nationals were done. The VCL is also ending early and this is leading to earlier shut down’s in various people’s seasons. Another trend is there is a lot more gravel riding and many folks are buying gravel specific bikes and doing a lot of adventure rides. Mountain biking remains popular and a few people have switched to mountain bike races. Cyclocross is also such a huge draw and folks are starting to ride and even race already. Tripleshot does do TTT every Thursday mornings but 90%+ are using road bikes. There are a number of regulars who did not pitch this year ... that had a significant impact. I think the inability to use the parking lot takes away a bit of the vibe and the social aspect which is such a draw in cyclocross. It may be interesting to have a subclass if results for non aero Merckx style riding and prizing. Could also get some earlier TTs into the VCLs. Just some random thoughts. Thanks for your awesome work and tireless efforts!
Andrew