Top Events in the Last Year

EVENTS

TOP EVENTS IN THE LAST YEAR

Five years ago, PPA started the annual Organisers’ Awards. PPA uses a comprehensive scoresheet to firstly brief organisers on the finer points of putting on a well-run event, using the same list afterwards to analyse and score each event on over 100 different points. These points include marshalling, route marking, the entry and registration process, venue and layout, start and finish, water points, support at the event, lucky draw/prizes, general admin, general ‘vibe’, post-event offering, medics, sweep/support services, and more. These evaluation points do not only include the bigger items like good routes and route marking that make an event successful, but also numerous smaller items, from ‘were the support vehicles contactable at all times” to ‘were the support vehicles adequately marked”. In this way, events are evaluated in detail in an attempt to improve year-on-year, and to assist organisers to learn from any previous mistakes.

The top scoring events were recognised at the annual Funride Organisers’ meeting in July 2016. In addition to receiving certificates, the winners this year received R2 000 towards a charity of their choice, while runners-up received R1000 towards a charity of their choice:

AWARD / WINNER 2016 / RUNNER-UP
Most improved MTB event / Paarl Rotary Backsberg MTB Challenge / Langebaan Lagoon MTB
Most improved Road event / Chris Willemse Cycles Durbie Dash / West Coast Express
Best ‘Vibe’ / Willow Creek MTB / -----
Best Newcomer / Blue Ribbon Yzerfontein MTB Experience / -----
Highest scoring MTB event / JAVA MTB / Paarl Rotary / Backsberg MTB Challenge
Highest scoring Road event / Langebaan Lagoon Cycle Challenge / Chris Willemse Cycles Durbie Dash

Congratulations again to the organisers of these events. These events ‘tick all the boxes’ so we certainly recommend that you attend them the next time they are offered on the calendar!

EVENTS OVERVIEW

ATTENDANCE

Attendance has declined since the previous funride season, with many cyclists citing the economy as a major role-player, saying that they cannot afford to attend all events on the calendar anymore, and prefer to attend those ones closest to home. In addition, several cyclists have said that they prefer going for a quick ride close to home early in the morning, being back in time for breakfast with the family.

In 2017, roadworks will increase in the Southern suburbs and it will have a major effect on road events in that area. Three road events will move to different locations in 2017.

We are additionally faced with a challenge to get more road event organisers on-board, with the high traffic fees; long lead time for events permits; increased regulations and prescriptions given by municipal organisations; number and costs of marshals and medics needed for a road funride; lack of roads with a road shoulder; new traffic lights and additional circles requiring more traffic officers; and general manpower, logistics and cost associated with putting on a road event all contributing to being barriers to entry – even more so based on the fact that event organisers on the PPA calendar try to keep entry fees as low as possible to attract participants, while at the same time trying to raise funds for their various charities.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

PPA continues to support “full” events on our calendar with logistical input; administrative assistance; free timing (for one set of timing mats – organisers pay for a second mat(s) if required); crew and event staff to assist at the start/finish; marketing of the event; equipment to mark the event routes; liaison with traffic and municipal authorities prior to and during the event; compilation and submission of event and traffic applications; provision of expertise and knowledge from trained event co-ordinators prior to, during and post event; and supplying a Safety Officer to attend the event. The average value of such assistance is R35000 per road and R27000 per MTB event, resulting in PPA spending just under R1m per year to ensure that these events continue.

This excludes any funding PPA puts towards ‘own events’, where entry fees are kept as low as possible to assist PPA members to attend the event, with PPA effectively subsidising the event and carrying budget shortfalls.

In this way, PPA subsidised the following events: Maluti Double90 (R150 000); Heels on Wheels (R27 000), Twilight MTB (R6 000); hill climbs (R22 400 in total), monthly Killarney training sessions (R1300+ per session), Tread Lightly Women’s MTB (R7800), Scenic South (R12000), Mangaung Cycle Tour (Awareness Ride (R5 000), and other social initiatives. Costs for PPA’s overnight tours are similarly kept as low as possible, the aim being that these tours break even.

‘PPA-OWN’ VS ‘FULLY-SUPPORTED’ VS ‘LISTED’ EVENTS

The PPA calendar caters for three event categories:

(a)‘PPA-own’ events are owned and organized by PPA. Entry fees for these events accrue to PPA, and PPA carries all expenses related to the event. The event is often subsidized by PPA in an effort to keep costs for members as low as possible. The exception is the Coronation Double Century which is owned by PPA, but outsourced to the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust for organizing.

(b)‘Supported’ events: The event is not owned, nor organized by PPA. PPA assists the organizer with the planning and logistics of the event including applications and safety plans, and provides the organizer with timing, event equipment, and marketing. PPA also pays for staff and crew to attend the event to specifically assist with the start/finish, to act as Event Safety Officer and to assist the organizer on the day with the general running of the event and to oversee any emergencies that may arise. All entry fees go to the organizer, and all event costs are borne by the organizer. Most of the ‘fully-supported’ events on the PPA calendar are organized in order to raise funds for charity.

(c)‘Listed’ events: These events are not owned by PPA and PPA does not provide any logistical, safety or other input. The event is listed on the PPA calendar purely for marketing purposes. All entry fees go to the organizer, and all event costs are borne by the organizer.

DID YOU KNOW

PPA, amongst others, has nearly 1000 road and MTB arrows, over 100 additional boards, 50 venue-specific boards, 130 jerry cans, and 180 traffic cones available to organisers to use to put on their events. In the past year, PPA spent R65 000 on producing brand new boards and an additional R30 000 on refurbishing existing boards.

ROAD EVENTS

(a)CURRENT ROAD EVENTS OWNED AND ORGANISED BY PPA

Maluti Double90 Team Challenge (road)

One Tonner (road; 2 additional routes in 2016)

Heels on Wheels women’s funride (road)

Scenic South (road)

Tour de PPA (road)

Killarney sessions (ongoing; road)

4 x Hill climbs (road)

Wacky Wheels overnight tour (road)

Route 62 overnight tour (road)

Mangaung Cycle Tour (road)

Coronation Double Century (road; organised on behalf of PPA by the CTCTT)

(b) FULLY-SUPPORTED AND OWN ROAD EVENTS / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / NOTES
JANUARY
Chappies Coffee Ride / n.a. / n.a. / 50 / new social road ride
BouckaertSoenen Road / 1587 / 1794 / 1070 / Issues with organizer using their own entry system, which caused problems. High entry fees
FEBRUARY
PPA Scenic South / n.a. / 712 / 203 / Replaced 2015 Tour de Worcester
Journey for Sight / 927 / 1256 / 815 / Fell on Valentine’s Day
Tour de Stellenbosch / 3500 / 2066 / n.a. / Cancelled due to roadworks
Tour de PPA / 1887 / 2245 / 1635 / Windy; calendar date clashes
PPA Stay Wider of the Rider awareness ride / 500-1000 / 500-1000 / 500-1000
MARCH
Cape Town Cycle Tour / Fully subscribed
Wacky Wheels overnight tour / 35 / 28 / 30
MAY
Maluti Double 90 / n.a. / n.a. / 69 teams / new road event
JUNE
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / 19 / new event, wet
JULY
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / 51 / new event
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / 97 / new event
AUGUST
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / 53 / wet
‘Red Hill’ hill climb / n.a. / 508 / n.a. / moved to The Glen in 2016
Route 62 Tour / n.a. / 20 / --
The Glen Hill Climb / n.a. / n.a. / 267 / New road event
Paarl Monument Hill Climb / n.a. / 157 / n.a. / Taking place on 25 Sep 2016
OCTOBER
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 2 Oct 2016
Heels on Wheels Women's funride / 676 / 361 / n.a. / Taking place 9 Oct 2016
West Coast Express / 1808 / 1236 / n.a. / Taking place 16 Oct 2016
Enjoy One Tonner / 1989 / 1870 / n.a. / Taking place 23 Oct 2016
Durbie Dash Road / 1385 / 1149 / n.a. / Taking place 29 Oct 2016
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 30 Oct 2016
Mangaung Cycle Tour / 432 / 858 / n.a. / Taking place 30 Oct 2016
NOVEMBER
Bonnievale Cycle Race / 392 / 395 / n.a. / Taking place 5 Nov 2016
Coronation Double Century / Fully subscribed
Dido Valley Hill Climb / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 6 Nov 2016
Chapmans Peak Hill Climb / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 13 Nov 2016
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 13 Nov 2016
Langebaan Road funride / 1108 / 770 / n.a. / Taking place 19 Nov 2016
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 20 Nov 2016
DECEMBER
Killarney / n.a. / n.a. / n.a. / new event: 4 Dec 2016

(c ) LISTED ROAD EVENTSON THE PPA CALENDAR IN 2015-2016

Pennypinchers GOK Cycle Tour

Cape Classic 380

Coronation Double Century

Stellenbosch Cycle Tour

Cape Town Junior Cycle Tour

Cape Town Cycle Tour

99er Cycle Tour

Eroica South Africa

Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour by Rotary

NEW ROAD EVENTS

1. SCENIC SOUTH

The new-format ‘Scenic South’ was used twice with great success to give cyclists the opportunity to ride in the Peninsula, albeit a short one due to the road works between Fish Hoek and Muizenberg.

1. MALUTI DOUBLE90 TEAM CHALLENGE

On 30 November 1993, the Pedal Power Association organised the Double Century for the first time. That year, 229 finishers were listed in total. In 2015, entries for the event sold out within 13 minutes. In these 23 years, the event has only ever been held in the Western Cape. With the PPA opening an office in the Free State in July 2015, the opportunity has now come to take the DC into new territory.

The Maluti Double Century was a team event over 180 km with 12 riders per team. Located in the foothills of the Malutimountains and slotted between the Golden Gate National Park and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Clarens is nicknamed the "Jewel of the Eastern Free State" and is the undisputed tourist magnet in this part of the country. The town is situated about 4 hours normal travelling time from Durban, 3 hours from Johannesburg, and 3 hours from Bloemfontein, which assisted in attracting riders from across the country.

56 Teams started and finished the event in Clarens on 7 May (3 teams did not have the full complement of riders). Meticulous pre-event planning by the PPA Events team resulted in a well-run event. Rider feedback was very positive.

The Maluti Double90 received good coverage in local newspapers as well as extensive coverage on social media. The event was featured on Supercycling on 24 May. The preferred date for the 2017 edition is the first weekend in April.

1. HILL CLIMBS

In an effort to increase the road offering and to give cyclists an opportunity to improve their seeding, PPA organised 4 hill climbs at no cost to the participants. These hill climbs took place on Red Hill, Paarl (“Taal Monument’), Signal Hill and Dido Valley, with more to follow. (The events team is also exploring MTB hill climbs).

1. ENJOY ONE TONNER: TWO ADDITIONAL ROUTES

In an effort to increase the road event offering in the Cape, two additional routes were added to the One Tonner: 109 km and 58 km. The 109 km route will also be used for seeding for the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour. Other new elements include prize money, league start groups and a KOM on the 170 km route, and a new ‘race village’ at the finish.

1. KILLARNEY TRAINING SESSIONS

On an annual basis, PPA ends up subsidizing these events, but we feel it is worthwhile in order to present cyclists (both members and non-members) with a regular opportunity to train in a traffic-free environment.

Sundays:PPA negotiated access to the Killarney race track to take place at least once, and, when possible, twice a month, for a 3-hour training session on selected Sundays. PPA carries the cost of medics and marshals for these sessions, while the entry fees (R20 for adults; R10 for kids) go directly to the Killarney track.

Tuesdays: Starting in June, PPA negotiated weekly access to the Killarney race track on Tuesday mornings. From October, these sessions switch to Tuesday evenings.

1. LISTED EVENTS

We welcomed the following new listed road events onto the calendar: Cape Classic 380 and Eroica South Africa.

MTB EVENTS

(a) CURRENT MTB EVENTS OWNED AND ORGANISED BY PPA

Mangaung MTB

Twilight MTB

TiletoriaElgin Valley MTB

‘Tread Lightly’ Women’s MTB

Greyton 3-day MTB overnight tour

(b) FULLY SUPPORTED AND OWN MTB EVENTS / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / NOTES
JANUARY
BouckaertSoenen MTB / 609 / 482 / 175 / Routes tough; organisers’ own entry system caused problems. High entry fees
Franschhoek MTB / 580 / 538 / 419 / Very hot on the day; problems with routes and marshals in previous year
APRIL
Breede MTB / 700 / 825 / 599 / Very hot on the day
Philadelphia MTB / 835 / 1153 / 771 / Calendar date clash with another big event
MAY
Tru Cape MTB / 579 / 711 / 532 / Calendar date clash
PPA ‘Tread Lightly’Women’s MTB / 767 / 531 / 419 / Routes perceived to be too tough?
Willow Creek MTB / 800 / 591 / 669 / Great festival atmosphere
Montagu Montain Mania MTB / n.a / 438 / 347 / Distance from CPT, road works to get to event
JUNE
Robertson Winery MTB / 639 / 615 / 413 / New date caused problems
Autumn Splendour / 543 / 401 / 449 / Good marketing, new date; revamp
Yzerfontein MTB / n.a. / n.a. / 561 / New event. Non-technical routes got good reviews; aimed at both road and MTB riders
AUGUST
Wolseley MTB / 424 / 265 / 416 / Good marketing, good support from town
Paarl Rotary MTB / 652 / 313 / 240 / Routes perceived to be too tough?
TiletoriaElgin Valley MTB / 811 / 862 / 1072 / Good routes, good marketing, new festival atmosphere, racing categories
SEPTEMBER
PPA Greyton MTB Tour / n.a / n.a. / 15 / new event
OCTOBER
Java MTB and trail run / 618 / 1001 / n.a. / Taking place 1 Oct 2016
Durbie Dash MTB / 790 / 872 / n.a. / Taking place 29 Oct 2016
Mangaung MTB / n.a. / 371 / n.a. / Taking place 29 Oct 2016
NOVEMBER
Bonnievale MTB / 235 / 134 / n.a. / Taking place 5 Nov 2016
Langebaan MTB / 198 / 234 / n.a. / Taking place 20 Nov 2016
Big Cycle MTB / 282 / 247 / n.a. / Taking place 26 Nov 2016
DECEMBER
Twilight MTB northern suburbs / 431 / 292 / n.a. / Taking place 2 Dec 2016
Twilight MTB southern suburbs / n.a. / Taking place 14 Dec 2016

(c) LISTED MTB EVENTS AND TOURS

Ride the Vines MTB (Rhebokskloof)

Wines2Whales Adventure

Wines2Whales Ride

Ride the Vines (Laborie)

Stanford 2-day MTB Tour

Ride The Vines MTB (Nederburg)

Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge

99er MTB Challenge

Cape Country MTB

Ride the Vines MTB (Mellasat / Olsen Winery)

Houw Hoek MTB Tour

Napier Patat Festival MTB

Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour by Rotary

Greyton 2-day MTB Tour

Ride2Nowhere MTB Tour Presented By WeChat

PennypinchersDr Evil Classic MTB

Pennypinchers Lions Karoo To Coast MTB Challenge

Funky Fynbos MTB

Eselfontein 3-Day MTB Stage Race

Wildekrans MTB Challenge

Aquelle Apple Blossom MTB

Rectron MTB Challenge & Family Day

NEW MTB EVENTS

Yzerfontein MTB was a great success. It was an endurance ride with no technical sections. A good training ride for both roadies and mountainbikers.

NEW LISTED MTB EVENTS

We welcome onboard the new Rectron MTB Challenge, Funky Fynbos MTB festival, and several ‘Ride the Vines’ MTB events.

EVENTS CANCELLED IN 2016

The following 2 events were not on the PPA calendar in 2015-2016 but an alternative event was offered on the same day:

- Bay City Funride – cancelled due to road works; replaced by Scenic South 2

- Worcester (2015) Funride – cancelled due to road works; replaced by Scenic South 1.

The following events were cancelled but are envisaged to be back on the calendar next year:

- Tour de Stellenbosch – cancelled due to road works

- Rollercoaster Funride – cancelled due to road works.

EVENT TRENDS

A sample of 20 MTB events and 13 road events show that more women participate in MTB events (25%) than in road events (13%):

Looking at a few events that have been around for at least a decade, how have participation figures changed?

LEAGUES/RACING EVENTS

The ‘old format’ leagues will be back from this spring. We tried category racing as well as seeded group racing in the last few seasons, but neither seemed to work as well as age-group racing does. This means that cyclists who qualify on seeding, will again be given the opportunity to race in one of the following categories: Elite / U23, Junior Men, Racing Women, Sub-Veterans, Veterans, Masters, Senior Scholars (U16) and Junior Scholars (U10, U12, U14) and girls.

The PPA League Series (2016 – 2017) will start in October 2016 and will run until the end of February 2017.The series will be run on a points-based system with the input from Racetec. Prize money will be paid per event as well as at the end of the series. No prize money payable to the scholars.League registrations will open in early October.More information will be available on the PPA website.