|   No 2004 Adrenalin race in Colorado. (long rant) | crosstrail
Jan 12, 2004 10:12 AM | | As a participant in every Adrenalin race held in Colorado, I am ticked off that TriLife has taken its money and snuck home. This is maddening, especially since I just love the event, as do many of my friends. The Adrenalin races always had many innovative and fun aspects for serious racers, adventurous rec riders and even non-riding friends and members of our families.
Their stated reasons are lower growth than desired, uncertain land access, and limited date and venue options. Not buying it. In fact, it stinks to blame riders and others.
I think they are blowing a great opportunity by poor venue selection, no promotion and unwillingness or inability to properly invest in a race in Colorado.
Poor venue selection - Winter Park would seem to be ideal, with many miles of great trails, a high level of local business support, great customer base with metro Denver less than 90 minutes away and a great reputation for mountain biking with amateur racers (long running, successful XC racing series) and with rec riders (events like the Fat Tire Classic).
But the support from the Town of Winter Park may have come at a steep price - the start/finish, expo and campground were right in the middle of town. One bad result was that the camping was always cramped, separated into remote, smaller sections, inconvenient and inexplicably poorly prepped. Despite moving the camping around each year, it never really improved for riders or crew or spectators. I don't know how they could reasonably expect the camping situation to do anything but dampen growth.
No promotion - And I looked for it. TriLife apparently chose to rely on word of mouth and repeat customers. But active folks in Colorado have many, many options year round. As a relentless, vocal advocate of this event, I have talked with many avid mountain bikers, including racers of the Winter Park XC series, that did not even know of the existence of the Adrenalin race. Even with a great event, I don't know how they could reasonably expect to grow fast without at least some promotion.
In sum, from my saddle, I think TriLife correctly saw a nice opportunity in Colorado, found a large, enthusiastic sponsor in the Town of Winter Park and then just sat back and waited for explosive growth to just happen at an ill-conceived site with no promotion. With profits not dropping from the sky and overall financial resources strapped, TriLife apparently is not now in a position to make the necessary investments and changes.
I am thankful for the opportunities and memories of the Colorado Adrenalin events. If I'm wrong on any of the facts, assumptions or conclusions, I'd love to be corrected. I'd love to race this event again. But not after they've screwed up this one, blamed others and moved out.
Those not from around Colorado are rightly more concerned about the bankruptcy. That pushes me over the edge. Looks like a long drive to Moab and a longer drive to Old Pueblo. Gotta get my 24 hours jones. And it won't be at an Adrenalin event for awhile. |
| re: No 2004 Adrenalin race in Colorado. | Back Seat drivers
Jan 12, 2004 5:23 PM | | No wonder Trilife left, ran as you put it, if you are there main customer. But then again you have it all figured out... why don't you put on the race?
Back seat drivers, you just gotta love them. |
| How about an explanation, rather than an attack? | crosstrail
Jan 12, 2004 5:39 PM | | No, I don't have it all figured out. I'm trying to understand it. If you have an explanation, I'm all ears.
Instead, you're now blaming me? Like TriLife's statement seems to blame the riders and the community. |
| The truth about Trilife | insyder double xx
Jan 12, 2004 7:43 PM | | crosstail, I couldn;t have said it better - the idiot owner would never blame himself - he had to blame the participants and the people of winterpark - too bad he never lookied in the mirror - the mirrior tells all - doesn't it
don't risk your money with those guys (twenty4 sports) - stick with the tried true events like you refer to in your reply |
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