ReturnThe Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee is proud to have completed another edition of our annual Spring fund raiser, the Cycle Salt Lake Century, formerly the American Investment Bank Century. It is certainly a nice feeling to have the events behind us especially given the weather we've had in recent years. It was no surprise then that the number of preregistered riders was the lowest ever.
This was the first year that we staged the Century entirely on our own with no major sponsorship. Sponsors with cash in-hand to support bicycle events are few and far between these days.
It is also becoming more and more difficult to secure the permits necessary to satisfy all of the cities and jurisdictions involved � insurance, safety, emergency support, food handling, road use permission, communications, sanitation and mechanical support to name a few. And perhaps more importantly, new volunteers are not stepping forward to help out.
Keep in mind that the MBAC is a citizens committee. Salt Lake City provides moral support, a place to meet, a conduit to City employees involved with transportation issues and the invaluable assistance of advisors such as Renee Tanner.
But we pay our own way. Truth is, the City looks to the MBAC for donations to support bike route and trail projects.
Somehow, we have been able to keep this thing going for eleven years. No doubt because we have been extremely fortunate in that lots of other bicyclists enjoy this event and support it year after year with their hard-earned bucks, $40,000 of which has been returned to the community in the form of routes, trails and bicycle facilities.
So, for all of the reasons stated above, we find it very difficult to understand why so many riders seem to pride themselves of the fact that they can participate in the event while choosing not to support it by paying a registration fee. This year was no exception.
For those of you who may think it is okay to do the event without paying as long as you don't eat at the rest stops or take a T-shirt, let me tell you in no uncertain terms that this is not the case. We pay for your parking, safety, rest rooms and probably your trip across the Antelope Island Causeway. It is not Salt Lake City or a major corporation you are ripping off.
It is a group of citizen cyclists sticking their necks out to make this event happen. Crunching some numbers and based on the preregistration fee of $25, if just 50 riders choose to ride the event as bandits, that would amount to $1,250 of lost revenue for the MBAC. When you consider that this event costs in the neighborhood of $25,000, you can understand our emotions.
For example, this year we will donate $1,750 towards the Antelope Island Trail System and have been asked to donate another $1,000 towards completion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. At the time I'm writing this article it is still not known if we will be in a position to make the donation to the Bonneville System � the figures are that close.
Enough talk about the negatives. It's time for a few words of gratitude to the people who make a difference to the event and to the bicycling community. I hope this list will give you some idea of the number of people and sponsors it takes to put on an event of this magnitude.
To The Ogden Standard Examiner -- you were great. The support of the paper, Susan Snyder and all of the volunteers who worked the Centerville rest stop undoubtedly saved this event. Thank you very much for all that you did.
Ditto to Bonneville Bicycle Touring Club -- Jon Smith and John and Carol Graham in particular. We couldn't do it without you. To John Peterson, also of BBTC, for marking the course for the umpteenth time.
Joel, Mary and all of the Bingham's were terrific. Joel arranged for the Mavic factory team to be on hand and they were a huge addition. Bingham Cyclery continues to be a major supporter of this event. Every year they show up early and work hard all day epitomizing what a bike shop involved in the bicycling community should be.
We also were fortunate to receive much needed mechanical support on the course for the first time this year from both Spin Cycle and The Bike Rack. Thanks to you both and we hope to have you back next year.
Bruegger's Bagels was back for their second year and provided 1,200 bagels at no charge. They even delivered the bagels and assisted at the rest stops.
Thanks to Carlson Distributing for their annual donation of 960 bottles of Evian, again at no charge to the event. To Wild Oats for granting a significant discount on all of our fruit. To Salt Lake Valley GMC for the use of a new GMC pickup for SAG support.
To our friends at Centerville McDonald's who not only turn their parking lot over to us once a year, but provide ice, cups, water and labor.
To Dave Iltis, Dave Ward and Bob Truelsen of Cycling Utah for their kind and significant discount on ad space, not to mention all of the time Dave Iltis puts in as a volunteer and long standing member of the MBAC.
To the incredible professionals from the Utah Council of Amateur Radio Clubs who provide communication throughout the day, both fixed and mobile. These folks put in a 12-hour-plus day for you every year just because they enjoy helping. How can we thank them?
Ditto to Julee Berg of AIB who donated her time to handle all of our banking and preregistration work this year and even showed up at 6:30 to work registration. To Barbie Converse, who has volunteered her time for the last eight years and works all day at the Fairpark. As does Renee Tanner, who takes time out from her incredibly busy schedule as the 2002 Winter Olympics Coordinator for Salt Lake City to put in a 12-hour day to help our event. Not to mention everyone at the MBAC who help in hundreds of ways, including listening to my continuous bitching about how I haven't got time to be doing this.
Thanks to all for another great year. And to all of the bandits out there
who think they're special: How can you consider all of the people listed
above who knock themselves out so we can have a ride like this every year
and still not pay to participate? Think about it.
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