Conference noted::bicycle

The race may be profitable dollar wise for the promoters but for sponsors it 
is a hard call.  The TdF draws so much and every town that the race starts 
and stops in has to pay a fee for the event, thats how I see the race being
profitable.  As for the Sun Newpaper backing out, look at it this way, would
the racers really buy more copies of the newpaper if there was a race or not.
Also would any of the spectators even care at all.

I have personally dreamed of putting on a race but anymore with some many
companies watching the bottom line I don't see how it can be done.  None of
the local officials seem to care, we run a pratice race on a undeveloped 
office park, 2.8 mile loop, and never a car comes by.  We asked the county 
if we could close the road one Saturday or Sunday from 7AM to 3PM to hold a
circuit race.  As expected no, well it was a maybe but the costs were huge.
The county wanted signs posted well in advance that the road would be closed
and demanded that there be police present at every street that the circuit
crossed.  Ever try to pay the Police double time and half and still put a 
race, good luck.

If there are going to be more racing in the USA the problem isn't with the
promoters or even the sponsors it is with everyone else that is demanding a
little bit that causes the costs to soar.  And the USCF isn't making it any
easier with their demands for officals and permit fees.

My $.02 worth
Tom

    Tom, Chip,
    
    It's TdL, TEE-dee-ELL.
    
    Let's not lose perspective.
    
    :-)
    
    ed

     You make a lot of good points Tom, however this line of thinking would
    paint a picture that sooner or later cycling RR's will be gone.
    
     I think it's a management issue like everyhting else. If you don't do
    it right, it won't work. There are quite a few successful promoters/
    organizers (independent). Sponsors are simply "chipping-in" to get 
    some advertisement and in the cases of charitable events, tax relief.
    
     I have never organized a race (casual rides are pain enough) nor do I
    have any aspirations...
    
     "Leave it to the experts", I always say.
    
         Chip 

     Ohhh.... I was wondering why no one was speaking French at this thing! 
    
     Sheesh, I gotta stop keeping these early hours!

The liability insurance alone is enough to discourage anybody from organizing a
race...

Eric_rising_from_the_dead

I thought that the USCF was supposed to help with this but in this day and
age of "if it hurts, sue for thousands and if you die have your spouse sue
for millions".  I don't know how any promoter can afford to do anything.

     Is insurance a factor in citizen races (there's always a release
    form)? The USCF sanctioned stuff isn't an issue since you're insured
    through your dues...
    
     Just a question...
    
        Chip

I don't know all the limitation of what the release form covers but you never
know what some slick lawyer may do and may get away with.

Tom

    re: .8
    
    
    Legally, a waiver cannot protect you from negligence.  If there
    was a _forseeable_ event and a participant can show damages
    as a result of this event (injury, lost wages), the race is
    liable.  If a corporation was sponsoring the race, it was
    was a contributor to the accident, it would have unlimited
    (deep pockets) liability.
    
    Scenario: 1) Coors asks you to put their company logo on the
    finish line banner.  2) The banner slips and falls on a rider,
    causing him to lose control and take out a dozen cyclists.  You
    would be in a world of hurt...
    
    
    r�

     Agreed, but to prove negligence is the key. E.g. you'd have to 
    prove that the banner was not secured appropriately.
    
     Chip

My wife has heard that the Tour De Lowell will be run this year (1994).

I'll believe it when I get the registration form.

-tom

     And paaaaleeese, if you do get an application please post here!
    
     This was one of my favorites...