An Interesting Thought Examined

Cues for the 2009 Good Life Gravel Adventure

So many good topics for discussion come out of the comments section here on the blog and this was the case again last week. So, first of all, thanks for making comments here, if you do, and if you do not, then maybe consider it sometime. You never know when something you post in the comments might become another article here. 

Today's post comes out of a comment made last week on my "New Finds After All This Time" post. A comment there made by "Brett" stated the following: "I keep thinking they should go back to using just cue sheets for the Unbound 200 and XL. That would really tick off those pro riders!"

You can go back and read my response to Brett, and I will not go over that specifically here. However; what I do want to cover is why the way events were done then, including the cue sheet navigation, wouldn't fly with almost anyone today. Much less the Pros! 

There are certain things which fall under the category of "Expectations" when one signs up for an event today. These items change over the course of time as new things enter into the lexicon of how events are produced and younger people enter into attending those events. Furthermore; technology, culture, and current social trends affect how events are going to look and feel as well. 

There was a time when you signed up to do an event by mailing in a flyer, or signing on at a bicycle shop. Now? There is no way anyone is doing things that way. How many folks are buying wired computers these days? We used to sell those by the dozen on a daily basis at the bike shops I worked at. How about Power Bars? Anyone still trying to chew one so they can swallow it out there? (IYKYK)

Yeah, so doing things like cue sheet navigation isn't 100% gone, (Hello Ragnorok 105!), but it is functionally extinct now in terms of events. 

People expect a gpx route file now. People expect "aid stations", (you unfortunate folks will never know the joy of a slice of Casey's pizza when your world is undone), and of course, if you are in the Pro category, expectations are even more demanding. 

Could we strip it back to the way things were done back almost 20 years ago? Possibly. How many would even be interested in that? Not enough to support a person putting on the event, which by the way, is another expectation these days. Hardly anyone is willing to put themselves out there at no charge, like many did back when Gravel got started.  Heck, hardly anyone puts on a free gravel event anymore. 

So, while it may seem fun to think about cue sheet navigation and a thousand folks out on course trying to figure it all out on their own with an analog computer, this is all just fanciful mind games now. It's unrealistic.But yeah.......those were great days. Make no mistake. 

And think about this: In twenty years, nothing will be like it is now either. So, "The Good Ol' Days" are the days you are taking for granted today. Trust me......I know all about that.