If you have ever participated in a carrera of mountain bikes (MTB), you have surely focused on the course, your rivals, and improving your times. However, you have probably not noticed the number of details the organizers have planned months in advance. Without this meticulous work, many competitions would have serious difficulties moving forward. In fact, some participants might decide not to return and the event could disappear from the calendar.
Organizing an MTB competition is no easy task. It requires much more than marking out an attractive route: from choosing the right date to managing medical coverage, as well as requesting the necessary permits. This effort is comparable to that involved in organizing road bike events, where logistics are also key to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of all participants.
>>> What insurance do I need to organize an MTB event?
Today we are going to focus on some tasks that are not so obvious, but are essential to make sure everything runs smoothly.
1. Not everyone can do the same thing
How many people are involved in organizing the carrera? And does everyone know what they have to do? Defining the roles that each member of the organizing committee for an event like this must perform is essential to avoid conflicts and make the most of each person's strengths. The division of tasks should be made according to the experience each person has in organizing these kinds of races, their available time, or, in the case of those in charge of finding sponsors, their knowledge of the companies to approach. Agreeing on this distribution of tasks will prevent some from interfering in others' work and avoid many misunderstandings.
2. Don’t organize an event that no one talks about
Having your MTB carrera appear in the greatest number of media outlets and have an online presence depends, in large part, on you. Promote the event with enough advance notice to promote registrations and convince sponsors to support your carrera. You should make a list of media (press, radio, and local, regional, or national television), specialized websites, and cycling forums. Prepare a press release and send it to them. It’s also a good idea to organize a press conference a few days in advance. Plan the dissemination of the results, which you can send to the same list of media, websites, and forums on the day of the competition. Even if there are many categories, make sure they are readable and easy to understand. Your sponsors will greatly appreciate that their support for your event has an impact.
3. The biker is the center of the experience
It’s not much use to get the date right, choose a unique place, and prepare the perfect course for the competition if the participant is not satisfied with the carrera. In a calendar where it’s rare for a weekend not to feature a carrera, the difference between a well-rated competition and one that goes unnoticed can be in the details.
Make sure that participants have changing rooms that are spacious and clean enough, that they have space to take care of their bikes, or that there is a place where their family and friends can follow at least part of the competition from a comfortable spot. A good example of something participants pay much more attention to than you might think is the race bag. Make sure it is generous and complete (your sponsors can help by providing a gift or sample product).
4. Pay attention to accommodation
More and more cycling enthusiasts, especially amateurs, travel hundreds of kilometers to participate in a carrera MTB event because they see it as a sports getaway in which, sometimes, the whole family comes along. To make things easier for them, put yourself in their shoes and think about the accommodation needs this may entail. You can talk to hotels and hostels in the area, present your carrera to them, and negotiate discounts and special prices for participants and their families. On the other hand, keep in mind that many bikers will travel by car, so set up areas where they can park their vehicles on the day of the event.