3,000 is the ideal number for this ride. I have done some huge rides
out west, most notably Seattle to Portland (STP) and the 8-9,000
people is ridiculous. Most are 1st and last-timers that do it for the
sheer novelty and bow out forever more. However STP is a very boring
ride, scenery wise, and it is much more oriented for personal
performances that brings along the rude personal behaviors of those
competing in a non-competitive event. We all know the types.

In my humble non-solicited opinion, TOSRV is best for me when I am
aware at the time of the ride that this is a nice "mini-escape" from
the daily dailies of the responsibilites of life and this once in a
year event is just that: an event to cherish for the brief time we
participate.

That is all, and enough.

Tony
Echo, OR



--- In tourofthesciotorivervalley@yahoogroups.com, "desperateground"
<desperateground@...> wrote:
>
> I agree that 3000-some riders is more enjoyable than when the ride
had
> twice that many. I'm a little concerned about the decline though
> because it's young people that have fallen away. When I started
> riding 20 years ago, at 29, I was close to the average rider age. 20
> years later I'm still right on the average. I'll still be riding in
> 10 years, and with any luck in 20, but if the past is any
indication,
> TOSRV is headed for continued declines.
>
> Now since I've been accused of insults when I'm merely posing
> questions, I'll be very plain here - I don't believe any group (COP,
> the Portsmouth Tourist board, etc) is to blame for the decline.
> Demographics, cultural shifts, rising obesity - you name it, there
are
> a million reasons why people don't exercise like they once did. If
we
> love this ride, all we can do is try to remove any hurdles that
might
> stand in the way of broader rider interest. That's why I'm
interested
> in the potential for route modifications. I've commuted forever on
a
> bike, so traffic doesn't bother me, but it does bother many, and if
we
> can consider simple changes to the route (as have been so successful
> recently) we remove one more hurdle to future TOSRV success.
>
> --- In tourofthesciotorivervalley@yahoogroups.com, "Dean Shipman"
> <deano4885@> wrote:
> >
> > My first TOSRV was 1979 with about 3000 total riders. I did a
few
> > more TOSRV's in the 80's and a couple of the 6000+ rider tours in
the
> > early 90's. For that past 2 years I have ridden TOSRV with my
> > daughter and one of my son's.
> >
> > I am of the opinion that 3000 riders is a very good number for
> > TOSRV. The camraderie is great, it is definitely a festival of
> > bicyclists, and the roads and venues can accomodate a crowd that
> > large. I remember the TOSRV's of the early 90's being a
veritable
> > zoo. Portsmouth had no places to stay. In fact, after 3500 or
so
> > entrants you were not allowed to sign up unless you had your own
> > accomodations. Lines at food stops were significantly longer
that
> > contemporary lines and there were riders on the road that
probably
> > shouldn't have been there. The challenges that were TOSRV in
1992
> > extended well beyond 210 miles, headwinds, rain or blistering
heat.
> >
> > TOSRV seems to have achieved its level. I am not concerned about
the
> > reduced ridership, I kinda like it that way. As so many point
out,
> > this event will occur as long as there are a handful of
participants
> > that want to ride. I am just glad to be able to participate in
the
> > challenge that is TOSRV.
> >
> > Dean Shipman
> > deano4885@
> >
>