St. Patrick's Day Parade Changes! Poll Closed - UPDATE!

[Spiderman]

The Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade has changed the rules for entries this year, limiting each entry to 10 vehicles. What does this mean for us? Well, historically, we've been limited to 30 motorcycles... most of the participants would meet for breakfast, and the remaining participants would join the group at the restaurant or pre-staging area. From that point on, we essentially remained together as a group: riding to the staging area; waiting for our turn to enter the parade; and riding the parade route... basically, we all pretty much shared the same experience.

We can still have 30 motorcycles, but we would be split into 3 groups of 10. We would not be staged together, nor would we ride the parade route, or finish the parade, at the same time.

Splitting into 3 groups also increases our overall parade entry fee by $100, which will be split equally by the participants, in addition to any other costs not covered by sponsorship.

Please vote and have your say in whether or not the Colorado Sportbike Club still participates in the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Edit: I have closed the poll early. Please see my update in post #37.

Edit #2: Closing thread because parade sign-up thread has been posted here: http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forum...E-5PM-on-1-31-!!!

[~Barn~]

Death.

How does the appeal process work?

[bornwildnfree]

BOOOOOO!!!!! But...not riding would be...very sad. I think we could all hang out in the staging area and ride the parade when we are called up. I say keep doing it.

[Snowman]

The "City" has been slowly removing the things this group could do in this parade from day one.

The first parade I can remember had Hoopty doing stunts down two rows of bikes all doing burnouts.
The next they would only let us do Stunts.
Then no burnouts. (Damn near arrested Sash)
Then no riders passing out anything.
Now they are down to 10 riders. (I'm assuming so they can see which one of us they can arrest for something.)

Time to give it up, folks.

[Canuck]

Wow. I was just thinking about participating in the parade this year. But, the Hell with it. Randall is right, the city have been restricting us incrementally for years now.
I say, stick a fork in it.

[rforsythe]

I'm over it.

[Grim2.0]

It's always been a ton of fun and i was planning to borrow a bike to be in it this year, but if we cant all ride as a group i fail to see the point, 10 bikes is a joke, the city can shove it!

[Spiderman]

Now they are down to 10 riders. (I'm assuming so they can see which one of us they can arrest for something.)

As was explained to me, this was done based on feedback from spectators, who commented that the vehicle entries (of which there are many, and their numbers increase every year) are too long, and the gaps between your "typical" parade entries (marching bands & floats) are too big. I remember looking back from the front of our group once a few years ago, and at one point, we had gotten so spaced out, we took up a block and a half! I can see how limiting vehicle entries to 10 will have a positive effect on the spectators' complaints.

I spoke to one of the Parade Committee chairpersons, and explained that a big part of this, for us, is that it's a group experience that we all share together. She was very appreciative of me calling and letting her know in person, and will bring that concern to the board. I doubt it will make a difference, but we won't know for sure until registration for the 2015 parade starts.

[rforsythe]

I remember looking back from the front of our group once a few years ago, and at one point, we had gotten so spaced out, we took up a block and a half!

To be fair, that's probably because someone needed a half-block to get up into a block-long wheelie.

[WolFeYeZ]

What if we were to ride 6 bikes wide of 5 rows or something? That would have similar gapping to 5 cars X.x

[Native]

the whining pussies have won again

[asp_125]

I have always thought the crowd (especially the kids) loved our bikes and costumes... and Bob and Sash's smoky burnouts.

Oh well.. *meh* over it.

[mdub]

Did it a cpl yrs ago . Missed last yr. but I would be dwn for 2014. Met some grt folks that I have forgotten already.

[Heater]

It's tradition! I vote yes.

[madvlad]

Such a great time that we have and the kids love the bikes, why limit the only biker group they have? Oh yes don't limit those big as semi trucks and what not. Plus even in split groups it's still the same amount of bikes, what an idiotic thing to do. I'll still ride it cause it's fun as hell if I can find a bike. Bee having a blast these past 4 years.

[DemonRider]

. I vote to keep it going. It is a lot of fun :-)

[Spiderman]

To be fair, that's probably because someone needed a half-block to get up into a block-long wheelie.

Now that you mention it...

Such a great time that we have and the kids love the bikes, why limit the only biker group they have? Oh yes don't limit those big as semi trucks and what not. Plus even in split groups it's still the same amount of bikes, what an idiotic thing to do. I'll still ride it cause it's fun as hell if I can find a bike. Bee having a blast these past 4 years.

The only motorcycle group they have?!? They have an award for Best Motorcycle Entry... in the 12 years we've been participating in the parade, we've only ever won it twice. Just because you don't see any other motorcycles in the staging area, doesn't mean there aren't any - it's a big staging area... trust me, we are definitely not the only motorcycle group! And the new rule applies to any entry comprised entirely of motorized vehicles (think car clubs & motorcycles). Semi's don't fall into that category because it's not about the semi, it's about the float the semi is pulling, and each float is a separate entry. And finally, it's not about reducing the number of vehicles - it's about mixing things up more, so the spectators feel like their seeing more variety. Think of it this way - if you had to watch 3 hours worth of television commercials, and you had to watch each commercial 10 times, would you rather watch each commercial 10 times in a row, or mix them up so no 2 commercials in a row are the same?

[rforsythe]

I just feel bad for the shriners. Those guys have like 300 vehicles!

[madvlad]

Now that you mention it...

The only motorcycle group they have?!? They have an award for Best Motorcycle Entry... in the 12 years we've been participating in the parade, we've only ever won it twice. Just because you don't see any other motorcycles in the staging area, doesn't mean there aren't any - it's a big staging area... trust me, we are definitely not the only motorcycle group! And the new rule applies to any entry comprised entirely of motorized vehicles (think car clubs & motorcycles). Semi's don't fall into that category because it's not about the semi, it's about the float the semi is pulling, and each float is a separate entry. And finally, it's not about reducing the number of vehicles - it's about mixing things up more, so the spectators feel like their seeing more variety. Think of it this way - if you had to watch 3 hours worth of television commercials, and you had to watch each commercial 10 times, would you rather watch each commercial 10 times in a row, or mix them up so no 2 commercials in a row are the same?

Okay well I'm still in if this goes down, plus we are the best sport bike club bro, who are they? Pfff! Lol

[dirkterrell]

I've done it since 2008 and enjoyed it every time. I voted no. If the complaint about vehicle groups is a valid representation of the overall feeling of the crowd, then so be it. Based on my experience interacting with the crowd each time, I find that a little hard to believe. Motorcycles allow a level of interaction with the crowd that is hard to do from, say, a car. It would be interesting to know how the other affected groups feel about it. I'd bet that the crowd's reaction would be one of great disappointment if all of the vehicle groups disappeared.

[One-ops]

I vote yes clubs gotta stay active in as much as it can and this is a pretty big one for it.
Three groups, 3 different themes??!!!

[Bueller]

I did it once, I think 2005. I was on my DRZ Supermoto. It was fun to do it once, but once was enough for me. Too many rules and regulations. Really hard on the motorcycle.

[Fun Sized]

I think we should go ahead and do it. Maybe each group of bikes could have a theme of some sort (incorporating St. Patty's Day of course). Might be cool to have the ladies riding together or something. Might as well get creative if we're gonna be split up.

[SniperRider]

I say stick with it because it was the only time we could all get together and have a good time