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Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM

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greg'n

Jul 2, 09 18:56

Post #76 of 137 (1039 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Hurricane Bob] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bob,

I hear you and share SOME of your concerns. My wife and I drove 11 hours from MD last weekend so I could race Tupper, and were amazed at the number of cyclists, runners, swimmers doing their thing. Only one runner gave me a negative impression...she was running 3 wide with two others, she was out in the street with no regard for her own safety or the convenience of drivers backing up behind her. I believe it was a combination of inattention and maybe a little "My world is THE world" going on there. Most observations lasted only seconds, unless it was a group at a restaurant sitting nearby, and I did not observe boorish behavior on the part of anyone else. Just my my impressions over the 4 days of our mini-vacation, but it appears to me that the sky is NOT falling, we were treated very well and with enthusiasm by the locals.

$ 380 - 4 nights lodging
$ 30 - state tax on lodging
$ 42 - Grand Union groceries
$ 97 - lunches/dinners out/20% + tips
$ 4 - parking
$ 14 - Whiteface Veterans Memorial Hghwy fee
$ 12 - Starbucks coffee
$ 9 - Dunkin Donuts coffee/donuts
$ 32 - Beer/wine
$ 47 - gasoline
$ 167 - Tupper Lake Tinman race fee

$ 834 - Total

In addition,

Politely, firmly, relentlessly reminded numerous overtaken riders to "ride right" on Tupper Lake course
Asked 2 bikers if they were intentionally drafting or just inattentive (one backed off...the other grinned and CLEARLY didnt have a clue...)
Thanked many volunteers & 2 police officers working Tupper
Scrubbed race number off arms/leg immediately after race so as to not "advertise" to any easily offended locals
Spent an hour talking with the Hotel Saranac front desk staff who treated my wife and I like royalty. We left on a first name basis.
Climbed 2/46 high peaks (Cascade/Porter) pictures of which will grace the walls of our home
Determined to go back next year to climb a few more peaks, and to race LP if I can get a slot.

I am a triathlete (among MANY other things), and am not embarrassed about my impact on the LP community at all. It's their call.

FJB

Jul 2, 09 23:45

Post #77 of 137 (995 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Amstel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

First they complained that overtime cost for Police was a burden and now they don't like cyclist on their roads. I am sure there are other towns that would be more than happy to host an event that brings $6 million dollars to the local economy.

I can't believe you are defending those morons.

Everything is not always about money.

FJB

Jul 2, 09 23:49

Post #78 of 137 (995 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Amstel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If Lake Placid wants to complain about a bunch of sober, well behaved athletes coming there to race and train, then I will go spend my money elsewhere.

I think they will appreciate that.

FJB

Jul 2, 09 23:52

Post #79 of 137 (995 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Just Old] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Would you speculate as to a relationship beween this "entitlement and elitism" and the high level of income usually associated with triathletes (especially IM triathletes)?

I would speculate a steep upward sloping linear relationship.

FJB

Jul 2, 09 23:56

Post #80 of 137 (994 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Tiki] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I began to observe these behaviors in athletes at IMCDA five years ago, and it ultimately drove me from the sport.

The resort town was just fine. Just like I remembered. Still is. The townspeople know a-holes when they see them, and the a-holes are easy to spot when they (a) get together in bunches and (b) act eerily similar to one another.

Yep. Groupthink is very prevalent amongst triathletes.

(This post was edited by FJB on Jul 2, 09 23:57)

linhardt

Jul 3, 09 6:00

Post #81 of 137 (930 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Murphy'sLaw] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

Never really see a lot of cyclists or anyone else unless I am in either near Lake George village or LP. What I do see are lots of abandoned motels and closed businesses.

Ditto that. Every other former Adirondack or Catskills "destination" resort lake town is now practically desolate.
LP should be very careful what it wishes for. It could be the next Indian Lake, or Tupper Lake, or Speculator, or Sharon Springs, or....

W/o the IM and the now summer-long crowd it draws, probabaly half the lodging and restaurants would go belly-up.
But at least it would be nice and peaceful and quiet there for the locals.

I also noticed the "dead" towns as I drove highway 3 east from Watertown.

I live in Chicagoland I don't like the traffic around my house, but without traffic we are downstate Illinois. No jobs, shopping, food diversity, culture, etc. My wife and I take the good with the bad and although we complain about it we deal with it.

Placidites have to deal with that also. 10 weeks a year of annoyance(IM plus other events) pays for the other 42 weeks of adirondack bliss.

Anyway the Placidites at least get direct benefit from bumped up tax revenues it is the little towns the bike route passes through that get the annnoyance and no money.

My wife ice skates and adult nationals are held in Placid every 5 or so years. 600+ skaters invade in early-April for a week of mostly partying. They annoy the locals in other ways besides riding on the roads.

Fleck

Jul 3, 09 6:30

Post #82 of 137 (909 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Murphy'sLaw] [In reply to]	Can't Post

But at least it would be nice and peaceful and quiet there for the locals.

I often have found it funny over the years talking to triathletes and them going on an on and on about the towns where IM's are. They say things like, "Wow, Penticton is the absolute coolest place I have ever been" or "Man. I would live in Lake Placid in a heart-beat" or "Kona - that place just rocks" . . and so on. However they are talking about these places during Ironman race week! Visit these places at any other time of the year, and they truly are for the most part, peacful and quiet and dare I say it, perhaps a bit boring. There is not much going on. And that's perhaps the real issue here - these quiet, peacful resort towns go from being that, to hosting a triathlon event with an additional 10,000 people in the town.

Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck

stoptriassletes

Jul 3, 09 6:49

Post #83 of 137 (889 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [FJB] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks FJB for protecting the sport!

Everyone can appreciate the effort to swim, bike, and run, but it's the way in which you handle yourself and interact with others during those sports that shows who you really are.

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 7:53

Post #84 of 137 (860 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [stoptriassletes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

but it's the way in which you handle yourself and interact with others during those sports that shows who you really are.

I have to disagree. I have seen the most kind nice low key folks go ape shit batty for a minor thing on race day. I do agree with your point 100% on any other day however.

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

support crew

Jul 3, 09 8:39

Post #85 of 137 (814 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [FJB] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote:
Would you speculate as to a relationship beween this "entitlement and elitism" and the high level of income usually associated with triathletes (especially IM triathletes)?

I would speculate a steep upward sloping linear relationship.

I am wondering if this is speculation or have the income levels of IM athletes actually risen? We all know the income stats, but have they gone up over time? The sport has always been expensive, if you aren't local. I don't think you can blame lack of civility and consideration on disposable income.

Support Crew
This information contained herein has been assembled for your assistance and convenience. It is believed to be reliable, however, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All opinions shown are subject to change without notice.

stephen J

Jul 3, 09 9:54

Post #86 of 137 (774 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I did a post-doc in Saranac Lake (the town over from Placid), and you are right. It is quiet, quaint, peaceful, and friendly. Everyone knows everyone, and 'out of towners' are looked at as visitors, since everyone knows everyone else. This is different from other places where people dont really know who lives next door to them, much less almost everyone else in the town. Within 2 months of moving there, I was surprizingly known at 'the fast guy' at the local duathlon (of course this was among the kids who I was slightly faster than). Anyway, yea, it is annoying when folks come in and think that they deserve to have their butts wiped for them since they are spending money in the town and on the race (which I could not afford to do more than once while I was living there). There is probably also a resentment that these same people are coming in with lots of cash to afford what most people can not afford who live there (as this is one of the things you usually give up when you live in a place like this; but in my opinion it is worth it). Anyway, I thought I might give a little perspective from someone who called it home.

Stephen J

PS. The place did rock in my opinion; and it was the coolest place that I have lived thus far.

____________________________________________
Genius is recognizing when you are damn lucky

Fleck

Jul 3, 09 10:14

Post #87 of 137 (760 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [sjudice] [In reply to]	Can't Post

It is a bit shocking what an IM does to a town - positive and negative. We used to drive down to race the Tupper Lake Tinman in the late 80's and early 90's - way before IMLP was even thought up. The cool thing about The Tinman back then, was that it was a Saturday race, so we would drive over to LP after the race was over, stay at one of the small cottage/lodge places and then get in a good long ride on the Sunday, in and around LP with a massive brunch/lunch at that Diner on Main st, that still is there. Never had any problems back then!

Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck

Mark Lemmon

Jul 3, 09 10:34

Post #88 of 137 (747 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Litter doesn't ever leave town. If triathletes as a group ever adopted the "leave no trace" philosophy, I don't think there could be anything that would make me more proud to be a lifelong trigeek.

(This post was edited by Mark Lemmon on Jul 3, 09 10:35)

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 10:42

Post #89 of 137 (737 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Mark Lemmon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Too bad every gel company did not have that goofy litter tab on the top like one brand has (I forget what brand that is). Gel packs seem to be a natural by-product of Tri folks...and I think they must jump out of pockets as they just seem to be everywhere. I oddly dont have an issue keeping mine in my pocket.

I have heard folks say "I am not putting that thing in my pocket to leak" - as they piss on themselves, drip from sweat and glisten with salt residue....

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

Kentiger

Jul 3, 09 10:53

Post #90 of 137 (726 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I oddly dont have an issue keeping mine in my pocket.
--------------------------------------------------------
In a safe place the day before a race perhaps..but they stay in your pocket well

Fleck

Jul 3, 09 10:56

Post #91 of 137 (724 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

and I think they must jump out of pockets as they just seem to be everywhere. I oddly dont have an issue keeping mine in my pocket.

Chip,

And nor do I. I don't think that I have ever dropped a bar or gel rapper - used and un-used fit nicely in a cycling jersey pocket. But that's me using a classic three pocket cycling jersey pretty much all the time when I ride. However this is triathlon and these are triathletes we are talking about and they seem to eschew on a regular basis practical and common sense things that are used elsewhere! In triathlon it has to be different! :)

Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck

jackmott

Jul 3, 09 11:04

Post #92 of 137 (719 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

guys I just wanna say I forgot once recently and left a tube on the side of the road of austin texas

im sorry
----
Sunglasses: http://www.framesdirect.com/sunglasses
Tri Gear: http://www.atctrishop.com
rear wheel disc ALWAYS http://www.wheelbuilder.com if poor front wheel whatever torodial rim wheel you want, or H3. deeper if yer faster shallower if yer slower tires - http://www.biketechreview.com has crr data, use it frames - position trumps aero trumps weight trumps paintjob trumps stiffness water bottle between your arms or not at all if its a sprint swimget some swim lessons, its cheaper than buying bike speed train more and HTFU

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 11:27

Post #93 of 137 (704 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you have a normal cycling jersey on a tri bike you are a poser. You can mitigate this a small bit by being sure that all of your training rides are done with an aero helmet and no less than six gels in your bento box.

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

DetroitTri

Jul 3, 09 13:32

Post #94 of 137 (666 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Hurricane Bob] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I volunteered in LP last year and I'm racing this year. When I was out there last year we had nothing but support from locals that were more than happy we were there.

The article states that most locals fail to see how they benefit from the estimated $6 Million in economic benefits. Take away the Ironman and I'm sure they would see the difference in the upkeep of roads and other infrastructure, and the availability of local stores and restaurants that rely on IM tourism.

I think previous posters are spot on with the resort town mentality. There are locals that like the tourism and there are locals that don't.
Jared
--------------------
Lake Placid IM Finisher '09
[url=http://www.DetroitTriathlon.com]Metro-Detroit Triathlon forums - [url=http://www.DetroitIronTri.com]Detroit Iron Triathlon

sevans

Jul 3, 09 18:54

Post #95 of 137 (621 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Amstel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

According to the most recent estimate Lake Placid has a population of 2800 people. If the $6 million figure is accurate, that is over $2100 per resident. For comparison purposes a city like Atlanta with a pop of 5.5 million would have to host an event that generated $11,550,000.00. I don't think we would complain about some Gu rappers in our yard.

You make it sound like each resident gets a check for $2100. The businesses get a lot of money, the residents get a big headache. People like you are part of the problem. There's no excuse for littering and being inconsiderate no matter how much money the event brings into town. This is why people hate triathletes in their town.

sevans

Jul 3, 09 19:00

Post #96 of 137 (614 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Amstel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If Lake Placid wants to complain about a bunch of sober, well behaved athletes coming there to race and train, then I will go spend my money elsewhere.

I don't think anyone is complaining about the well behaved athletes.

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 19:46

Post #97 of 137 (593 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [sevans] [In reply to]	Can't Post

You are right...they are complaining about the dick heads and litter bugs. Same as in retail for every happy customer who will give you props there are ten that are not happy about something - and tell EVERYONE they know.

I dont get how it is hard to keep your penis in your pants and pee in private, keep your gel packs and litter in your pocket and freaking stay to the right in traffic.

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

transplant

Jul 4, 09 7:27

Post #98 of 137 (517 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Fact is that as someone who has done IMLP since 1999 some of what LP does is pathetic and should be illegal. Custom menus for "Iron Week", I have been there and had one menu one day ($3.99 breakfast) and the next ($6.99 breakfast). Sure there is a supply and demand...but...

Add to that the policy of the Visitors Bearu where we have to pay THEM for a hotel at a rate far higher than the rate posted on the door - and even double the rate during prime ski season...with a five nigt minumum paid far in advance (in full) so that someone can collect some serious intersest on our non-refundable payment.

You are incorrect about the policy of the Visitors Bureau-it is the hotel properties themselves that set their nightly rate and minimums. The Bureau has no control over them what they charge or their policies.

Amstel

Jul 4, 09 8:04

Post #99 of 137 (499 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [sevans] [In reply to]	Can't Post

No wonder our country is in such a financial mess. You should get a job on Obama's economic team. Who do you thinks owns and works at the businesses that get the $6 million? What do you think they do with that money. They spend it in the community. I am going to say it one last time. I don't care if they cancel this race or not. I just got back from IMCDA and everyone there seemed to appreciate the race participants and spectators.

On a side note the Peachtree road race was held this morning and finished in my neighborhood. When I walked home after the race I noticed a half eaten bananna on my front porch. Big Fucking deal. Then I realized that I would not be able to get to the Waffle House because the road was closed. Once again big fucking deal. There is trash spead out throughout my midtown neighborhood. It will get cleaned up. I just hope everyone enjoyed themselves and has a safe 4th of July. Oh yeah the Fireworks from downtown will probably also land in my neighborhood. Maybe I will send a letter to the editor.

wvarta.PolarRep

Jul 4, 09 8:21

Post #100 of 137 (487 views)

Re: Lake Placid Businesses Growing Weary of IM [Amstel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Amstel, let's meet for the BUCK A RIB later today at the BBQ festival or a UBU later in the day :)
Disclaimer... I WORK FOR POLAR

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