Last Sunday was the last PALM meeting before the ride. We've been talking about (and planning) PALM since last September. This is the meeting where you realize that PALM is really going to happen. It is the meeting that you stuff all the packets that get distributed at registration: 813 packets, each with a participant's name on it. I spent Memorial Day weekend creating packet labels and rider info sheets. I had to use two reams of paper. The packets contain the map booklet, the ride patch, and the Milestone booklet that describes what is on the route, all visible proof that PALM is real and will be happening soon. I also created all the meal lists for the sites. I don't know about you, but I'm getting excited.
I've added some statistics about this year's participants to the website and you can compare this year to previous years. This year we have 263 first timers to PALM, 32%. As you can tell by looking that the statistics from previous years, this is normal. We did a survey one year and found that this was the first week long tour for about half of the first time riders. So if this is your first time on a week long tour, you'll have plenty of company.
You can also see that PALM participants come in all ages, that if your kids are on the ride, they won't be alone, and that if you are over 40 (or 50 or 60 or 70), you won't stand out. The smallest age brackets are riders in their 20's and 30's which has always surprised me. The great majority of the participants are from Michigan, 75%, but we have people from 28 states and one province. This year we have participants from Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Go figure.
So even if the weather is a little cool, get out and ride: 3 more weeks to PALM and we mean it.
Showing posts with label statistics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statistics. Show all posts
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
PALM Meeting
We had a PALM meeting last Sunday. I was hoping that we would have almost all the applications entered except maybe for some late staff by the meeting, but such no luck. We have completely processed 389 riders so far, about half. As I've mentioned before, all applications that didn't make the cutoff date of Feb 3 were mailed back on Feb 13. If you mailed in your application before Feb 3 and didn't receive your application back, you are on the ride. Until Vickie processes your application she won't cash your check, so don't be worried if your check hasn't been cashed. If you're still worried, email us. Vickie has alphabetized all the applications that she is processing so she can check to see if you're there.
We got a report on all the sites at the meeting. Things there are going well. Meal menus are pretty set. Entertainment has been arranged. The Stanton site co-ordinator said that the only food outlets in town are McDonalds and Subway. The downturn in the auto industry has caused the three downtown restaurants to close. Monday night might be a good night to pay for a PALM dinner. We got a look at this year's t shirt. If you thought last year's shirt was bright, wait until you see this year's shirt. The staff wanted to be sure that if you wore the PALM shirt while biking that you would be seen. They succeeded. I can't wait until this year's PALM parade. All the spectators will be squinting.
I've taken a look at the breakdown at the PALM riders so far. I would expect that the first applications received would be from former PALM riders. I remember adding only a handful of complete addresses when I was entering the applications. From this perspective, there should be only a handful of new riders. In fact 103 of the 389 riders that I've registered so far are first timers: 26%. Since I only entered a few addresses, this means that the first time riders were all on the mailing list. This shows that if you want to ride PALM and you've never ridden PALM before, you've got to get on the mailing list. (Former PALM riders are automatically on the mailing list.)
We already have 32 riders in their 70's and 7 riders in their 80's registered. Typically the 10 thru 19 year old age bracket is one of the two top age brackets. So far there are 49 riders in this age bracket as compared to 93 riders in their 50's and 101 riders in their 60's. This is low. I've found that families register later than individuals. With this year's Feb 3 cutoff date, I hope that they had enough time.
We got a report on all the sites at the meeting. Things there are going well. Meal menus are pretty set. Entertainment has been arranged. The Stanton site co-ordinator said that the only food outlets in town are McDonalds and Subway. The downturn in the auto industry has caused the three downtown restaurants to close. Monday night might be a good night to pay for a PALM dinner. We got a look at this year's t shirt. If you thought last year's shirt was bright, wait until you see this year's shirt. The staff wanted to be sure that if you wore the PALM shirt while biking that you would be seen. They succeeded. I can't wait until this year's PALM parade. All the spectators will be squinting.
I've taken a look at the breakdown at the PALM riders so far. I would expect that the first applications received would be from former PALM riders. I remember adding only a handful of complete addresses when I was entering the applications. From this perspective, there should be only a handful of new riders. In fact 103 of the 389 riders that I've registered so far are first timers: 26%. Since I only entered a few addresses, this means that the first time riders were all on the mailing list. This shows that if you want to ride PALM and you've never ridden PALM before, you've got to get on the mailing list. (Former PALM riders are automatically on the mailing list.)
We already have 32 riders in their 70's and 7 riders in their 80's registered. Typically the 10 thru 19 year old age bracket is one of the two top age brackets. So far there are 49 riders in this age bracket as compared to 93 riders in their 50's and 101 riders in their 60's. This is low. I've found that families register later than individuals. With this year's Feb 3 cutoff date, I hope that they had enough time.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
PALM Statistics
Since we have 786 people registered, I made a first pass at generating PALM statistics. I've posted them to the website. There are a few things that I notice. We have 225 people who are on the PALM for the first time. This is 29% of the people on PALM. This may seem like a lot but last year 35% of our riders were doing their first PALM and the year before that it was 45%. We've reached our 700 cutoff the last three years: 2006 in the middle of April, 2007 in the middle of March, and this year in the middle of February. Before 2006 no one remembers reaching the cutoff. In 2006 a lot of our regular riders were caught off guard and missed the cutoff. That's why there were so many first timers in 2006. By 2008 people figured out that they have to register early. If you didn't get a registration mailed to you this year, the odds of getting on PALM weren't good. (I didn't enter many new names and addresses during this year's registration. Most of the first timers this year were already on our mailing list and were mailed an application. )
The age band counts have some differences too. Notice that the number of 10-20 year olds is down this year and that the smallest age band is now 0 to 9. (Traditionally its been the 20 -29 age band.) One reason for the drop of 10 - 19 year olds is that we don't have the St Hubert's youth group with us this year. (They have been riding PALM every other year.)
Last year's PALM was the longest six day PALM that we've ever done, almost every day was 50 miles. We drew hot weather last year, high 80's to 90 for the first three days. This year we made sure that we mixed in some shorter days with the longer ones. (If you want to do longer miles, we offer optionals on our routes. We've always done this.) Weatherwise, we made sure that winter went on much longer in 2008. This year we had to raise our registration fees. Because of the rise in gas prices and schools we were losing thousands of dollars. We raised adult more than child and teen fees to keep PALM affordable for families. And this year, we filled early. If you look at the statistics, the median number of PALMs that a rider has ridden is 4. The number of riders drops greatly after 5 PALMs. It is very important for us that we attract new riders. One of PALM's missions is to encourage family biking by providing an affordable biking vacation. Attacting families is very important to us. I hope that the reason the number of first timers and 0 - 19 year olds are down is that we closed early, not a reaction to last year's route or the increase in fees.
The age band counts have some differences too. Notice that the number of 10-20 year olds is down this year and that the smallest age band is now 0 to 9. (Traditionally its been the 20 -29 age band.) One reason for the drop of 10 - 19 year olds is that we don't have the St Hubert's youth group with us this year. (They have been riding PALM every other year.)
Last year's PALM was the longest six day PALM that we've ever done, almost every day was 50 miles. We drew hot weather last year, high 80's to 90 for the first three days. This year we made sure that we mixed in some shorter days with the longer ones. (If you want to do longer miles, we offer optionals on our routes. We've always done this.) Weatherwise, we made sure that winter went on much longer in 2008. This year we had to raise our registration fees. Because of the rise in gas prices and schools we were losing thousands of dollars. We raised adult more than child and teen fees to keep PALM affordable for families. And this year, we filled early. If you look at the statistics, the median number of PALMs that a rider has ridden is 4. The number of riders drops greatly after 5 PALMs. It is very important for us that we attract new riders. One of PALM's missions is to encourage family biking by providing an affordable biking vacation. Attacting families is very important to us. I hope that the reason the number of first timers and 0 - 19 year olds are down is that we closed early, not a reaction to last year's route or the increase in fees.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)