who issdigusted with the BIKERADAR Sportive yesterday????

andyp

I have ceoliac disease so can rarely eat any of the food on offer at food stops - should I ask for a refund of that part of my entry fee on any future events I ride? :roll:

cougie

Whenever I do a sportif - I'll start off with 2 bottles and food in my pocket. Food that I know I'll like. The feed stations are there on top of what I need - so if I dont fancy the food - its not a biggie.

Its not an all you can eat buffet on a bike - its a sportif - the organising of the route and the signposting is the main thing. I can look after my own food requirements.

That said - this one does sound a bit poor, but I think its a bit silly to set off on 106 miles with just one bottle and no food.

boondog

Gazzaputt wrote:

Makes me laugh the 'take your own' brigade.

:roll: righty ho.
Doesn't take too much planning to take some emergency food/drink, I'd like to see the docs you received stating what portions of food they were going to give you.

antikythera

Well bike radar having been heading down hill quickly (no pun intended... really) They've dumbed down at a rate of knots; another (bloody) Atheron article, rip-off another youtube clip, more cut-and-paste reviews from the manufacturers brochure, yet another sub-£1,000 sportive bike "review". And the GigaBytes of saturation advertising for "BikeRadar Live".

And guess what they get... the lowest common denominator! Of course they're going to get inexperienced or unsuspecting cyclist that are expecting to be hand fed. Lets face it, that's what BikeRadar aspired to. So, if that's their target audience, then hell yeah, they have a duty of care to support THAT audience.

And if they don't then.... fail

Perhaps they should spend less energy on advertising the event and more on organising it! Although I suspect next year we'll hear exactly what they are saying this year, "We did listen and its sooooo much better now".... fail (again)

bendertherobot

The sportive blurb states:

"- Three refreshment points for the 106-mile, two feed stations for the 70-mile, and one for the 50 mile route providing free water and cakes. Energy drinks, bars and gels supplied by Zipvit."

So, for £35 or £43 on the door I think you could reasonably expect each of them to be present.

FransJacques

Don't forget that a lot of events are sponsored by ZipFit or SIS or whomever so the cost of providing energy drink, gels, and bars is zero or wholesale cost at the very least.

One can easily overegg the cost - really depends on what sort of sportive you want to run. Signs and timing are barriers to entry but that's it. Signs cost circe £800-1000 but they don't wear out and once they're printed they're printed and all clubs keep them from year to year. Marshalling is all done on a volunteer basis - if you think people get paid then you've not organized a sportive before. There are some timing options since there's lots of units out there with triathlons or running clubs who really pioneered it with systems that can be begged, borrowed or rented etc.

£35 is a complete pee take on the new "sportive" crowd who've been sold a lemon. The poor people assume it's plug and play, because like fixies, the corporate vultures are preying on them - think of how many times you see CW with the word "SPORTIVE" on the cover. How many bikes are "sportive" in model name or model range. The average Joe in the street must think you buy a bike and a tool kit and pay £35 for an event and you're conveyed around the course on a magic carpet. The market will be a victim of it's own success and many people will get fed up and look for the next "it's the new golf".

bendertherobot

Have to agree. I won't be paying for the Dragon again. I will pay for the Merlin which was done well.

I'll pay for each new event I enter now. But if it's crap I'll go pirate and take my own stuff. I always overpack my bike with stuff but the amount of sportives running out is taking the wee wee now.

Bikerbaboon

/smug mode on

Just for some contrast i did the dartmoor one last month. Well organised and well run corse.
It was not well marked as it did not need to be with a marshal at every turn. There was only one feed station that you passed 2 times on the ride.
Food at the station was gells, sis drink, bananas flapjack,fudge cake and savory flans loads for every one.
At the feed station they also had mechanics that would help out with repairs that where needed.
It was a realy hot day and they had an ambulance on hand to head out and pick up people that got in to trouble.

I dont think they could have done anything more on that day it was so well done... all for £25 cracking day .


/smug mode off .

hell even the evans rideit for £10 had 3 feed station with water+ energy drink

SBezza

bendertherobot wrote:

SBezza wrote:

Why is it that sportive entrants think it is a RIGHT to have everything provided for them. For christs sake take plenty of spare stuff with you. .

I think it might be down to the notion that you exchange something with the organisers when entering. I can't remember what that thing is but I'm fairly sure that when you exchange it you normally get something in return.

Just like I do to race :roll:

Bikerbaboon

SBezza wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

SBezza wrote:

Why is it that sportive entrants think it is a RIGHT to have everything provided for them. For christs sake take plenty of spare stuff with you. .

I think it might be down to the notion that you exchange something with the organisers when entering. I can't remember what that thing is but I'm fairly sure that when you exchange it you normally get something in return.

Just like I do to race :roll:

What are the people organising the race say you are getting for your money?

for the bike radar sportive they are selling

# - Check points and feed stations on route.
# - Three refreshment points for the 106-mile, two feed stations for the 70-mile, and one for the 50 mile route providing free water and cakes. Energy drinks, bars and gels supplied by Zipvit.
# - Every entrant electronically timed (ChampionChip timing)
# - Ample secure car parking at the venue
# - Toilets, showers and changing rooms available on site
# - Free onsite camping available onsite Friday and Saturday nights
# - Extensive selection of hot and cold catering at venue
# - Free BikeRadar Live event T-shirt
# - A commemorative medal
# - Goody bag


from what i can see they where selling WATER, CAKES, BARS AND GELS. (from 3 stations for the 106) for you £35 I feel its unfair to expect energy drink as they did not say thats what you are getting for your money but the lack of food is an issue you sould raise.
When you are buying anything you need to look to see what you are getting b4 you buy and not complain after for not getting what you assumed you would get.

Gazzaputt

boondog wrote:

Gazzaputt wrote:

Makes me laugh the 'take your own' brigade.

:roll: righty ho.
Doesn't take too much planning to take some emergency food/drink, I'd like to see the docs you received stating what portions of food they were going to give you.

As stated by the organisers and helpfully Bendertherobot:

- Three refreshment points for the 106-mile, two feed stations for the 70-mile, and one for the 50 mile route providing free water and cakes. Energy drinks, bars and gels supplied by Zipvit."

I'd have a couple of bottles with me for the start and maybe couple gels on that promise.

TommyEss

I'd be taking even more - since I found the Zipvit drinks absolutely rank...

bendertherobot

SBezza wrote:

Just like I do to race :roll:

Where in the information does it state that it's a race?

Cleat Eastwood

bendertherobot wrote:

SBezza wrote:

Just like I do to race :roll:

Where in the information does it state that it's a race?

Its in the small print that directs you to the cake stop

Pokerface

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

Mazzo

I did the 70 mile route - took 2x 750ml bottles energy drink and 1 gel. refilled at the first stop (both bottles, a banana and a gel). Second stop i didn't really need any more, and there weren't many people there. No problems with route markers...

I enjoyed the route - only issue (aside from someone falling on me at the start, knocking me off and damaging a spoke in the process - i continued with a buckled front wheel and skew whiff brake hood) was the location of the 1st feed stop - busy junction where cars couldn't pass by all the cyclists and it was a bit manic to say the least. but there were public toilets and plenty of food/drink when i arrived.

I'd paid for the whole weekend including the sportive and the hotlaps on Sunday. Maybe it was expensive for the sportive in isolation but not for the whole weekend including camping etc. A great weekend all in.

I also did Dartmoor last month - brilliant route but far more dangerous descents than this one, the food station was fantastic - very well organised. Their goal is to be the 'best sportive in Britain', whereas to be fair Future Publishing publish magazines and i guess they're new to organising sportives. That's not an excuse but maybe they should enlist some local help?

for price comparison - i rode an Evans Ride It in Reading in May - cost £7 in advance and got you a printed route, an SIS bar before the ride, 1 feed stop with flapjack and energy drink, a second food stop with bananas and energy drink. A support vehicle was out and sold 90 tubes on the route due to the huge number of punctures that day! you could also demo Gore bike wear for free...

redddraggon

Pokerface wrote:

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

+1, totally agree.

John Stevenson

Our sincere apologies to anyone who is unhappy with the ride on Saturday. We are aware that we had some major teething problems with a new area and new systems and we will make sure we nail these things next year.

Please feel free to feed back direct to me at john.stevenson@futurenet.com

bendertherobot

Pokerface wrote:

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

That's kind of the point isn't it? Ultimately the sportive business is becoming more and more pointless. I honestly think a 100 miler every few weeks with mates and lunch is the way to go.

Pokerface

bendertherobot wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

That's kind of the point isn't it? Ultimately the sportive business is becoming more and more pointless. I honestly think a 100 miler every few weeks with mates and lunch is the way to go.

Yup. I used to think sportives were great my first year of riding. Then I discovered things like cycling clubs - that do club runs every week. Different routes all the time - various lengths - and always a cafe stop to get food/drink. All for free!

Sportive organizers are just ripping off the general public IMO. But hey - if people are willing to pay....

John Stevenson

Pokerface wrote:

Sportive organizers are just ripping off the general public IMO. But hey - if people are willing to pay....

Marshalling, signage and support all cost money to provide, and you don't get any of those on a club run. Plus a good sportive is an occasion in the way a club ride can't easily be. These's surely space for both in the vast landscape of cycling.

softlad

John Stevenson wrote:

Marshalling, signage and support all cost money to provide, and you don't get any of those on a club run.

you don't need them on a club run...

Pokerface

John Stevenson wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

Sportive organizers are just ripping off the general public IMO. But hey - if people are willing to pay....

Marshalling, signage and support all cost money to provide, and you don't get any of those on a club run. Plus a good sportive is an occasion in the way a club ride can't easily be. These's surely space for both in the vast landscape of cycling.

Well - from this thread it appears you failed to provide many of those things.

And as others have said - on a club run you don't need marshalls - your clubmates provide support and the cafe provides the food and drink - at a fraction of the cost of a sportive.


These types of complaints are becoming more and more commonplace while good events are becoming less and less.

A GOOD sportive CAN be a GREAT occasion. Unfortunately - yours was NOT.

Maybe you should consider refunding riders or discounting their entry to future events as you have clearly failed to meet even the basic requirements for holding a (successful) event.

FransJacques

John, read my post above. I've ordered and paid for signs 3 years ago. Unless the price has tripled it's £800-1000 and that cost is a one time capital outlay, they don't wear out, but they do get damaged or stolen.

Secondly, if you're paying your marshalls to sit there all day and do nothing, can I sign up for next year? Easiest money since the time I worked an election at the polling station.

Support, I think you learned that if you promise it you have to deliver it. On Sunday I rode the Action Medial Surrey 100 which cost $25 for tons of food and ZipVit. Don't over promise and underdeliver. If less than 1% of your riders need transport (that's 10 people in 1000 who's bikes are so totally mashed they need a car to get them out of there) then why offer it at all? This is where the costs build up.

Overall, I hope you don't charge £35 next year, it's a real cashgrab. Note that the etape isn't really £120, that's only the special price for Brits, for your average Frenchie it's only about EUR 50. When I had a sub to Velo in 2008 it as EUR 45 so I assume it's gone up since then.

ugo.santalucia

Pokerface wrote:

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

I am in line with you... although there are some good ones, well organised and value for money, I recall the Autumn Epic last year, to name one.

Of course all UK sportives are a pale shadow of those French ones. I paid 20 Euros on the line (no hassle of having to enter 6 months before) to enter the Paris-Roubaix last month, which offers 7 well stocked feeding stations as opposed to the 3 at best we get on UK sportives... riding on roads which are world's heritage and protected comes for free

what brakes

i currently ride 100 mile route give or take 10miles every weekend with a mate. but theres something that a sportive gives you that a normal training ride doesnt! it pushes you more!

I will continue to do sportives unless i get into racing but dont fancy joining a club.

I have done the srs events which so far have been fanstastic, great feed stations and routes. I have also done the downlands sportive again very good.

The first sportive i did i took a camel back with stacks of energy drinks and gels etc but was asked by numerous sportive veterens why i had it??? i soon learnt from all the good feed station that i didnt need it, So maybe because i have been on numerous great sportives with great feed stops and pay my money for this priviledge am i expecting too much???? i dont think so as thats the reason why i pay for these rides.....

ridgerider

For the record, the Sportive cost £15 to enter. For some reason, they made us pay an extra £20 to get to the start line inside the circuit. That niggled me a bit, especially as by the time I got back, there was not much of the day left to go round the event.

And I took my own food...I'm not stupid!

what brakes

John Stevenson wrote:

Our sincere apologies to anyone who is unhappy with the ride on Saturday. We are aware that we had some major teething problems with a new area and new systems and we will make sure we nail these things next year.

Please feel free to feed back direct to me at john.stevenson@futurenet.com

Hi steve i would email you direct but you can see what i have written and how disgusted i feel so what would i achieve?

amaferanga

Pokerface wrote:

Why people still insist on paying £35 or more to go on a training ride and be given a banana and a water refill every 50 miles is beyond me. You can do the same ride for free and stop off along the way to refill your bottle and buy some extra food if you need it.


I can understand paying for a sportive on CLOSED roads, but not paying for one on the open roads.

What about £15 to ride round and round a 5 mile loop on open roads with no food or drink, a bit like a race? Are sportives poor value compared to BC races?

Scrumple

John Stevenson wrote:

Please feel free to feed back direct to me at john.stevenson@futurenet.com

Sounds like you wont be getting much zipvit.