Tour of Exmoor cancelled

vs

Shame. Probably lack of numbers.

I can never understand why this ride doesn't attract riders where as the Exmoor Beast gets 1000's.
I've ridden 100,000 miles on Exmoor and here's my opinion for what it's worth

TOUR OF EXMOOR

PROS
Great route
Run by Pendragon who always get it spot on
July - should at least be warm

CONS
Probably clashes with a few closer to home sportives for most people and some of the big Euro ones


EXMOOR BEAST

PROS
Good name for marketing purposes
Marketed as the last sportive before winter and doesn't clash with too many others

CONS
Rubbish route - tends to do many, many boring miles circling around Wheddon Cross when Exmoor has so much more to offer
End of October or beginning of November, so probably cold, dark and can be very foggy, so you can't even see the moor.


I'm going to ride the Tour of Exmoor 98 mile route on the day, would love some company - probably do it at 17/18 mph - it is very hilly BTW.

Also The North Devon Black Rat is a better and tougher route than both and will certainly go ahead.

rjh299

I was going to sign up for this one aswell. Just hadn't got round to it and was trying to decide whether to stay up the night before in a Travelodge or borrow parents camper for the night. Shame.
Did it last year and really enjoyed it. Good route with hard climbs but fast open descents, hit my top ever speed going down Porlock. Off to watch the Tour on Sunday so would have been my last ride for week or so.

JamesB

So where did this info come from? I have entered, had my fee taken, I`ve not had any info about it being cancelled :x :x Would they cover any accommodation costs I may have run up and incurred charges on??

I even contacted them a week ago to clarify dates as 2nd and 3rd July are showb, BUT NOT EVEN A REPLY

OK so low numbers, so they might make a loss on it, but their other events make big profits. Run the event . maybe make a loss, don`t run it next year then They are a big organiasation, other events run with low numbers. The event was billed as being a good prep for European events; I entered as training for Raid Alpine later in year

Not happy at all

vs

This is the email I received yesterday.

2011 Tour of Exmoor Cancelled

We regretfully inform you that the 2011 Tour of Exmoor Cyclosportive has had to be cancelled and we will be issuing you with a full refund.

In order to compensate you we would also like to offer you a complementary place in the Tour of the Black Mountains on the 10th July 2011 in Abergavenny - www.touroftheblackmountains.com

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience this may have caused you.

If we have not heard from you within 7 days of receiving this email we will automatically issue the refund.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Bourne
PENDRAGON SPORTS LTD
Stourton View Office
Bratton Seymour
Wincanton
Somerset
BA9 8BY

Office: +44 (0)1963 34125
nick@pendragon-sports.com
www.pendragon-sports.com

JamesB

vs

thank you for the info; I have heard nothing from Pandragon but will email Nick Bourne now.

Would consider joining you for ride but could not manage the 17/18mph average --my av is just 15/16 at best (eg silver std Forest Dean Classic MV 50+ )

Gooner69

JamesB wrote:

So where did this info come from? I have entered, had my fee taken, I`ve not had any info about it being cancelled :x :x Would they cover any accommodation costs I may have run up and incurred charges on??

I even contacted them a week ago to clarify dates as 2nd and 3rd July are showb, BUT NOT EVEN A REPLY

OK so low numbers, so they might make a loss on it, but their other events make big profits. Run the event . maybe make a loss, don`t run it next year then They are a big organiasation, other events run with low numbers. The event was billed as being a good prep for European events; I entered as training for Raid Alpine later in year

Not happy at all

The North Devon Black Rat runs at a huge loss, luckily Bristol event covers most of this so its definitely running

What VS said about the route, look out for a few taster rides just as soon as i get back from the tdf in July

JamesB

Sounds good but away that weekned in September (actually as cycling in France)

Gooner69

JamesB wrote:

Sounds good but away that weekned in September (actually as cycling in France)

Just come along on the route reccy/tasters anyway. All welcome wether intending to enter the event or not (how many other sportives would allow that??)

vs

@jamesB if you're in the area anyway I'd be more than happy to ride the route with you at 15mph - I'm MV 46.

@Gooner69 can post on here when the recce's are - cheers

JamesB

@vs

do`nt live in area live on Welsh / Hereford borders but was planning to go to Exmoor for that weekend; previously have ridden an Exmoor Beast (agree with your commenst, and additionally poor route, poor feedstops, poor start venue) and years ago Exmoor Grimpeur Audax so would be OK for a bash at Tour exmoor route, maybe a few other takers too ??

vs

@jamesB

I live in Lynton, so it's on my doorstep - would happily guide you around the route.

Anyone else up for it? - if you were going to do it anyway it will be £30 cheaper and I know a couple of good cafes enroute.

KirbyJames

I'm very sorry to hear that the Tour of Exmoor has been cancelled

If you're in the South West in June/July there are quite a number of other options you might consider - in my back yard
* Exmouth 19 June: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/11-127/
* Seaton: 31 July: http://bit.ly/TheGreatTourAudax
The later event involves around 2,000 metres of climbing

derek48

vs
Agree with you about the relative merits of the Beast and the Tour of Exmoor, which I did last year. Would be interested in riding the route with you, as it's on my doorstep as well.
I live in Oare, just the other side of Brendon. You might have to slow down even more, as I'm 63, but I have done 5 sportives this year. Let me know what you have arranged.

simckenn

I couldn't agree more about the Beast, I did it a couple of years ago and the weather was so shocking they cancelled the long one so we had to do the short one. I live on the edge of Exmoor and there are far better routes to do. I'd love to join you all but I'm out with a broken collarbone after a crash on the Dragon Ride!
Enjoy!

Burton

Are any of you planning to enter the 2 moors sportive on 17th July?
What's it like if you have done it before?

Cheers
JB

SRS Events

Have a trip up to Sussex and do the 1066 cyclosportive on the 3rd July

vs

Burton wrote:

Are any of you planning to enter the 2 moors sportive on 17th July?
What's it like if you have done it before?

Done it on both occasions. Too much of the route is on the busy roads that link the two moors and not enough on either moor. Not doing it this year.

The best ride on Exmoor by far is the Black Rat North Devon in September. Simply a fantastic mix of coast and moor. Do it, you will not be disappointed.